Euronext wheat futures edged lower on Wednesday, consolidating below a three-month high struck this week, as traders set expected export sales from international tenders against the need for the European Union to clear a hefty harvest surplus.

Benchmark December milling wheat on the Paris-based Euronext exchange was down 0.25 euro or 0.1% at 180.75 euros ($200.89) a tonne at 1623 GMT.

The contract had set a three-month high of 182.25 euros on Monday and equalled that level on Tuesday.

Chicago wheat was also little changed as the US market consolidated following a 3-1/2 month peak this week.

A series of tenders by importing countries has supported wheat markets, and traders said French wheat was likely to claim the bulk of a purchase by Algeria in a tender on Tuesday.

Algeria bought close to 600,000 tonnes of optional-origin wheat in the tender, traders said.

"Export demand is there. Algeria's purchase is going to be French, the Saudi one will go partly to German and Baltic wheat, while Turkey has bought EU wheat," a futures dealer said.

"But we'll have to see if this all adds up to enough demand to clear supplies that are heavy."

Loadings at French ports have eased during October, raising concern about a lull in exports.

In Germany, standard bread wheat with 12% protein for November delivery in Hamburg was offered for sale unchanged at 2.0 euros under Paris December. Buyers were seeking at least 3.0 euros under Paris.

German premiums were underpinned by improving export prospects, reflecting hopes of sales in Saudi Arabia's 605,000 tonne purchase on Monday.

In Poland, prices rose in the last week, also supported by improving export prospects.

Exporters increased prices for Polish 12.5% protein milling wheat by 20 zloty a tonne on the week to around 740 zloty (172 euros) a tonne for delivery to port silos in October.

"We expect some of the 190,000 tonnes of EU wheat purchased in the tender from Turkey on Tuesday will be loaded from Poland," one Polish trader said.