News: Japan offers to buy 180,714 tonnes food wheat via tender

TOKYO, July 12 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture is seeking to buy a total of 180,714 tonnes of food quality wheat from the United States, Canada and Australia in a regular tender that will close late on Thursday.

Japan, the world's sixth-biggest wheat importer, keeps a tight grip on imports of the country's second most important staple after rice and buys the majority of the grain for milling via tenders typically issued three times a month.

Details are as follows (in tonnes):

 COUNTRY		TYPE							 Quantity  
 U.S.		   Western White					14,570*  
				Hard Red Winter (semi hard)	  18,390*  
				Western White					14,730*  
				Hard Red Winter (semi hard)	  10,190*  
				Dark Northern Spring			   
				(protein minimum 14.0%)		  33,150*  
 Canada		 Western Red Spring				 

				(protein minimun 13.5%)		  24,914*  
				Western Red Spring				 
				(protein minimun 13.5%)		  36,120*  
 Australia	  Standard White (West Australia)  28,650**  

Shipment * Loading between Aug 21 and Sep 20

			  ** Loading between Nov 1 and Nov 30  
	   
	Source: Ministry of Agriculture