May 19, 2006

Eight bidders to vie for 3-million-tonne wheat order from India

Eight companies, including AWB, Cargill and Glencore, are in the running to supply three million tonnes of wheat to India's State Trading Corporation (STC).

Price bands would be fixed after the bids get technical clearance from the food and health ministries.

A tender for importing three million tonnes of wheat was announced on May 8.

The shipment would be shared between various bidders as none was offering to ship the entire 3 million tonnes. Australia's AWB Ltd, which won the first tender, bid for the largest amount at 1.2 million tonne.

The shipment was to be imported over four months beginning from July this year.

A senior STC official said there would not be further relaxation of the global tender.

STC had invited offers from globally suppliers for import of wheat in parcel sizes of 30,000-50,000 tonnes.