The Hindu Business Line : Mixed trend at Kochi tea auction

There was 8,70,000 kg of dust tea on offer at the Kochi tea auction, which witnessed mixed trends. Medium and below medium CTC dust remained steady to dearer by 50 paise to Re 1.

High priced CTCs were barely steady to irregular compared to last week. The price of orthodox high grown varieties eased, while medium orthodox remained firm to dearer.

Exporters remained selective this week, even as domestic buyers were active on medium CTC dust varieties. Blenders operated on good liquoring teas.

Best CTC dust fetched between Rs 53 and Rs 65, medium CTC realised Rs 50-55 while below medium was quoted at Rs 45-50. High grown BOPD fetched Rs 115, medium BOPD Rs 45 and secondaries were at Rs 40-42.

Leaf Tea

There was good general demand at the leaf tea auction, which had 2,78,000 kg on offer. Good medium orthodox brokens and fannings were steady to dearer. Price of plainer orthodox varieties eased. High grown orthodox remained steady to dearer. CTC smaller brokens and fannings remained steady to dearer, while other CTC varieties were barely steady.

Orthodox leaf tea found better demand from exporters to CIS and other countries. Smaller CTCs also witnessed good demand from exporters.

Best Nilgiri leaf were quoted between Rs 67 and Rs 75, medium orthodox between Rs 47 and Rs 60, while plain orthodox ranged between Rs 43 and Rs 44. Best CTC leaf fetched between Rs 50 and Rs 55 while medium CTC was at Rs 47 to Rs 52.

Top Prices

Kodanad BOPD realised the top price in the dust segment at Rs 115, followed by Pasuparai SFD Rs 96, Pasuparai FD Rs 92 and Pasuparai RD at Rs 79. In the leaf segment, Chamraj OP commanded the top price of Rs 117, followed by Havukal BOPF at Rs 100, Kodanad BOPF Rs 95 and Havukal FP at Rs 94.