The Hindu Business Line : Orthodox leaf rules steady at Coimbatore sale

Coimbatore May 22 Tea offerings amounted to 3.99 lakh kg at the weekly auction on Friday, with leaf grades comprising 1.49 lakh kg and the rest was dust.

Selected well-made larger brokens orthodox leaf grades ruled steady, while others were irregular with quality. Medium grades ruled easier by a rupee to Rs 2. CIS exporters lent fair support. HLL remained quiet and internal demand was limited to whole leaf grades.

Nominal weight of orthodox dust witnessed an easier trend with some withdrawals. Internal buyers and few exporters operated.

Brighter liquoring CTC leaf registered fair support from upcountry buyers, but remained barely steady. The market remained steady for the medium/plainer bolder grades, while brokens and fannings witnessed a dearer market. Exporters and major blenders lent fair support. Internal buyers operated selectively.

High priced CTC dust saw a steady market. Medium/plainer teas witnessed an easier trend by Re one on the bolder grades. Internal buyers and packeteers operated actively and the major blender operated selectively on medium teas. Exporters operated on medium/plainer teas selectively.

Orthodox highgrowns quoted in the Rs 58-82 price range, while the Nilgiris medium orthodox hovered in the Rs 55-58 price band. Best CTC dusts ranged between Rs 63 and Rs 70 a kg.