March 9, 2005

Japan Agriculture Ministry to seek 170,000 tonnes wheat in tender

Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries will seek 170,000 tonnes of milling wheat in a buy tender to be held Thursday, a Tokyo-based wheat trader said Tuesday.

MAFF will buy 105,000 tonnes of US wheat, 45,000 tonnes of Canadian wheat and 20,000 tonnes of Australian wheat, the trader said.

Two cargoes of US Dark Northern Spring wheat - one 20,000 tonnes and the other 25,000 tonnes - are to be shipped April 16-May 15, the trader said.

All other cargoes are to be shipped in May, the trader added.

Below are details of MAFF's buy tender Thursday:

Quantity   Variety                          Origin

(tonnes)     (% of protein)

15,000     Western White                  US

16,000     Hard Red Winter 11.5%     US

74,000     Dark Northern Spring        US

26,000     No. 1 West 12.5%          Canada

19,000     Durum Wheat               Canada

20,000     Standard White            Australia