October 18, 2007

Philippines to tender for 200,000 tonnes corn

The Philippines will hold a tender for 200,000 tonnes of corn before the end of the year for January delivery, a trader said.

The trader, said agriculture secretary Arthur Yap had given the National Food Authority approval to buy 200,000 tonnes of corn.

 It was yet to be decided if the tender would be set in November or December.

The tender is part of the 400,000 tonnes of corn that the government had planned to import this year due to the gap in local supply.

The National Food Authority, the grain importing arm of the government, buys on behalf of local feedmillers and poultry and livestock firms.

The agency has so far brought in 130,000 tonnes of corn imports this year.

It will hold a tender on Oct. 23 for 70,000 tonnes of corn for delivery not later than December.