The Hindu Business Line : Mixed trend in Kochi tea sale

THERE was good general demand for dust tea at the Kochi tea auction last week. CTC popular varieties were selling at the previous week levels. The price of medium and below medium varieties eased by Rs 1-2 and sometimes plunged even lower. Orthodox dust varieties remained steady to dearer.

Best CTC dust commanded prices between Rs 52 and Rs 68, medium varieties Rs 43-48, while poorer varieties commanded between Rs 35 and Rs 38. High grown BOPD were quoted at Rs 70, medium BOPD Rs 38-45 and secondaries ranged between Rs 33 and Rs 37.

Residuals were priced between Rs 30 and 32. In all 10,38,000 kg of dust tea were on offer at the auction.

Leaf tea segment witnessed a good general demand, while orthodox medium brokens remained steady, fannings remained steady to dearer. High grown brokens tended to ease from the previous high-priced levels, while others remained steady. CTC smaller brokens and fannings were also steady.

Best Nilgiri brokens commanded between Rs 53 and Rs 68, medium orthodox Rs 42-58 while plain orthodox commanded Rs 42-48. Best CTC leaf varieties quoted between Rs 50 and Rs 58, while medium CTC ranged around Rs 38-45.

In the dust segment, top prices were commanded by Pasuparai SFD at Rs 82, Pasuparai FD at Rs 75, Pasuparai RD at Rs 75 and Pasuparai SRD/SD at Rs 71.

Among the leaf varieties, Chamraj OP quoted Rs 84, Tigerhill OP-CL was at Rs 84, Tigerhill FOP-CL was Rs 81 and Havukal BOPF at Rs 81.

The leaf segment at the auction had 4,79,000 kg on offer.