UPDATE 2-Manila gets lowest rice offer from Thailand, Pakistan

* Lowest offer at $472.72/T for Pakistani rice

* Cheapest Thai rice offer at $486.28/T, lower than Vietnam's

* Manila may import 200,000-300,000 T more this yr-traders (Recasts, adds expectations for more imports)

MANILA, July 22 - The Philippines is likely to buy 75,000 tonnes of milled rice from Thailand and Pakistan after Wednesday's tender and will probably purchase 200,000-300,000 tonnes more for the rest of the year, traders said on Wednesday.

Three rice suppliers offered the lowest prices of the 25 percent broken grade from Thailand and Pakistan at a government tender on Wednesday, the first by the world's largest importer this year.

Global trading firm Toepfer International made the lowest offer of $472.72 per tonne, C&F, for 10,000 tonnes of rice from Pakistan.

The second lowest offer was from Thai Hua Ltd, which offered to supply 18,000 tonnes at $486.28 per tonne. Asia Golden Rice gave the third lowest offer of $487 per tonne, for 50,000 tonnes, C&F, of which only 47,000 tonnes may be awarded.

Both firms will source rice from Thailand, the world's biggest exporter of the grain.

Manila's tender pushed up the price of 25 percent broken grade rice in Vietnam to $370 a tonne from $360 a tonne a week ago, traders in Ho Chi Minh said, adding they had expected the Vietnamese offers to win since Vietnamese rice was around $100-$150 per tonne cheaper than Thai rice. [ID:nBKK135986]

Thailand's benchmark 100 percent B grade white rice rose to $590 per tonne on Wednesday from $580 a week before on tight supply, exporters said.

Vinafood 2, Vietnam's top rice exporter, offered to sell 75,000 tonnes of rice at $504.50 per tonne, C&F, at Wednesday's tender in Manila.

DELIVERY FOR LEAN MONTHS

Nine foreign suppliers turned up, offering to sell a total 311,000 tonnes at between $472.72 and $528 a tonne, C&F, for delivery in August and September.

In January, Manila purchased 1.5 million tonnes of rice, mostly 25 percent brokens, from Vietnam at $549.50 a tonne, including cost and freight, in an intergovernment deal.

The Philippines has imported 1.7 million tonnes of rice so far this year, including 200,000 tonnes to be brought in by private firms until August.

Traders estimate the country may import another 200,000-300,000 tonnes for the rest of the year to bring total purchases to around 2 million tonnes.

"The government has said before total imports this year may reach 2.0-2.1 million tonnes, so they will find a way to buy the remainder," said a grains trader.

A senior official at state grain agency National Food Authority (NFA) said this month the country had an option to import up to 2.4 million tonnes of the national staple in 2009, above the previous record of 2.3 million it brought in last year, which helped drive grain prices to record levels. [ID:nMAN441697]

NFA officials have said Wednesday's tender to buy 75,000 tonnes of rice, equivalent to just over two days' consumption, was in preparation for the lean July-September production season.

The NFA, tasked with securing domestic supply and stabilising prices of rice, said it has 1.43 million tonnes of milled rice in stock as of the second week of July, equivalent to 41 days consumption.