Egypt Buys 300,000 T Romanian, Russian, French Wheat

Egypt, the world’s biggest importer of wheat, bought 300,000 tonnes of Romanian, Russian and French wheat for shipment Dec. 21-31, the main government wheat buyer said on Wednesday.

Nomani Nomani, Vice Chairman of the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC), had said on Tuesday he invited bids for shipment Dec. 21-31 and Jan. 1-10 but on Wednesday said he had bought the entire amount for December shipment.

Nomani gave a breakdown of the purchases as follows:

– 60,000 tonnes of Romanian wheat from Ameropa at $355.88/tonne with freight costs of $10.75

– 120,000 tonnes of Russian wheat from Glencore at $356.50/tonne with freight costs of $10.99

– 60,000 tonnes of French wheat from Bunge at $353.61/tonne with freight costs of $13.88

– 60,000 tonnes of French wheat from Glencore at $353.61/tonne with freight costs of $13.88

GASC has scrambled for supplies amid concerns that drought-hit Black Sea nations such as Ukraine and Russia may have little to offer later this year.

Egypt said on Tuesday it had not removed Ukraine from its list of potential wheat suppliers despite an upcoming export ban by the Black Sea country.

Nomani said Ukraine’s decision to stop wheat exports on Nov. 15 was not considered to be official because it had not been confirmed by the country’s prime minister.

GASC snapped up almost seven months’ wheat stocks for Egypt, buying more than 1 million tonnes in September alone, mostly from the Black Sea region.

Growing worries about dry weather reducing wheat output in Australia, the world’s No. 2 exporter, have added to concerns among import-dependent nations about shrinking global supplies.

During the 2011/12 fiscal year, GASC’s purchases were dominated by Black Sea origin wheat.

GASC purchased 3.24 million tonnes of Russian wheat, 180,000 tonnes of Romanian wheat, 360,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat, 60,000 tonnes of Russian, Ukraine or Kazakh wheat at the seller’s option and 60,000 tonnes of Russian or Kazakh wheat at the seller’s option during the 2011/12 fiscal year.

It also bought 300,000 tonnes of French wheat and 300,000 tonnes of Argentine wheat as well as 530,000 tonnes of U.S. soft red winter wheat and 60,000 tonnes of Canadian wheat.

BIDS Traders said the following bids were made in tonnes with dollar price per tonne on a FOB basis unless otherwise stated: For shipment 21-31 Dec 2012: *Toepfer 55,000 Soft White Winter $342.10 *Soufflet 60,000 French $363.27 *Bunge 60,000 French $354.50 *Invivo 60,000 French $362.50 *Ameropa 60,000 Romanian $355.88 *Noble 60,000 French $356.65 *Nidera 60,000 Romanian $369.34 *Olam 60,000 Russian $359 *Louis Drefus 60,000 French $357 + 60,000 Canadian $353.49 + 2 x 55,000 Hard Red Winter $381.19 *Glencore 60,000 French $355.49 + 60,000 Russian $357 + 60,000 Russian $359 *Cargill 60,000 Romanian $360.58 + 60,000 French $357.58 *Cargill 60,000 Soft White Winter $338.99 + 60,000 Soft Red Winter $350.63 For shipment 1-10 Jan 2013: *Toepfer 60,000 Soft Red Winter $355.90 + 60,000 French $359.59 *Louis Dreyfus 60,000 French $357 + 55,000 Soft White Winter $341.54 *Louis Dreyfus 2 x 55,000 Hard Red Winter $382.88 + 60,000 Canadian $354.97 *Glencore 60,000 French $355.49 + 60,000 Argentinian $342.81 *Invivo 60,000 French $358.73 *Ameropa 60,000 Romanian $357.88 *Cenex Harvest (CHS) 60,000 Soft Red Winter $350.25 *Lecureur 60,000 French $363.50 *Noble 60,000 French $356.65 *Venus 60,000 Soft Red Winter $353.67 *Nidera 60,000 Romanian $369.34 *Alex Grain 55,000 Soft Red Winter $347.99 *Cargill 60,000 Soft White Winter $340.14 + 60,000 Soft Red Winter $350.99 FREIGHT BIDS Traders also said the following freight (ocean shipping) bids were made in the tender in dollars a tonne: For shipment 21-31 Dec 2012: Romania: $10.75 Russia: Glencore $10.99, Olam $11.74 France: Bunge $13.88; Glencore $14.24 For shipment 1-10 Jan 2013: Romania: Ameropa $10.50 Argentina: Glencore $26.10 SRW: Alex Grain $22.65 France: Louis Dreyfus $14.82; InVivo $13.88

Reuters