The Hindu Business Line : CTCs, orthodox decline at Kochi tea sale

DESPITE good general demand, prices of both CTC and orthodox dust tea were quoting lower at the Kochi tea auction. There was 9,32,000 kg of dust tea on offer at the auction.

Best CTC varieties commanded a price between Rs 54 and Rs 65, while medium varieties realised Rs 42-51 and below medium varieties were quoted between Rs 35-38. High grown BOPD varieties realised a price of Rs 110, while no quotations were reported for medium BOPD varieties, even as secondaries were quoting between Rs 25-27.

In the leaf tea segment, both medium orthodox brokens and whole tea grades remained steady, while best high grown varieties were slightly higher. There was 3,35,000 kg of leaf tea on offer at the auction. Exporters to Iraq operated in the medium orthodox grades while the CIS exporters absorbed a significant portion of the high grown varieties.

Best Nilgiri leaf tea varieties commanded between Rs 50-65, medium orthodox ranged between Rs 36-43, while best CTC leaf varieties were quoting between Rs 42-48 and medium CTC leaf ranged between Rs 40-42. In the dust segment, Kodanad BOPD realised the highest prices at Rs 110, Pasuparai FD quoted at Rs 79, Pasuparai SFD at Rs 74 and Pasuparai SD at Rs 74. Quinshola FOP quoted the highest at the leaf auction at Rs 350, Chamraj OP at Rs 112, Havukal BOPF at Rs 109 and Kodanad BOPF quoted at Rs 108.