Turkey's state grain board TMO has issued an international tender for the purchase and import of 300,000 tonnes of milling wheat, European traders said on Monday. Bidding deadline was February 15 and shipment was between Mar. 1-25. Wheat with 12.5 percent protein content was sought. No specific origins were specified in the tender.
Turkey's previous wheat purchase tender was on January 11 when it bought 300,000 tonnes from the United States, Germany, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. In normal crop years Turkey is a major grain exporter but poor weather in the country cut the 2010 harvest. Turkey was also a major buyer of Russian wheat, supplies which were stopped after Russia announced an export ban this summer after a disastrous drought. Turkey's grain board has also been selling wheat from its stocks to help meet domestic demand.