HAMBURG - A Syrian state purchasing agency has issued an international tender to purchase 45,000 tonnes of white rice, European traders said on Tuesday.

The tender from Syria's General Foreign Trade Organisation closes on Jan. 6, 2020, they said.

Short grain white rice of third or fourth class was sought. No specific country of origin was specified in the tender, traders said.

Some 25,000 tonnes was sought for supply 90 days after confirmation of the order and 20,000 tonnes 180 days after supply of the first consignment.

The rice was sought packed in bags and offers should be submitted in euros.

A previous tender from the agency for 45,000 tonnes of rice with similar conditions had closed on Nov. 13.

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