HAMBURG/DHAKA: Bangladesh's state grains buyer has issued another international tender to purchase 50,000 tonnes of rice, traders said on Thursday, stepping up the country's rice import programme.
The tender deadline is Sept. 12.
Bangladesh, one of the world's biggest rice producers, has emerged as a major rice importer this year because of depleted stocks and record local prices after crop-damaging floods.
Bangladesh will import 250,000 tonnes of white rice at $453 a tonne from Cambodia in a government-to-government deal, food ministry officials said on Wednesday, having drawn a lowest offer of $407.89 in another 50,000 tonne purchase tender on Monday.
The latest tender on Thursday sought non-basmati parboiled rice with offers to be made in CIF liner-out terms, including cost, insurance, freight and ship unloading costs.
The rice can come from worldwide origins and shipment is 40 days after contract signing.
The government is working to build buffer stocks to combat high domestic prices
Although Bangladesh cut customs duty on rice imports last week to 2 percent from 10 percent, the second cut in less than two months, rice prices have dropped only slightly.
"More rice from India is being imported by private traders after the second cut. This will have a good impact on the domestic market," a food ministry official said.
The state grains buyer is also issuing a series of tenders after its initial talks with Thailand and India suffered a setback over high prices.
The government is also in talks with Myanmar to import rice, while it is engaged in a second round of discussions with Thailand and India.
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