The Hindu Business Line : Kenya active buyer at Coonoor tea sales

FOR the second consecutive week, exporters helped to sustain the auctions last week when 7.72 lakh kg of teas were offered for sale at the auctions conducted by the Coonoor Tea Trade Association (CTTA).

Kenya, another big producer, which is seen buying a lot of teas in the recent weeks, was active last week as well. The buyers for Kenyan suppliers picked up smaller grade dust teas, BPS, BOP, RD etc for around Rs 42 a kg. "Kenya has obtained sizable orders to supply to Egypt, but for the price agreed, it looks for some matching grades for blending. Since, it is unable to obtain any suitable teas from other countries for less than $1.5 a kg, it prefers to be active in Coonoor where it can pay less than $1 a kg," a buyer said.

Pakistan buyers were seen buying clean black CTC teas for around Rs 41 a kg. The buyers for the Poland market chose medium and plainer leaf grades for around Rs 38 a kg, while the CIS dealers settled down for Rs 37.

Hindustan Lever Ltd, a large blender, made some forceful buying of the dusts categories for export purposes. The company also picked up some brighter liquoring medium leaf grades. Darmona Estate topped the list of CTC teas amidst the bought leaf factories fetching Rs 80 a kg, followed by Vigneshwar Estate at Rs 78, Sree Ram Supreme Rs 77, IBS Estate Rs 72, Hittakkal Estate Rs 70 and Garswood Estate Rs 65. On an average, plain dusts fetched Rs 37 a kg, while the best got Rs 45. Plain leaf teas fetched Rs 35 while the better ones, Rs 42.

The Market Report of the joint Brokers said for the next auctions, a volume of 7.43 lakh kg comprising 5.38 lakh kg of leaf and 2.05 lakh kg of dusts has been catalogued.