HAMBURG: The lowest price offered in the international tender from a government agency in Pakistan to buy about 300,000 tonnes of wheat which closed on Monday was believed to be $278.50 a tonne c&f, European traders said. The offer was made for Russian-origin wheat, they said.

Offers in the tender from the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) are still being considered and no purchase has been reported, traders said. The lowest offer was believed to have been submitted by trading house Aston.

Traders said they believed these other offers were submitted in the tender with price in dollars a tonne c&f:

Promising International $283.65

Agrocorp$286.95

Dreyfus $284.94

Ameropa $290.00

CHS $283.00

Swiss Singapore $289.95

Grain Export$280.00

A previous tender from the TCP for 300,000 tonnes of wheat had closed on Sept. 23 with Russian wheat offered at the lowest price of $280.90 a tonne c&f but with no purchase reported.

The wheat in the new tender can be supplied from optional origins and shipment must be organised for arrival in Pakistan by Jan. 15, 2021.

Shipment of the first 50,000 tonnes should be made with two weeks from the opening of a letter of credit on the purchase.

The rest should follow in shipments every 15 days.

Pakistan will also import 180,000 tonnes of wheat from Russia, as the South Asian nation faces shortages, which has created a crisis for the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan.