HAMBURG- Turkey's state grain board TMO about 260,000 tonnes of animal feed barley from optional origins in a tender for the same volume which closed on Tuesday, European traders said.

Purchases are provisional and subject to final confirmation in the coming days. No more purchases are expected on Tuesday, traders said.

Shipment is sought between Oct. 8 and Oct. 31 to a series of Turkish ports.

Traders said some Russian exporters had made advance shipments to Turkey to avoid increases in Russia’s grain export taxes, enabling sales of barley in warehouses already in Turkey. 

The tender continues recent brisk grain import demand from Turkey to ensure good domestic supplies with trade expectations the country has harvested smaller wheat and barley crops this year after drought.

In its last reported barley tender on Sept. 7, the TMO bought 245,000 tonnes at the lowest price of $291.90 a tonne c&f. 

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