TOKYO, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture sought 171,045 tonnes of food-quality wheat from the United States, Canada and Australia 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
14,800
* U.S.
Hard Red Winter(Semi Hard)
13,900
* U.S.
Western White
17,615
* U.S.
Hard Red Winter(Semi Hard)
14,480
* U.S.
Dark Northern Spring(protein minimum 14.0%)
25,100
** Canada
Western Red Spring(protein minimum 13.5 pct)
35,095
* Australia
Standard White(West Australia)
24,995
* Australia
Standard White(West Australia)
25,060
Shipments:
* Loading between Jan. 16 and Feb. 15
** Arriving by Mar. 5
Source: Ministry of Agriculture