Iraq’s state grain buyer has issued an international tender to buy 30,000 tonnes of rice. The deadline for offers is Aug. 27 and rice is being sought from all origins. Offers should remain valid until Aug. 31. Iraq made no purchase in its previous attempt to buy rice, which closed on July 30. The country has been struggling to import grain for its food subsidy programme after introducing new payment and quality terms that left trading houses unwilling to participate in its international tenders. Iraq is expected to produce about 250,000 tonnes of rice this year, suggesting that there will be a shortfall of about 1 million tonnes that will need to be covered by imports.