CAIRO- The lowest offer presented at an Egyptian state purchasing tender for wheat was $234.00 a tonne for 55,000 tonnes of Russian grain free on board (FOB), traders said.

Egypt's state grains buyer, the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC,) is seeking an unspecified quantity of wheat for shipment over Aug. 1-10 and said it plans to pay for it with "at sight" letters of credit.

GASC returned to the market nearly a month after its last tender with timing that traders said was unusual because many did not expect Egypt to buy wheat internationally so close to its own harvest, beginning April 15.

"Perhaps GASC is confident the Egyptian new crop will be sufficient for supplies up to the new harvest in the northern hemisphere," one European trader said.

The Egyptian government is looking to procure 3.5-4 million tonnes of local wheat this season and Supply Minister Ali Moselhy said on Sunday strategic reserves of wheat amounted to 3.6 months of consumption. 

"I think GASC wants to have a detailed look at the price offers for Russian and other Black Sea crop in the face of the Russian export tax, which is still a rather foggy proposal," the trader added.

Starting from June 2, Moscow will launch a permanent formula-based export tax for wheat, barley and corn. The formula for wheat will be set at 70% of the difference between a base price of wheat per tonne and $200. 

Traders gave the following breakdown of the offers presented at the tender in dollars per tonne FOB:

* Ameropa: 60,000 tonnes of Romanian wheat at $235.65

* Ameropa: 60,000 tonnes of Romanian wheat at $235.65

* ADM: 60,000 tonnes of Romanian wheat at $236.85

* CHS: 60,000 tonnes of Romanian wheat at $237.40

* Glencore: 60,000 tonnes of Romanian wheat at $239.95

* Cofco: 60,000 tonnes of Romanian wheat at $241.49

* Cargill: 60,000 tonnes of Romanian wheat at $243.00

* Grain Export: 60,000 tonnes of Russian wheat at $234.90

* Agro AST: 60,000 tonnes of Russian wheat at $234.90

* Posco International: 60,000 tonnes of Russian wheat at $234.99

* Solaris: 60,000 tonnes of Russian wheat at $235.00

* ADM: 60,000 tonnes of Russian wheat at $242.00

* GTCS: 55,000 tonnes of Russian wheat at $234.00

* GTCS: 55,000 tonnes of Russian wheat at $235.00

* Posco International: 60,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat at $235.30

* Nibulon: 60,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat at $235.50

* LDC: 60,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat at $239.00

* Inerco Trade: 55,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat at $237.30

* Olam: 55,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat at $234.25 but offer only valid for April 6

No purchase has yet been made and GASC has asked traders to keep their bids open for 24 hours, ending at 1630 local time on April 7.

(Reporting by Nadine Awadalla in Cairo and Michael Hogan in Hamburg Editing by Jason Neely and David Goodman) ((Nadine.Awadalla@thomsonreuters.com;))