The Hindu Business Line : Good demand for CTC, dust tea at N. Indian auctions

Kolkata, Sept. 30 Last week’s CTC and dust markets in all three north Indian auction centres at Kolkata, Guwahati and Siliguri saw strong demand with teas getting readily absorbed at firm to occasionally dearer rates, according to J. Thomas & Company Pvt Ltd, the tea auctioneers.

The major blenders were active, with good western India inquiry for better teas. Other domestic markets also provided good support.

Orthodox varieties continued to meet with good demand at around last levels with CIS and West Asia being the mainstay. The major blenders operated actively for fannings.

Darjeeling teas saw good demand at fully firm rates.

CROP and WEATHER

Crop intakes in the tea growing areas in last week slowed down noticeably as compared to the same period of the last year as a result of low soil temperatures.

Global trend

Sri Lankan teas in Colombo continued to appreciate in value with the Russian buyers stepping up interest. The August crop increased by 2.4 million kgs to a total of 24.2 million kgs.

The crop till date is still well behind the crop in the corresponding period of the last year by 7.6 per cent or 16.02 million kgs.

At Mombasa, the Kenyan teas saw good demand and prices appreciated for most categories except the plainest which were irregular.

Strong inquiry was received from Russia, Kazakhstan and Pakistan, while UK and Sudan were active.