CBOT wheat climbs on short-covering, big Algerian purchase

CHICAGO, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures closed higher on Thursday on short-covering amid light holiday trade and on news of a massive wheat purchase by Algeria's state grains agency, traders said.

• CBOT March soft red winter wheat WH25 settled up 6-1/4 cents at $5.41 per bushel, consolidating above a life-of-contract low hit last week at $5.29-1/4.

• K.C. March hard red winter wheat KWH25 ended up 7-3/4 cents at $5.51-1/2 a bushel and Minneapolis March spring wheat MWEH25 rose 4-1/2 cents to finish at $5.94.

• Algerian state grains agency OAIC is believed to have purchased 1.17 million metric tons of milling wheat in an international tender this week, European traders said.

• Traders suspected some of the Algerian purchase would be sourced from the Black Sea region, including Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine, although technically the grain can be sourced from optional origins. Some traders also expect some Russian wheat to be supplied.

• Russia's IKAR agricultural consultancy said it saw 2025/26 wheat exports at 41 million metric tons, down from 43.5 million tons expected in the current season. Winter wheat in Russia, the world's top wheat exporter, has struggled with poor crop conditions.

• Ahead of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's weekly export sales report, delayed until Friday due to Wednesday's holiday, traders expect the government to report U.S. wheat sales in the week ended Dec. 19 at 250,000 to 600,000 metric tons.

(Reporting by Julie Ingwersen; Editing by Leslie Adler)

((Julie.ingwersen@thomsonreuters.com; 1-313-484-5283; Reuters Messaging: julie.ingwersen.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))