The Indian state trading company MMTC, for the third time, has postponed the deadline for submitting bids in an international tender for the import of yellow corn, this time until June 6, European traders said on Tuesday, May 21.

The deadline for submission of proposals was initially set for May 8, then postponed to May 15, and then to May 22. India is bidding for corn without genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The purchase volume will be determined by MMTC depending on the level of prices received. Traders are asked to submit their proposals for a minimum supply of 20,000 tons and a maximum of 100,000 tons.

MMTC is currently requesting corn offers for shipment from July 1 to July 31. The previous shipment period was June 15 and July 15.

India used to be a major exporter of corn to Southeast Asia. But the decline in corn production and the reduction in demand from poultry and corn starch producers raised domestic prices and, ultimately, led India to turn from an exporter of corn into its importer.

Recently, there have been reports of the import of corn from Ukraine, which is considered the main supplier of corn to India over the past three years.