The Hindu Business Line : Weak trend at Kochi tea auction

As the sale proceeded, prices of most tea varieties eased at the Kochi tea auction which had 12.2 lakh kg of dust tea on offer. Best CTC varieties ended weak, good liquoring varieties were barely steady and poorer CTC witnessed less demand. Best CTC varieties fetched Rs 66-74, medium CTC ranged at Rs 54-64 and below medium was quoted at Rs 30-37. High grown BOPD commanded Rs 90-102, medium BOPD was at Rs 40-42 and secondaries realised Rs 30-31.

Leaf Sale

There was three lakh kg of leaf tea on offer where medium orthodox broken and whole leaf grades remained steady. Price of medium secondaries and poorer teas eased. High grown bolder broken and whole leaf grades remained steady. Smaller broken and fannings were barely steady. Best CTC prices eased by Rs 1-2. With less demand, plainer CTC tended to ease. Exporters were active on good orthodox teas and there was some export enquiry on selected CTC varieties.

Best Nilgiri varieties quoted Rs 80-95, medium orthodox ranged at Rs 44-66 and plain orthodox was at Rs 40-42. Best CTC leaf commanded Rs 48-54 and medium CTC leaf Rs 42-46.

Top Prices

Kodanad BOPD fetched the top price in the dust segment at Rs 102 followed by Parkside BOPD at Rs 90, Mayura RD at Rs 83 and Pasuparai SFD at Rs 76. In the leaf segment, Sutton GFOP commanded the top price at Rs 132, followed by Havukal FOP at Rs 125, Sutton FOP at Rs 122 and Sutton Pekoe at Rs 121.