Initial assessments by European traders suggest that the lowest price offered at Friday's international tender for around 50,000 metric tonnes of soft milling grain from Tunisia was $267.64 per tonne, c&f.

Finagrit, a trading house, was thought to have made the offer for 50,000 tons.

They said that no purchase had yet been reported, and that offers were still being considered. The reports reflect the assessments of traders, and future estimates of price and volume are possible.

The next wheat offer was from Bulgarian Trading House Buildcom, which offered $267.77 per ton c&f.

Amber submitted the lowest bid of $219.49 per ton, c&f. Casillo came in second with $220.69.

If the agency deems the other conditions associated with the price as being unattractive, it will not purchase the lowest priced offer.

The barley was to be shipped between June 20 and August 30.

The World Bank is providing the funding for the tenders, according to traders. This organisation has been helping Tunisia in its difficult financial situation due to a lack of external funds.

Tunisia bought about 100,000 tons of soft wheat at $273.69 per ton c&f in its last tender reported on May 22.

EU wheat prices reached a one-year high on May 27, due to concerns about the Russian crop being damaged by bad weather. However, they have since fallen in early June. European wheat futures dropped over 2% in Europe on Friday, partly due to fears of lost demand after Turkey announced an import ban. (Reporting and editing by David Evans, with Michael Hogan)