Japan buys 42,908 tonnes food wheat via tender

    TOKYO, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture 
bought a total of 42,908 tonnes of June-loading Canadian Western 
Red Spring wheat in an atypical tender that closed late 
Wednesday, a farm ministry official said. 
    The latest tender, which followed a regular weekly tender 
that closed on Friday, was to meet demand from Japanese millers. 
    Japan, the world's sixth-biggest wheat importer, keeps a 
tight grip on imports of the country's second most important 
staple after rice and buys the majority of the grain for milling 
via tenders typically issued three times a month. 
    But the country has been ramping up its purchases of 
Canadian wheat used for making bread and noodles this year in a 
move to offset the possibility of extended shipping delays from 
Canada due to the bumper crop and winter weather. 
   
     
    Details are as follows (in tonnes): 
    COUNTRY           TYPE                         QUANTITY 
    Canada            Western Red Spring            23,560* 
                      (protein minimum 12.5 pct) 
                      Western Red Spring            19,348* 
                      (protein minimum 12.5 pct) 
    Shipments: *Arrival by July 31 
    Source: Ministry of Agriculture 
 
 (Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Sunil Nair) 
 ((Yuka.Obayashi@thomsonreuters.com)(+813-6441-1798)(Reuters 
Messaging: yuka.obayashi.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: JAPAN WHEAT/TENDER