Jordan's state grain purchasers issued a tender on Sunday for 100,000 tonnes of optional origin hard wheat for shipment in October, officials said. The ministry of trade and industry, in charge of buying wheat for the kingdom, said the closing date for bids was August 28.

 

Half of the amount would be delivered in the first half of October and the rest in the second half of that month. An official said they accelerated the announcement of a new tender after purchasing only 50,000 tonnes of Russian wheat at $361 a tonne c&f last Wednesday, for shipment in the second half of October, in a tender for double that amount.

 

Jordanian officials said a drop in global wheat prices from their peaks since mid-March encouraged the kingdom to step up purchases in coming weeks.

 

Officials say new purchases would have the goal of maintaining a comfortable six-month supply of around 360,000 tonnes. Jordan's monthly consumption of wheat is between 58,000 to 60,000 tonnes. Jordan's purchases of US wheat fell in recent years with Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Syria emerging as the main suppliers as their prices were the most competitive, officials say.