Saudi Arabia floats 655,000-ton wheat tender for May-July delivery
A total of 11 shipments are being sought, involving one vessel to Jazan port, three to Dammam, three to Yanbu and four to Jeddah.
SAUDI ARABIA – The Saudi General Food Security Authority (GFSA) has issued an international tender to purchase 655,000 metric tons of wheat for delivery between May and July 2026, underscoring the Kingdom’s continued reliance on imports to secure domestic flour milling requirements.
European traders said the deadline for submission of price offers is February 27, with results expected on March 2.
The tender seeks a total of 11 shipments distributed across four major ports. One vessel is scheduled for Jazan Port, three for King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, three for Yanbu Commercial Port, and four for Jeddah Islamic Port.
According to traders, the largest allocation, up to 240,000 tons, is designated for Jeddah, with shipment between May 1 and July 15.
Yanbu is set to receive 180,000 tons for arrival between May 15 and June 30, while Dammam is slated for 180,000 tons between May 1 and July 15. A smaller volume of 55,000 tons is earmarked for Jazan for arrival between June 1 and June 15.
Shipments to Jeddah, Dammam and Yanbu are structured in 60,000-ton consignments, aligning with Panamax-size vessel logistics that optimize freight economics for Red Sea and Arabian Gulf deliveries. The Jazan cargo is expected as a single smaller lot.
Meanwhile, Market participants noted that the final volume purchased could exceed the stated 655,000 tons, depending on price competitiveness and supply conditions.
Competitive offers are expected from suppliers in the European Union, particularly Germany and the Baltic region, as well as from Romania and Bulgaria, depending on freight spreads.
Saudi Arabia is one of the Middle East’s largest wheat importers, following its strategic shift away from water-intensive domestic wheat production more than a decade ago. The Kingdom now depends almost entirely on international markets, particularly the European Union, the Black Sea region and North America, to supply hard wheat suitable for flour milling.
The GFSA, formerly known as SAGO before sector restructuring, manages procurement and strategic reserves to stabilize domestic supply.
The agency’s tendering activity is closely monitored by global exporters, as Saudi specifications, typically for 12.5% protein hard wheat, provide a consistent outlet for high-quality milling grades.
In its previous tender on January 19, the authority purchased an estimated 907,000 tons of hard wheat, signaling active replenishment of stocks amid volatile global trade flows.
The scale of that purchase exceeded earlier market expectations and reinforced Saudi Arabia’s role as a demand anchor in the region.
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