85% tea sold in Coonoor auctions

About 85 per cent of the 14.02 lakh kg offered for Sale No: 6 of Coonoor Tea Trade Association (CTTA) auctions were sold.

The oldest bought-leaf tea factory in Kotagiri region, Cross Hill Tea Factory, topped the CTC market.

“Our broken pekoe leaf grade fetched Rs185 a kg – the highest among all leaf and dust grades of all CTC teas. Our three more leaf grades – broken orange pekoe fannings (Rs 179), broken orange pekoe small (Rs 170) and broken orange pekoe (Rs 162) – and two dust grades – pekoe dust (Rs 165) and red dust (Rs 161) – have also fetched high prices. In all, our six grades have got Rs 161 and more/kg”, Cross Hill Operations Head Dinesh Raju told Business Line.

Homedale Tea Factory tea, auctioned by Global Tea Brokers, fetched the highest price of Rs 178/kg in the CTC leaf auction.

“Our nine grades fetched Rs 123 and more for a kg. Of them, four are leaf grades and the rest, dust grades”, Homedale Managing Partner Prasant Menon said.

Vigneshwar Estate got Rs 164. In all, 201 marks got Rs 100 and more a kg.

Among orthodox teas from corporate sector, Chamraj got Rs 276 a kg, Highfield Estate Rs 261, Havukal Rs 198, Kairbetta Rs 171, Glendale Rs 170, Kodanad and Prammas Rs 169 each and Sutton Rs 165. In all, 35 marks got Rs 100 and more.

Pakistan was strong for select grades in the range Rs 90-106 a kg. The CIS bought for Rs 91-130. There was some purchase for European ports at Rs 92-95.

Quotations held by brokers indicated bids ranging Rs 86-89 a kg for plain leaf grades and Rs 110-150 for brighter liquoring sorts.

They ranged Rs 86-89 for plain dusts and Rs 110-150 for brighter liquoring dusts.