HAMBURG: Saudi Arabia’s state grains authority GSFMO has issued an international tender to purchase 550,000 tons of hard and soft wheat, European traders said.

Tender deadline is also Friday May 2 and offers must remain valid until Monday May 5, traders said.

Shipment is sought between the second half of June and first half of August, with arrival in July and August.

The wheat can be sourced from Europe, North and South America and Australia, at the sellers’ option.

In its last reported wheat purchase on Jan. 27, the GSFMO bought 715,000 tons for shipment between April and June, which could be sourced from Europe, North and South America and Australia at the sellers’ option.

The agency also bought 720,000 tons of wheat in a tender on Nov. 4.

Saudi Arabia has become a large importer of wheat since abandoning plans for self-sufficiency in the commodity in 2008 because farming in the desert absorbed huge volumes of precious water supplies.

The country aims to reduce agriculture steadily and plans to be completely reliant on imports by 2016.