The Hindu Business Line : Steady trend at Kochi tea auction

Kochi March 16 Prices of most dust varieties ruled steady at the Kochi tea auction, which had 8,50,000 kg on offer. CTC varieties were steady, good medium varieties were dearer, while orthodox high grown were steady and mediums were dearer. Major blenders were active in CTC varieties while bolder grades witnessed good enquiry from exporters.

Best CTC varieties commanded a price of Rs 65 - 78, medium CTC was at Rs 55 - 63 and below medium ranged at Rs 48 - 52. High grown BOPD fetched Rs 75 - 136, medium BOPD was at Rs 49 - 58, while secondaries were at Rs 44.

Leaf Sale

There was 2,10,000 kg of leaf tea on offer at the auction where prices of high grown variety were generally firm to dearer. Good medium broken varieties were dearer by Rs 3-4 and fannings remained steady. Both whole leaf grades and CTC were steady at last week's levels. There was good enquiry for orthodox grades from exporters to CIS countries, while internal buyers absorbed most of the CTC varieties. Exporters remained selective on CTC grades.

Best Nilgiri varieties commanded Rs 85 - 120, medium orthodox ranged between Rs 49 - 58 and plain orthodox was at Rs 41 - 45. Best CTC leaf fetched Rs 53 - 55, while medium CTC was quoted at Rs 48 - 52.