HAMBURG  - A Syrian state agency has issued an international tender to purchase and import 80,000 tonnes of white refined sugar, European traders said on Monday.

The deadline in the tender from the General Foreign Trade Organisation is Dec. 23.

Shipment is sought in two 40,000 tonne consignments.

The first consignment should be shipped 60 days after the letter of credit opening on the deal and the second 180 days after supply of the first consignment, traders said.

Offers should be submitted in euros.

A previous tender from Syria for 80,000 tonnes of sugar had closed on Nov. 11. Some traders said they believed no purchase has been made in the November tender.

(Reporting by Michael Hogan; Editing by Edmund Blair) ((michael.j.hogan@thomsonreuters.com; +49 172 671 36 54; Reuters Messaging: michael.hogan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))