Saudi Arabia's main state wheat buying agency, the Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO), said on Thursday it has issued an international tender to purchase 1.5 million tonnes of animal feed barely. Tender deadline is July 21, it said. The barley is sought from global suppliers for arrival in Saudi Arabia in September and October, SAGO governor Ahmad Al Fares said.
The tender seeks 25 individual consignments of 60,000 tonnes. The consignments can be offered by trading houses up to 10 percent larger or smaller than that, SAGO said. Some 1.08 million tonnes will be distributed between Saudi Arabia's Red Sea ports and 420,000 tonnes will be shipped to its Gulf ports.
SAGO, previously known as the General Silos and Flour Mills Organisation (GSFMO), was assigned the task of securing feed barley imports for Saudi Arabia in autumn 2016. In its last reported barley tender on May 22, SAGO purchased 1.5 million tonnes. Saudi Arabia is one of the world's largest importers of barley. SAGO is also Saudi Arabia's main wheat buyer.