TOKYO, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture bought a total of 132,015 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
20,565*
Hard Red Winter (semi hard)
26,270*
Dark Northern Spring
28,360*
(protein 14.0%)
Canada
Western Red Spring
27,900***
(protein minimum 13.5 pct)
Australia
Standard White (West Australia) 28,920**
Shipments:
* Loading between Nov.21 and Dec.20
**Loading between Feb.1 and Feb.28
*** Arrival by Jan. 31