September 27, 2006

US group: Iraq still negotiating terms for wheat deal

Iraq is still negotiating terms, price and specifications on wheat quality before it will import the grain, an official with the US Wheat Associates said Tuesday (Sep 26).

"I am 99 percent certain nothing has been done, nothing has been signed," said Richard Prior, regional vice president of Mideast and East Africa for US Wheat Associates.

Iraq normally needs to import about 300,000 tonnes of wheat each month. Last year Iraq imported about 2.2 million to 2.3 million tonnes of wheat from the US during the last marketing year, which runs June to May. Iraq has not bought any wheat so far this marketing year.

It's unlikely Iraq will announce any purchases of US wheat during its stop to the Kansas City Board of Trade Tuesday, Prior said, due to the involvement of so many people in negotiations.