HAMBURG - Algeria's state grains agency OAIC has issued an international tender to buy milling wheat to be sourced from optional origins, European traders said on Tuesday.

The tender sought a nominal 50,000 tonnes to shipment to two ports only: Mostaganem and/or Tenes.

The shipment requirement to these two relatively small ports could indicate that Algeria could make only a limited purchase in the tender, traders said.

In its last reported wheat tender on June 8, the OAIC bought about 480,000 tonnes.  

The deadline for submission of price offers in the tender is Thursday, July 8, with offers remaining valid up to Friday, July 9.

The wheat is sought for shipment in three periods from the main supply regions including Europe: Aug. 1-10, Aug. 11-20 and Aug. 21-31.

If sourced from South America or Australia, shipment is between July 1-10, July 11-20 and July 21-31.

Algeria is a vital customer for wheat from the European Union, especially France.

(Reporting by Michael Hogan, editing by Rashmi Aich) ((michael.j.hogan@thomsonreuters.com; +49 172 671 36 54; Reuters Messaging: michael.hogan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))