(Adds GASC confirmation and background)
CAIRO, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Egypt's state grains buyer, the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC), bought 300,000 tonnes of wheat on Friday at an international purchase tender for shipment March 21-31, traders said.
GASC said it booked 120,000 tonnes of U.S. soft red wheat, 120,000 tonnes of French wheat, and 60,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat.
Euronext wheat futures rose on Friday on the back of the second sale of French wheat to Egypt in as many weeks, encouraging a technical rebound from a two-month low.
However, gains were curbed by stiff competition in the Egyptian tender, as well as general caution in grain markets before a raft of U.S. government crop reports due later in the day.
Russian wheat was too expensive to be competitive for the second consecutive tender, as seasonally lower supply from the world's largest wheat exporter drove prices up.
The Russian agriculture ministry said on Wednesday it expected exports to slow in the short term as high domestic prices make it harder for exporters to offer competitive prices abroad.
Traders gave the following breakdown of the purchase in dollars per tonne:
- Glencore: 60,000 tonnes of French wheat at $244.50 and $15.55 freight equating to $260.05
- Glencore: 60,000 tonnes of French wheat at $244.50 and $17.15 freight equating to $261.65
- Cargill: 60,000 tonnes of U.S. soft red wheat at $234.47 and $25.53 freight equating to $260.00
- Cargill: 60,000 tonnes of U.S. soft red wheat at $234.47 and $25.53 freight equating to $260.00
- Louis Dreyfu 60,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat at $247.90 and $13.30 freight equating to $261.20
