The Hindu Business Line : Steady trend at Kochi tea auction

Good general demand propped up the price of high quality CTC dust varieties by Rs 1-2 at the Kochi tea auction. Medium CTC varieties were firm to dearer while price of plainer varieties eased. High grown orthodox dust varieties quoted higher while medium orthodox dusts remained steady. Blenders as well as domestic market lent support to good liquoring CTC while export enquiry was evident on medium bolder CTCs.

Best CTC varieties quoted Rs 63-73, medium CTC ranged at Rs 52-60 and below medium was at Rs 33-40. High grown BOPD was at Rs 112, medium BOPD fetched Rs 40-44 and secondaries was at Rs 27-33.

Leaf Sale

There was 4.15 lakh kg of leaf tea on offer at the leaf auction. Orthodox whole leaf grades remained firm to dearer.

Good liquoring high grown broken varieties and fannings were also dearer. Prices of other high grown varieties eased. Medium whole leaf grades remained firm. Medium primary broken varieties eased by Rs 1-2, while secondaries and fannings remained steady. CTC leaf prices fell by Rs 1-2 from last week’s levels. High grown varieties witnessed a good demand from exporters while they were selective on medium grades. Demand for CTC grades came from exporters and interstate buyers.

Best Nilgiri varieties fetched Rs 80-95, medium orthodox quoted Rs 53-70 and plain orthodox was at Rs 41-45. Best CTC leaf realised Rs 50-58 and medium CTC leaf was at Rs 44-49.

Top Prices

Among the dust varieties, Kodanad BOPD fetched the top price at Rs 112, followed by Pasuparai SFD at Rs 81, Pasuparai FD at Rs 77 and Chinnar SFD at Rs 75. In the leaf segment, Sutton GFOP fetched the top price at Rs 128 followed by Craigmore FOP at Rs 126, Craigmore TGFOP at Rs 124 and Karibetta TGFOP at Rs 122.