October 17, 2007

Philippines to buy 200,000 tonnes corn in late November tender

The Philippines plans to buy 200,000 tonnes of duty-free corn in a tender to be held in late November for shipment between January to February next year, a feedmilling industry official said Tuesday (October 16).

The tender is intended to ensure adequate supply of the grain in the first quarter of next year, the official said.

The National Food Authority, or NFA, a state-owned grains trading firm, will hold the tender on behalf of local end users that include feedmillers, poultry and livestock raisers, the official added.

The NFA will also hold a tender Oct. 23 to buy 70,000 tonnes of yellow corn, a major component of livestock and poultry feeds.

The current tariff duty on corn imports is pegged at 35 percent.