LONDON Iran has bought 40,000 tons of raw sugar at around $192 per ton FOB, with further imports expected this year, traders said on Friday.

They added that the sugar was of Brazilian origin for delivery between August 15 and September 15.

Dealers said the purchase took place on Wednesday, but the identity of the trade house that sold the sugar was not known. "Iran needed to buy the sugar but they put off buying until the July (raw contract) had expired in New York. They were right to do so and then they came to buy on Wednesday," a trader said.

The trader said Iran was expected to import a further 180,000 to 200,000 tons this year, Reuters reported.

Analysts have estimated that Iran has consumption requirements, raw value, of 2.3 million tones in 2000/01 up from 2.2 million in 1999/2000. They estimate domestic raw sugar production at 543,000 tones in 2000/01, down from 582,000 in 1999/00.

"The reason why they are buying so much this year is because they have been having a poor crop, which was down on last year," said another trader.

He added that apart from official purchases, Iran has also imported more sugar privately.

In June Iran rejected price offers in a tender to buy 35,000 tons of raw sugar for August shipment.