HAMBURG- Jordan's state grain buyer has issued another international tender to purchase 120,000 tonnes of animal feed barley, European traders said on Friday.

The tender's deadline is Feb. 20.

Jordan has struggled to buy wheat and barley in tenders in past months after terms for quality specifications and payment were introduced which reduced participation by international trading houses.

Recent tender results have been mixed. Jordan made no purchase in its previous tender for 120,000 tonnes of barley on Wednesday although 11 trading houses took part. This was seen as a normal level of participation. 

It also made no purchase in a barley tender on Feb. 6, when 10 trading houses took part.

But Jordan did buy 60,000 tonnes of barley in a tender on Jan. 30. 

"Participation was good in the last barley tenders but prices were not as low as offered to other importers," one European trader said. "But Jordan seems to have a minimum price target which it wants to achieve."

The new barley tender seeks shipment in a range of possible combinations in 60,000 tonne consignments. Possible shipment periods are July 1-15, July 16-31, Aug. 1-15 and Aug. 16-31.

Jordan has also issued a separate international tender to buy 120,000 tonnes of wheat closing on Feb. 19.

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