Tunisia: State grains agency bought 50,000 tons of barley and wheat

Tunisia's state grains agency purchased 25,000 tonnes of durum wheat and 25,000 tonnes of barley in a tender which closed on Friday, October 22nd, Reuters informed on October 25.

The durum was bought at $325 a tonne C&F from Eurograni and the barley was bought at $286.77 a tonne C&F from Bunge, traders said.

Shipment for the durum was between January 1-10, 2011, and for the barley between December 10-20, 2010.

All grains were optional origin but the shipment dates indicated supplies were likely to come from East Europe, traders said.

Tunisia is facing a large import requirement following a poor harvest, forcing it to enter the global grain market at a time of high prices due to drought-hit crops in several key producers.

Grains futures surged to two-year highs in early August, almost doubling from June lows, as a drought devastated Russia's harvest and the country announced a sudden grain export ban while Ukraine has also restricted grain exports.

Russia on Friday said its grain export ban would continue until July 2011.

Tunisia's tender had excluded Russia and Ukraine as origins.

Tunisia has in past years heavily imported from the two countries.

Tunisia's grain crop this summer is expected to fall by more than 50% on the year, the country's Agriculture Minister said in September.

In its last durum tender on October 6, Tunisia bought 25,000 tonnes following a purchase of 50,000 tonnes on September 22.

It declined offers for barley and durum in a September 30 tender.

27 October, 2010