KARACHI, Sept 22: The Trading Corporation of Pakistan shortlisted six bids on Thursday for a tender to import 25,000 tons of white sugar at between $333.50 and $390.50 per ton C&F Karachi, an official said.

The TCP received offers from eight local and foreign firms against a tender issued on Sept 17, but rejected two offers on technical grounds, said TCP director Abdul Mallick.

He added that the lowest bidder was Dubai-based Al-Khaleej Sugar Co, which offered 25,000 tons of sugar in containers at $333.50 per ton. The firm has also offered to supply sugar in bulk at $348.50 per ton.

Swiss-based Cargill International has offered the highest price of $390.50 per ton.

A Hong Kong-based firm offered to supply at a price of $345 per ton, a German firm quoted $352.25 per ton, another Swiss firm $364.90 per ton and a Kazakhstan company offered at $339 per ton.

Bidders offered Indian, Chinese, Cuban, Thai, Argentine and Brazilian sugar.

Mr Mallick said the tender result would be announced later on Thursday or on Friday.

The TCP, which has announced plans to import 200,000 tons of sugar, has already bought 100,000 and 25,000 tons of white sugar from Al Khaleej at $366 and $390 through two separate tenders.

It had also bought two cargoes of 25,000 tons of white sugar at $355 and $362 a ton from Cargill and Dubai-based Dhanji International.

Pakistan has been buying sugar from international markets since January to cover a production shortfall. Apart from TCP’s purchases, private Pakistani traders have finalised deals to import more than 500,000 tons of sugar.—Reuters