TOKYO, March 17 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture
bought a total of 149,550 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 15,100*
Hard Red Winter 18,150*
(semi hard)
Dark Northern Spring 30,130*
(protein minimum 14.0 pct)
Canada Western Red Spring 24,800*
(protein minimum 13.5 pct)
Australia Standard White 31,160**
(West Australia)
Standard White 30,210**
(West Australia)
Shipments: * Loading between April 21 and May 20
** Loading between June 1 and June 30
Source: Ministry of Agriculture