The Hindu Business Line : Good demand at Kochi tea sale

Kochi, Nov. 29 Good demand and firm price trends were evident at the Kochi tea auction. Popular CTC varieties were steady to dearer by Re 1-Rs 2. Good liquoring varieties were also dearer by Re 1-Rs 2. Orthodox dust varieties remained steady. CTC dust witnessed good demand from loose tea trade and blenders. There was fair export enquiry for medium bolder varieties.

Best CTC dust commanded Rs 65-75, medium CTC was at Rs 54-62 and below medium commanded Rs 33-40. There was 9,73,000 kg of dust tea on offer at the auction.

Leaf Sale

High grown orthodox whole leaf grades were firm to dearer. Bolder broken varieties were steady. Fannings remained irregular. Smaller broken varieties witnessed less demand and prices tended to ease. Medium whole leaf grades were fully firm to dearer. Primary broken varieties remained barely steady. Secondaries and fannings also witnessed less demand.

CTC varieties, particularly the medium and plainer varieties, were dearer by Rs 2-5. Exporters remained selective on orthodox grades. CTC varieties witnessed good demand from exporters and inter-State buyers.

Top Prices

In the dust segment, Kodanad BOPD commanded the top price at Rs 106 followed by Pasuparai SFD at Rs 82 and Pasuparai FD at Rs 80. At the leaf auction, Havukal FOP quoted the top price at Rs 129 followed by Parkside FOP at Rs 126, Glendale TGFOP at Rs 125 and Chamraj OP at Rs 120.