Jordan buys 60,000 tonnes of wheat as it seeks to expand strategic grain stocks
Jordan bought about 60,000 tonnes of milling wheat at an estimated $332 per tonne, including cost and freight. The purchase comes as the government plans new contracts covering 240,000 tonnes of wheat and barley to maintain strategic reserves for more than eight months.
Jordan awards 60,000-tonne wheat tender
Jordan has purchased about 60,000 tonnes of hard milling wheat through an international tender, according to market traders cited by Reuters and Aswaq Information. The grain can be supplied from optional origins, giving the seller flexibility to select an eligible source under the tender’s conditions.
Traders believe the contract was awarded to Bulgarian trading company Buildcom at approximately $332 per tonne, including cost and freight. The wheat is scheduled for delivery during the first half of November. Aswaq Information cautioned that the reported price, volume and seller were based on traders’ estimates and could be revised if further details emerge.
At the reported price, the 60,000-tonne cargo has an indicative delivered value of about $19.92 million. That figure is a calculation based on the estimated price and volume rather than a separately disclosed contract value. Freight, the eventual origin and compliance with Jordan’s tender specifications will determine how the seller fulfills the transaction.
Buildcom undercuts competing offers
Buildcom’s estimated $332-per-tonne bid was the lowest among the offers reported by Aswaq Information. CHS offered $335.88 per tonne, Olam submitted $339 per tonne and Cargill quoted $342.93 per tonne. All the reported prices included cost and freight.
The winning estimate was therefore $3.88 per tonne below the CHS offer, $7 below Olam’s bid and $10.93 below Cargill’s quotation. Across a 60,000-tonne shipment, those differences would equal approximately $232,800, $420,000 and $655,800 respectively. The comparison illustrates the budget effect of relatively small price differences in a single bulk-grain tender.
Optional-origin procurement allows Buildcom to compare available wheat and freight combinations before arranging shipment. It does not identify where the grain will be grown or loaded. For producers and exporters, the commercial opportunity therefore remains dependent on the seller’s sourcing decision, quality requirements and logistics for delivery in the first half of November.
Government targets more than eight months of reserves
The purchase forms part of Jordan’s wider effort to reinforce its strategic grain stocks. Saraya News reported that the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply intends during the current month to conclude new contracts with suppliers for 240,000 tonnes of wheat and barley. The stated objective is to ensure continuity of supply and keep strategic stocks sufficient for more than eight months.
The available reports do not specify how the planned 240,000 tonnes will be divided between wheat and barley, or whether the awarded 60,000 tonnes are included in that total. They also do not disclose the expected origins, delivery windows or prices for the remaining volumes. Those details will determine the eventual scale of demand directed toward each grain and exporting market.
For grain traders, the immediate reference point is the estimated delivered wheat price of $332 per tonne and the spread between the competing bids. For Jordan, the tender adds a scheduled November shipment while the authorities prepare broader purchasing commitments. Further tenders or contract announcements will show how quickly the government moves toward its reserve target and how much barley and additional wheat it secures.
