Saudi Arabia: SAGO purchased 660,000 tonnes of feed barley in a tender originally opened for 480,000 tonnes

The Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO) purchased 660,000 tonnes of feed barley (tender was opened for 480,000 tonnes), arrival end of March – first half of April, at average prices of US$278 CIF Red Sea and US$277 CIF Gulf ports. The prices are about US$40 higher than the last tender result of 16 November, H. M. Gauger GmbH reported in February.

Purchases for the crop year add up to 4.3 mln tonnes, the USDA forecasts total imports of 7.6 mln tonnes.

The government plans to hand back the barley import business to private importers, but the change-over procedure takes time. One problem is the huge subsidy (app. US$130 per tonne) presently paid to bridge the gap between the price levels of US$ Cif vs. Rial EXW, incl. VAT, in 50 kilo bags.