Saudi Arabia issues tender to buy 540,000 tonnes of wheat

Saudi Arabia’s main state wheat buying agency, the Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO), said on Thursday it had issued an international tender to purchase 540,000 tonnes of hard wheat.

The tender deadline is Friday, May 4.

The wheat, with 12.5 per cent protein content, is sought from global suppliers for arrival in Saudi Arabia during July and August, it said.

SAGO governor Ahmad Al Fares said in a statement the wheat was sought in nine individual consignments.

The shipments will be distributed between the ports of Jeddah (360,000 tonnes) and Dammam (180,000 tonnes).

In its last reported wheat tender on February 5, SAGO bought 739,000 tonnes.

Saudi Arabia has become a major importer of hard and soft wheat since abandoning plans for self-sufficiency because farming in the desert drained precious water supplies.

Read: Saudi Grains Organisation orders 480,000 tonnes of wheat