HAMBURG - Saudi Arabia's main state wheat-buying agency, the Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO), has purchased 382,000 tonnes of wheat in an international tender, it said on Monday.

The tender had closed on Friday with the agency seeking arrival in Saudi Arabia in November.

The wheat with 12.5% protein content was bought at an average price of $355.68 a tonne c&f, SAGO said in a statement, confirming earlier reports from traders.

Origins offered were the European Union, Black Sea region, North America, South America and Australia, with the seller having the option of selecting the origin supplied, SAGO governor Ahmad Al-Fares said in the statement.

The purchase comprises six shipments to the ports of Jeddah, Dammam and Yanbu, Al-Fares said.

These purchases were made in dollars per tonne c&f with arrival period in 2021 in brackets:

Jeddah - 65,000 tonnes from Viterra at $350.14 C&F (Nov. 10 - 20) - 64,000 tonnes from Louis Dreyfus at $351.90 C&F (Nov. 20-30) Yanbu - 60,000 tonnes from Solaris at $354.50 C&F (Nov. 10-20) - 63,000 tonnes from Holbud Limited at $356.74 C&F (Nov. 10 - 20). - 65,000 tonnes from Viterra at $357.47 C&F (Nov. 20 - 30) Dammam - 65,000 tonnes from Viterra at $363.22 C&F (Nov. 1 - 10)

Traders on Friday said that SAGO had lowered the requirement for test weights, a key milling criteria, for wheat to be supplied to 76. This would help offers of European wheat after crops in France and elsewhere were damaged by late harvest rain, traders said. 

In its last reported wheat tender on July 12, SAGO purchased 505,000 tonnes at an average price of $287.00 a tonne c&f.

(Reporting by Michael Hogan Editing by David Goodman) ((michael.j.hogan@thomsonreuters.com; +49 172 671 36 54; Reuters Messaging: michael.hogan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))