The Hindu Business Line : Marginal increase in tea prices

Tea prices have posted only a marginal increase of 92 paise per kg on the average in the auction centres of the country in the first seven months of this calendar.

An analysis of the price trends available with the Tea Board shows that during January-July, tea prices rose marginally to an average of Rs 65.65 a kg from Rs 64.73 in the same period of last year.

The prices, in fact rose in the South even as they fell in the North Indian auctions. In the South, prices averaged Rs 51.66 a kg this year – up Rs 2.16. In the North, however, they fell by 48 paise to an average of Rs 71.99.

In the North, the steepest fall of Rs 1.26 a kg happened in Guwahati to dip to Rs 67.90, while Siliguri prices declined 71 paise to dip to Rs 65.55. Kolkata was almost flat at Rs 79.55, while Jalpaiguri posted an increase of Rs 1.91 a kg to Rs 66.13.

In the South, Kochi posted the country’s highest increase of Rs 5.22 a kg to rise to Rs 57.68. Coimbatore auctions averaged Rs 49.14, up Rs 1.14. On the other hand, Coonoor auctions slid by 47 paise to dip to Rs 46.41.

Teaserve auctions held in Coonoor posted the steepest decline of Rs 1.25 a kg to dip to Rs 43.93. This was the lowest average among all the eight auction centres in the country.

Producers in the Nilgiris who chose to send their teas for auctions through Teaserve in preference to the CTTA auctions got Rs 2.48 lower per kg. In all, 7.6 million kg were sold through Teaserve auctions up from 7.3 million last year. But, the volume sold through CTTA auctions fell to 19.2 million kg from 20.8 million.