CAIRO - The lowest offer presented at an international purchasing tender for rice from Iraq's state grains buyer which closed on Wednesday was $560 per tonne c&f liner out for 30,000 tonnes of Pakistani rice, traders said.
The offer was presented by Saif International. No purchase has yet been made and the offers presented are under consideration, traders said.
Prices in the tender are sought in c&f liner out terms, which includes some ship unloading costs. Offers have to remain valid up to Feb. 10.
Lowest price for rice sourced from Thailand was said to be $612.49 a tonne c&f liner out, with three offers made for Thai-origin rice.
Two offers were made for rice from Brazil, with the lowest at $675.50 a tonne c&f liner out.
One offer was submitted for rice from the United States at $697 a tonne c&f liner out, and one from Uruguay at $677 a tonne c&f liner out.
One offer was reported for rice from Argentina, but at $686.50 c&f free out, not liner out.
The rice in the tender can be sourced from any origin worldwide.
No international rice tenders from Iraq were reported in 2020. The Middle Eastern country last year said it planned to buy U.S. rice under an agreement with the United States.
Iraq's trade ministry said on Jan. 27 it intended to buy rice from international suppliers in early February after receiving funds to purchase one month's supply.
Iraq’s rice purchases from its own farmers for the 2020-2021 season have declined.
(Reporting by Nadine Awadalla and Michael Hogan; Editing by Jan Harvey) ((Nadine.Awadalla@thomsonreuters.com;))
