The Hindu Business Line : Good demand for quality teas in Kolkata sale

Last week, selected liquoring teas maintaining quality continued to meet with good demand and sold well, particularly dust teas, which often appreciated, according to tea auctioneers. Medium and plainer categories as well as teas showing a decline in quality were irregularly lower. The major blenders continued to operate actively with some support from other packeteers. There were good inquiries from Western Indian dealers for liquoring sorts while other internal sections were selective. Export buyers operated primarily for larger brokens and liquoring fannings.

Improved Darjeeling whole leaf and brokens grades were firm. Remainder were lower. Fannings were easier. Packeteers operated. Local dealers were active.

In the orthodox sale, whole leaf and brokens eased in value following quality. Liquoring fannings were firm to dearer while the remaining fannings tended lower. West Asian and CIS shippers were the mainstay of the market with active support from HUL on the fannings. There were some inquiries from North India.

CROP

October crop figures for North India is at 102.2 million kg up by 6.67 mkg against last year and South Indian crop is at 23.6 mkg up by 5.84 mkg against last year. Total all India crop up to October crop year to date stands at 832.55 mkg against 802.56 mkg last year. Currently leaf intakes have declined sharply in North India.

INTERNATIONAL

The Mombasa market saw better demand with selected better BP1s and PF1s dearer while remainder eased in value. Few plainer PD1s and D1s were firm to dearer but the remainder tended easier. Afghanistan lent very strong support while Egyptian packers and Kazakhstan (CIS) showed strong interest with Egyptian Government Sector, Bazaar and Russia active. There was maintained enquiry from Sudan with more activity from Yemen and other West Asian countries while Pakistan packers showed less interest with the UK remaining selective. Somalia was more active.

The Colombo auction once again eased following decline in quality, with some categories meeting with withdrawals. Turkey, Saudi Arabia together with Dubai were reasonably active although at lower levels, whilst shippers to the CIS bid selectively.