Iraq's Grain Board has purchased 450,000-500,000 tonnes of US, Canadian and Australian hard red winter wheat for shipment by the end of July, Iraqi trade sources said on Tuesday.

The sources, which did not disclose the prices at which the quantities were bought, told Reuters the purchases made in the last 48 hours were a result of a tender for a nominal 50,000 tonnes that closed on May 3 but was extended to May 4.

The country's purchasers requested that bids remain valid until May 8.

Iraq's last major purchase in international markets was on April 22 when Iraqi trade sources confirmed it purchased 100,000 tonnes of US wheat plus 100,000 tonnes of Australian wheat from Glencore.

Volumes in Iraq's wheat and rice tenders are viewed as nominal and the country regularly buys more than originally sought.

Iraqi trade sources said the latest sales brought to at least 1.4 million tonnes the quantities of US wheat purchased by Iraq since it accelerated purchases in February to ease shortages worsened by a five months halt in sales.-Reuters