Taiwan buys estimated 80,550 tons of US-origin wheat, traders say

HAMBURG, Oct 3 - The Taiwan Flour Millers' Association purchased an estimated 80,550 metric tons of milling wheat to be sourced from the United States in a tender on Thursday, European traders said on Friday.

The purchase involved various wheat types bought in two consignments for shipment from the U.S. Pacific Northwest coast.

Trading house Bunge sold the wheat, the traders said.

One consignment of 40,550 tons was sought for shipment between November 25 and December 9, they said.

That consignment involved U.S. dark northern spring wheat of a minimum 14.5% protein content bought at an estimated $288.05 a ton free on board (fob), they said.

It also involved hard red winter wheat of a minimum 12.5% protein content bought at $248.04 a ton fob and soft white wheat of a minimum 8.5% and maximum 10% protein bought at $234.05 a ton fob.

The consignment has an extra freight charge of $44.39 a ton for ocean shipping from the U.S. Pacific Northwest coast to Taiwan, the traders said.

A second consignment of 40,000 tons was sought for shipment between December 13 and December 27, they said.

It involved dark northern spring wheat of a minimum 14.5% protein content bought at an estimated $277.55 a ton fob, the they added.

It also involved hard red winter wheat of a minimum 12.5% protein content bought at $242.04/ a ton fob and soft white wheat of a minimum 8.5% and maximum 10% protein bought at $231.05 a ton fob.

That consignment has an extra freight charge of $44.39 a ton for ocean shipping from the U.S. Pacific Northwest coast to Taiwan, the traders said.

Reports reflect assessments from traders and further estimates of prices and volumes are still possible later.