January 12, 2004

Pakistan Seeks 150,000 Tons Wheat Import

Pakistan has short listed one Australian and three US exporters to negotiate price and quality for the import of 150,000 tons of milling wheat, a government official said.

"Four bidders have been selected and Passco (Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation) has been asked to further negotiate with them," a Pakistani official said.

"It will take at least a week or so to place import orders."

The official said selected bidders have offered price ranging from $214 to $251 per ton, but the government had not considered offers from a Dubai-based company and a Singaporean firm for Indian wheat at $185 per ton.

"Karnal bunt fungus in Indian wheat is still an issue and despite low offers we have not considered Indian wheat," he said.

Traders in Karachi say imports from India would be most economical because of lower freight costs given the land border between the two countries.