April 18, 2007

Philippines' NFA to seek 80,000 tonnes corn
 

The Philippine National Food Authority will hold a tender May 17 to buy 80,000 tonnes of corn, a senior official said Wednesday.

According to NFA Deputy Administrator Ludovico Jarina, the NFA plans to buy yellow corn grain equivalent to or better than US grade no. 2 or 3, for arrival no later than Jul 31 this year.

The volume forms part of the 200,000 tonnes of corn that the government has allowed local end users to import at zero duty. Currently, the duty on corn is pegged at 35 percent.

Last week, the NFA bought 120,000 tonnes of Argentine corn on behalf of local end users, which include the feed milling, poultry and hog industries.

Corn is a major component of livestock and poultry feeds.