HAMBURG - Algeria's state grains agency OAIC has issued an international tender to buy milling wheat to be sourced from optional origins, European traders said on Monday.

The tender sought a nominal 50,000 tonnes, but Algeria often buys considerably more in its tenders than the nominal volume sought.

The tender deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 22, with offers having to remain valid until Wednesday, Oct. 23, traders said.

The wheat was sought for shipment in two periods, Dec. 1-15 and Dec. 16-31. If sourced from South America, shipment is between Nov. 1-15 and Nov. 16-30.

In its last reported tender on Sept. 18, OAIC bought up to 600,000 tonnes of wheat for shipment in Nov. 1-15 and Nov. 16-30, after Algeria caused concern among wheat exporters by apparently skipping October imports. 

(Reporting by Michael Hogan; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and David Evans) ((michael.j.hogan@thomsonreuters.com; +49 172 671 36 54; Reuters Messaging: michael.hogan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))