The Hindu Business Line : Tea prices up on demand at Coonoor sale

DESPITE an increase in the volume of tea offered at the Coonoor tea auctions, the prices looked up on demand from both upcountry buyers and exporters.

The increase in the volume offered for sale at the sales conducted by the Coonoor Tea Trade Association (CTTA) this week was over a lakh kg at 8.76 lakh kg.

``Orange Pekoes and the best high grown fannings were dearer. Whole leaf high-growns fetched about Rs 2 a kg more. Good liquoring CTC tea also got Rs 2 a kg more. Clean black leafy brokens as also the dust grades were dearer. Generally CTC tea got at least a rupee more this week,'' according to the Market Report of the Joint Brokers.

Buyers for Maharashtra and Gujarat markets bought brighter liquoring teas for over Rs 60 a kg.

Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL), a large blender, operated on a wide range of tea.

Nearly 60,000 kg of the tea on offer continued to fetch over Rs 60 a kg. Darmona Estate topped the CTC bought leaf segment with Rs 83 a kg. Hittakkal Estate and Shanthi Supreme fetched Rs 70. Vigneshwar Estate got Rs 68.

On the export front, Iraq slowed down purchases, but CIS continued buy at Rs 38 a kg. Poland buyers bought tea for Rs 35 a kg. Pakistan bought blacker smaller grades for Rs 40 a kg. Exporters for Kenya bought smaller grades in the dusts category.

On the average, the medium grade dusts were sold for Rs 34 a kg while the better grades for Rs 45. The medium grade leaf grades fetched Rs 33, while the better ones, Rs 39.

For the next auctions, a volume of 8.75 lakh kg has been catalogued.