Saudi Arabia seeks 715,000 tonnes of hard wheat in tender

Saudi Arabia’s state wheat-buying agency, the Grain Silos and Flour Mills Organisation (GSFMO), said on Thursday it had issued an international tender to purchase 715,000 tonnes of hard wheat.

The tender deadline is Friday, October 9 with shipment sought between December and February.

GSFMO Director-General Ahmad Al Fares said the agency was seeking cargoes of 55,000 tonnes, plus or minus 5 per cent, with shipments distributed between the ports of Jeddah which will receive 495,000 tonnes, and Dammam which will receive 220,000 tonnes.

Wheat with 12.5 per cent protein content was sought, he added. The wheat can be sourced from optional origins with any origin accepted that matches the agency’s specifications.

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

The country plans a steady reduction in agriculture and aims to be completely reliant on imports to save water.

In its last reported tender on August 10, Saudi bought 505,000 tonnes of hard wheat.