Syria's state grains agency has purchased 100,000 tonnes of Black Sea region wheat, thought likely to come from Romania, in an international tender to buy the same volume which closed on Monday, European traders said on Wednesday.
The agency made no sale in a separate tender which also closed on Monday to sell and export 50,000 tonnes of durum wheat, traders said. The soft wheat was said to have been purchased at 214.50 euros a tonne c&f. Syria traditionally denominates grain purchases in euros. Dealers said the seller was believed to be Cyprus-based trader Sarels International, which has extensive interests in Romania.
"Water levels on the Danube have been very low in the last month which has stopped grains from the eastern EU being shipped to the west by inland waterways so more cheap Romanian supplies are seeking a market," one trader said. "Russian and Ukrainian wheat supplies no longer have their total price supremacy as was shown by the Egyptian wheat tender on Tuesday, in which French wheat was offered more cheaply than Ukrainian." Syria's purchase tender had sought soft wheat of any origin for nearby shipment.
Syria had rejected offers and made no purchases in three previous tenders to buy 100,000 tonnes of wheat which closed on November 14, October 24 and on September 26 as prices were too high. The durum sale tender had been issued because of surplus stocks of hard wheat bought from Syrian farmers this year.
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