DUBAI - Saudi Arabia's state grain agency SAGO has purchased 495,000 tonnes of hard wheat in an international tender, it said on Monday.

The wheat is for February-April arrival, SAGO governor Ahmad Al Fares said. The sellers have the option to select the origin of the wheat.

SAGO detailed the following purchases (in dollars per tonne, with arrival period in brackets):

Jeddah sea port - 63,000 tonnes from Holbud Ltd at $228.21 C&F (Feb. 1-10) - 63,000 tonnes from Holbud Ltd at $228.82 C&F (Feb.20-28) - 60,000 tonnes from Soufflet Negoce at $226.94 C&F (Mar. 10-20) - 60,000 tonnes from Casillo at $228.69 C&F (Mar. 20-30) - 63,000 tonnes from Holbud Ltd at $228.71 C&F (Apr. 1-10)

Dammam sea port - 63,000 tonnes from Holbud Ltd at $235.32 C&F (Feb. 1-10) - 60,000 tonnes from Soufflet Negoce at $231.74 C&F (Mar. 1-10) - 63,000 tonnes from Holbud Ltd at $235.57 C&F (Apr. 1-10)



A total of 16 trading houses submitted offers in the tender.

SAGO has so far contracted for 3 million tonnes of wheat this year.

Saudi Arabia has become a major importer of hard and soft wheat since abandoning plans for self-sufficiency in 2008 because farming drained precious water supplies.

(Reporting by Maha El Dahan, additional reporting by Michael Hogan.; Editing by David Goodman) ((Maha.Dahan@thomsonreuters.com; + 9712 4082101; Reuters Messaging: maha.dahan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))