CAIRO- Egypt has accepted samples of Chinese and Vietnamese rice presented at an international purchase tender for two shipment periods between March and April, a trade source said on Tuesday.
One sample of Indian rice on offer was rejected, the source told Reuters.
Egypt's state grain buyer, the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC), is seeking rice with 10-12 percent broken parts on a cost, insurance and freight (CIF) basis for arrival March 20-April 20 and/or April 1-30.
Each bidder was required to present samples alongside the rice offer to be tested by the Ministry of Agriculture.
GASC did not specify when it would announce the results of the tender.
Indian rice samples presented at Egypt's last tender also failed an agriculture ministry test. GASC purchased 47,500 rice of Chinese origin in that tender.
Egypt, previously a rice exporter, is estimated to need about 500,000 tonnes of imported rice this season as it reduces local production to save water. It has purchased Indian rice in the past.
(Reporting by Nadine Awadalla; writing by Maha El Dahan; editing by Edmund Blair and Jason Neely) ((Nadine.Awadalla@thomsonreuters.com;))
