TOKYO, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture sought 160,640 tonnes of food-quality wheat from the United States and Canada in a regular tender on Tuesday.
Japan, the world's sixth-largest 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.
The tender will close late Thursday.
Details are as follows (in tonnes): COUNTRY
QUANTITY
Western White
14,992
* U.S.
Hard Red Winter(Semi Hard)
19,145
* U.S.
Dark Northern Spring(protein minimum 14.0%)
31,828
* U.S.
Dark Northern Spring(protein minimum 14.0%)
25,255
* Canada
Western Red Spring(protein minimum 13.5 pct)
34,740
** Canada
Western Red Spring(protein minimum 13.5 pct)
34,680
Shipments:
* Loading between Jan. 16 and Feb. 15
** Arriving by Mar. 5
Source: Ministry of Agriculture