TOKYO, July 9 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture sought to buy 98,705 tonnes of food-quality wheat from the United States, Canada and Australia in a regular tender that will close late 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 majority of the grain for milling via tenders typically issued thrice a month.
Details are as follows (in tonnes): COUNTRY
TYPE
QUANTITY
U.S.
Western White
15,220
* U.S.
Hard Red Winter(Semi Hard)
19,805
* Canada
Western Red Spring(protein minimum 13.5 pct)
34,910
* Australia
Standard White(west Australia)
28,770
*
Shipments:
* Loading between Sept 1 and Sept 30
Source: Ministry of Agriculture