TOKYO, April 8 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture
bought 137,486 tonnes of food quality wheat from the United
States, Canada and Australia in a regular tender that closed
late on Friday.
A tender is normally closed on Thursday. However, the
schedule was changed this week due to an administrative reason,
an official with the ministry said.
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 14,640 *
Hard Red Winter (semi hard) 10,350 *
Hard Red Winter (semi hard) 31,000 *
Canada Western Red Spring 24,921 *
(protein minimum 13.5 pct)
Western Red Spring 34,675 *
(protein minimum 13.5 pct)
Australia Standard White 21,900 **
(West Australia)
Shipments: * Loading between May 21 and June 20
**Loading between Aug 1 and Aug 31
Source: Ministry of Agriculture