MMTC invites bid to sell Malawi tur

MMTC, a state-owned trading company, has invited bids from domestic traders and companies for sale of 1,000 tonne of imported tur of Malawi origin.

The tender, which was notified on March 22, would be opened on March 29, an official said, adding that the bids should be submitted for a minimum lot of 10 tonne.

The tender document posted on the company's website said the entire 1,000 tonne of tur (whole) is currently stored at a Mumbai godown of Central Warehousing Corporation.

Malawi is a south-eastern African republic bordering Mozambique.

India has so far this year imported about 18 lakh tonne of pulses to improve domestic supply of the commodities. The import by private traders stood at 16.95 lakh tonne till the 2006-end, while the state-owned companies have contracted 1.03 lakh tonne till March 8.

MMTC and PEC have imported mainly moong, tur and urad amounting to 26,000 tonne and 17,000 tonne, respectively.

On the other hand, Nafed imported 30,000 tonne of urad and moong and STC 30,000 tonne of urad.

Zero-customs duty on pulses import has been extended up to March 2008, while export of the commodities (except Kabuli chana) has been banned till August, 2007.