HAMBURG/DUBAI- Iraq's state grains buyer, the trade ministry, has purchased around 120,000 tonnes of rice from Vietnam in a direct deal without an international tender being issued, traders in Europe and the Middle East said on Tuesday.
Seller was believed to be Vietnamese trading house Vinafood1.
Iraq has not issued an international tender to purchase rice for several months with market talk that the country has turned to more purchases through private negotiations.
(Reporting by Michael Hogan and Maha El Dahan) ((michael.j.hogan@thomsonreuters.com; +49 172 671 36 54; Reuters Messaging: michael.hogan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
