The rice in the purchase is expected to be sourced from Pakistan, they said.

The purchase included 12,500 tonnes of white rice of 5 percent broken grade all bought at $460 a tonne c&f.

Another 37,500 tonnes of white rice of 15 percent broken grade was all purchased at $450 a tonne c&f.

The purchase was divided among eight trading houses, all receiving the same tonnage allocation.

Latest shipment period is May 31 and all the rice will be shipped in containers.

Bulog said on Tuesday it was continuing with plans to import a total 500,000 tonnes of rice up to the end of June to improve local supplies and cool domestic prices.