TOKYO, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture bought a total of 123,275 tonnes of food quality wheat from the United States and Canada 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
21,980*
Hard Red Winter
10,265*
(semi hard)
Hard Red Winter
27,620**
(semi hard)
Dark Northern Spring
34,110**
(protein minimum 14.0 pct)
Canada
Western Red Spring
29,300**
(protein minimum 12.5 pct)
Shipments:
* Arrival by March 5
**Loading between Jan. 16 and Feb. 15
Source: Ministry of Agriculture