HAMBURG - A Syrian state purchasing agency has issued an international tender to purchase 25,000 tonnes of rice, European traders said on Thursday.

The tender from Syria's General Foreign Trade Organisation closes on Feb. 9, they said.

White Chinese/Egyptian short grain white rice of third or fourth class was sought. Shipment is sought within three months of order confirmation.

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