This week at Sale No. 21 , the total offerings (packages) at the three North Indian tea auction centres at Kolkata, Guwahati and Siliguri at 1,40,301 continued to be lower than 2,62,966 in the corresponding sale of the previous year, according to J Thomas & Company Pvt Ltd, the tea auctioneers.

At Kolkata, the offerings comprised CTC/Dust 47,994 (1,04,369), Orthodox 8,939 (38,364) and Darjeeling 3,475 (3,741), The corresponding offerings at Guwahati were 51,700 (81,600) and at Siliguri 28,193 (34,892).

Selected liquoring Assam CTCs sold were barely steady while the remainder tended lower following quality. Dooars met with strong demand and sold at firm to dearer rates. Western India dealers were the mainstay of the market. There was active support from Tata Global. North India and local sections operated.

Well made orthodox whole leaf grades were firm to dearer while the remainder was irregular and sold in line with quality. Brokens were firm to dearer, particularly smaller varieties. Fannings were irregular around last. There was selective Continental interest on tippy and liquoring varieties. Middle East and CIS shippers operated. Local buyers operated on the fannings.

Darjeeling whole leaf grades were irregular and occasionally lower following selective enquiry from traditional exporters. Brokens and fannings also tended irregularly lower. EOM

Related Topics