The Hindu Business Line : Coonoor tea prices up on low volume

Price rose generally Rs 2 a kg over the previous week at sale No: 33 of the Coonoor Tea Trade Association (CTTA) here. The volume of 9.72 lakh kg on offer was the lowest of the last 15 weeks.

Sluggish demand

Some volumes of orthodox dusts were withdrawn because of sluggish demand. But quality teas, valued over Rs 60 a kg, fetched premium prices. Some orthodox brokens were substantially dearer.

On the export counter, Kenya was a strong buyer. It picked up fannings and PD grades. Kenya paid around Rs 52 a kg.Pakistan focussed on fannings and it paid Rs 49-1 a kg.

Corporate buying

On the corporate buying front, Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL) operated in strength. The buyers for the Defence supplies were active on the lower end of the market - Rs 45-47.

Among the CTC teas from bought-leaf factories, Darmona Estate got the highest price of Rs 77 a kg, followed by Homedale Estate Rs 75.03, Highfield Estate Special Rs 73.99, Vigneshwar estate Rs 72.11, Green View Estate Rs 70.88 and Professor Rs 70.05.

Among the orthodox teas from the corporate sector, Curzon got the highest price of Rs 117a kg, followed by Tiger Hill Rs 112.51, Corsely Rs 109.15, Colacumby Rs 107, Kairabetta Rs 102.03, Kodanaad and Glendale Rs 102, and Havukkal Rs 101.

Quotations held by the brokers indicated bids ranging from Rs 41 to 43 a kg for the plain leaf grades and Rs 61 to 67 for the brighter liquoring grades.

For the plain dust grades, the bids ranged Rs 44 to 46 a kg and for the brighter liquoring grades, Rs 64 to 72.