MANILA - Five firms offered to sell rice to the Philippines at $618.95 to $768.50 a ton, including cost and freight, at an import tender for 600,000 tons on Tuesday, up from offers at a tender for a similar volume last week.

The tender was the second of 3 of the same volume scheduled for this month as the world's biggest rice buyer secures 2010 supplies after storms destroyed crops.

Vinafood 2 submitted the lowest offer of $618.95 to supply 100,000 tons of rice, for delivery between February and May. Based on prices, the Vietnamese state firm could secure the bulk of the contract.

Offers at the December 1 tender ranged between $598 and $697 a ton, up sharply from $468.50 and $600 at a November 4 tender when Manila began buying for 2010 with an initial 250,000 tons.

Officials at the Philippines' National Food Authority (NFA) said the prices at Tuesday's tender were high and they need not contract for all of the 600,000 tons of rice. They said they also had the option not to award any contract at all.