Egypt's main government grain buyer said on Thursday it was considering issuing international tenders to buy rice if local producers continue stocking up the commodity.

"We are issuing a tender next week to buy both local and imported rice that is already in the country through private importers," Nomani Nomani, vice chairman of the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC), told Reuters.

"International tenders will be the next step because if I import directly I can get better prices," he said.

Nomani said international tenders would be issued should local traders continue to store their rice in order to push up prices.