Iraq says total local rice purchases at 306,000T for 2019-20 season

BAGHDAD- Iraq, a major Middle East rice importer, said on Sunday it had ended its local purchasing season for 2019-2020 at 306,000 tonnes.

"The local buying season ended on Saturday," a statement by the trade ministry said.

Iraq planted its largest rice area in 20 years in 2019 due to plentiful rain.

It had banned rice planting the year before that in June 2018 because of water shortages, but reversed the decision for the 2019 season on better weather.

Iraq needs 1 million tonnes of rice annually to satisfy domestic demand.

(Reporting By Moayed Kenany Writing By Maha El Dahan; Editing by Toby Chopra, William Maclean) ((Maha.Dahan@thomsonreuters.com; + 9712 4082101; Reuters Messaging: maha.dahan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))