TOKYO, July 14 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture bought a total of 180,714 tonnes of food quality wheat from the United States, Canada and Australia in a regular tender that closed late on Thursday.
Japan, the world's sixth-biggest wheat importer, keeps a tight grip on imports of the country's second most important staple after rice and buys the majority of the grain for milling via tenders typically issued three times a month.
Details are as follows (in tonnes):
COUNTRY
TYPE
Quantity U.S.
Western White
14,570*
Hard Red Winter (semi hard)
18,390*
Western White
14,730*
Hard Red Winter (semi hard)
10,190*
Dark Northern Spring
(protein minimum 14.0%)
33,150* Canada
Western Red Spring
(protein minimum 13.5%)
24,914*
Western Red Spring
(protein minimum 13.5%)
36,120* Australia
Standard White (West Australia) 28,650**
Shipments:
* Loading between Aug. 21 and Sept. 20
** Loading between Nov. 1 and 30
Source: Ministry of Agriculture