The Hindu Business Line : Good demand for CTCs at N. Indian sales

Last week, the CTC offerings at the three north Indian tea auction centres at Kolkata, Siliguri and Guwahati met with good demand, according to the tea auctioneer, J. Thomas & Company Private Ltd. Selected better varieties held levels, with the remainder declining in quality.

There were good inquiries from the major blenders and domestic segments.

The export inquiries were selective.

The orthodox teas also saw good demand with prices declining following quality.

Selected smaller brokens sold around last levels. The buyers for the CIS countries and West Asia dominated the market.

The Darjeeling varieties were well absorbed at steady rates for whole leaf and better fannings.

Brokens were irregular. There were good inquiries from local dealers and major packeteers, with selective export interests.

CROP & OFFERINGS

With the cropping season having come to a close, the arrivals at the auction centres are showing a sharp decline.

INTERNATIONAL

The political crisis in Kenya and the consequent adverse effects on the harvests pushed up the demand at the Mombasa auction with the result the prices shot up substantially.

Pakistan, Egypt, the UK, the CIS and Sudan were active.

The Sri Lankan market witnessed an easier trend following a sharp increase in arrivals.

The bearish trend is expected to continue in view of the excess supply situation. The traditional exporters operated low.