Iraq also reissued a tender to buy at least 50,000 tonnes of wheat with origins from the United States, Canada, Australia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Romania and Germany, the sources said.

The closing date for the rice tender is on Nov. 19, and Nov. 18 for the wheat and offers must be valid until Nov. 23, and Nov. 22, respectively.

Iraq is one of the world's largest importers of wheat and rice, much of which goes to supply a massive national food ration programme.