The Hindu Business Line : Subdued demand pushes down Kochi tea prices

Subdued demand pushed down the price of several teas at the Kochi tea auction. High priced CTC dust varieties gravitated lower by Rs 1-2, while prices of medium bolder grades remained steady to dearer. Orthodox dust grades also remained steady.

Major blenders lent good support to quality teas, while domestic market was fairly active. Medium orthodox grades witnessed some export enquiry.

Best CTC varieties quoted Rs 62-72, medium CTC was at Rs 51-58 and below medium ranged at Rs 33-40. High grown BOPD fetched Rs 89-114 while medium BOPD was at Rs 40-44.

Leaf Sale

Lower demand pushed down the price of high grown orthodox grades by Rs 2-3, while good quality high grown broken and fannings were steady.

Primary medium orthodox grades eased by Rs 2-4 and medium secodnaries witnessed selective demand. High grown and medium whole leaf grades witnessed good export demand. Exporters were selective on medium orthodox grades. CTC grades were barely steady. Prices of plain CTC grades remained steady based on enquiry from blenders and exporters. Best Nilgiri varieties fetched Rs 80-95, medium orthodox was at Rs 50-65 and plain orthodox ranged at Rs 40-44. Best CTC leaf quoted Rs 48-55 and medium CTC leaf was at Rs 44-48.

Top Prices

In the dust variety Kodanad BOPD fetched the top price at Rs 114 followed by Parkside BOPD at Rs 89, Pasuparai SFD at Rs 81 and Pasuparai FD at Rs 80.

In the leaf segment Chamraj FOP quoted the top price at along with Hamakal BOPF at Rs 123, followed by Sutton GFOP at Rs 117 and Kotagiri CLOP at Rs 115.