RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s main state wheat buying agency the Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO) said on Thursday it had issued an international tender to purchase 660,000 tonnes of animal feed barley. Tender deadline is Aug. 11, it said. The barley is sought from global suppliers for arrival in Saudi Arabia in October, SAGO Governor Ahmad Al Fares said. The tender seeks 11 individual consignments of 60,000 tonnes. The consignments can be offered by trading houses up to 10 percent larger or smaller than 60,000 tonnes, SAGO said. Some 480,000 tonnes will be distributed between Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea ports and 180,000 tonnes will be shipped to Saudi Arabia’s 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. A new tender had been expected as in its last reported barley tender on July 24, SAGO had purchased just 900,000 tonnes after seeking offers for 1.5 million tonnes.
