The Hindu Business Line : Coonoor tea up on demand, low volume

The auctions for the year 2006 conducted by the Coonoor Tea Trade Association (CTTA) ended on a happy note. Prices rose on an average by Rs 2 a kg over the previous week.

The volume on offer continued to be low at 10.75 lakh kg . "Well made liquoring medium grades gained Rr 1-Rs 2 a kg. Fannings were sold around Rs 2 a kg dearer. Clean black grainy dust CTC grades fetched Rs 3 a kg more. Medium varieties got Rs 2 more. Most orthodox dust teas fetched handsome premiums. Flavoury secondary dusts sold Rs 3-4 dearer and some invoices got even higher increase", an auctioneer told Business Line. Only the flaky sorts amidst the orthodox leaf grades tended easier. Fibrous varieties lost Re 1-Rs 2 a kg.

Good CTC brokens, which fetched Rs 70 a kg last week, got Rs 75 now. Medium CTC teas, which tended for Rs 43-47 a kg last week, got Rs 44- 48 now. The best CTC dust grades, which fetched Rs 66-77 last week, sold for Rs 68-80 now. Medium CTC grades, which got Rs 46-49 last week, fetched Rs 48-51 now.

Quotations held by the brokers indicated bids ranging from Rs 40 to 42 a kg for plain leaf grades and Rs 62-68 for the brighter liquoring grades. For the plain dust grades, the bids ranged Rs 41-43 and for the brighter liquoring sorts, Rs 65-80.