Algeria's state grains firm OAIC has beginning purchasing soft grating wheat in an global tender which closed on Tuesday, European traders stated.

Initial purchases reported were around $279 a metric heap cost and freight (c&& f) consisted of, they said.

The tonnage purchased was at first unclear but believed to be relatively small. Negotiations were said to be continuing at around the $285 c&& f level for larger volumes, traders stated.

The wheat is sought for delivery in 2024 in two periods from the primary supply regions including Europe: Aug. 1-15 and Aug. 16-31. If sourced from South America or Australia, delivery is one month previously.

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

Algeria is an important customer for wheat from the European Union, particularly France, but Russian exporters have been broadening highly in the Algerian market.

In its previous massive soft wheat purchase reported on May 3, Algeria bought in between 240,000 and 300,000 lots of crushing wheat at around $249 a load c&& f.

Ever since, costs struck 10-month highs on concerns about weather damage to the harvest in leading exporter Russia.