Damascus, Sept. 17 (SANA)Syria’s General Authority for Supply and Procurement has issued a tender to sell 200,000 tons of second- and third-grade durum wheat considered surplus to the country’s milling needs.The wheat is owned by theSyrian Grain Establishment. Bids are due by Oct. 20, with successful buyers required to collect contracted quantities within 60 days, according to the tender notice.The sale comes after the Syrian Grain Establishment said in August that wheat received from the 2026 harvest had reached about 2.7 million tons, exceeding the country’s estimated annual requirement of 2.55 million tons.That compares with an April production forecast of about 2.5 million tons for the season, assuming favorable weather conditions continued.Stronger harvestAgricultural officials interviewed by SANA have attributed the stronger harvest partly to favorable rainfall, which reduced irrigation costs and improved rainfed wheat production in several areas.Higher domestic production could reduce the need for wheat imports and ease pressure on foreign currency resources, while supporting milling, transportation, storage and related sectors, according to economic experts.Experts have said sustaining higher wheat production will require continued support for farmers, improved production inputs and water management, and further development of grain collection and storage infrastructure