The Hindu Business Line : Mixed trend at Kochi tea auction

Kochi, Aug. 19 Prices tended to ease at the Kochi tea auction, which had 10,82,000 kg of dust tea on offer. Prices of good CTC and liquoring varieties were dearer by Rs 1-3, medium CTC were barely steady and poorer CTC witnessed less demand. Prices of orthodox dust also tended to ease.

Blenders operated on good liquoring CTC varieties, exporters were less active and domestic buyers were active in good CTC varieties.

Best CTC dust varieties commanded Rs 67-74, medium CTC fetched Rs 55-65 and below medium was at Rs 32-40. Neither highgrown nor medium BOPD was quoted while secondaries fetched Rs 31-33.

Leaf Sale

Good general demand propped up the price of highgrown bolder varieties by Rs 2-4, smaller brokens and fannings were steady to irregular following quality. Price of medium orthodox was also steady. Price of good CTC varieties eased by Rs 1-2, medium CTC was down by around a rupee and poorer CTC had less demand. Orthodox varieties witnessed good demand from exporters to CIS countries.

Best Nilgiri varieties fetched Rs 82-102, medium orthodox ranged at Rs 44-66 and plain orthodox was not quoted. Best CTC leaf realised Rs 50-55 and medium CTC ranged at Rs 44-47.

Top Prices

In the dust segment, both Mayura RD and Shanthi SFD fetched the top price at Rs 83, followed by Shanthi SRD at Rs 79 and Kannavarai SFD at Rs 77. In the leaf segment, Havukal FOP fetched the top price at Rs 154 followed by Parkside FOP at Rs 142, Sutton GFOP at 135 and Sutton FP at Rs 131.