Even as the Tamil Nadu Government was conducting “Tea and Tourism' festival with the Tea Board's support in the Nilgiris this weekend ending Monday, tea traders suffered a reduction of Rs 14 lakh in their earnings at Coonoor Tea Trade Association auctions.

At Sale No: 7, only 8.98 lakh kg could be sold against 9.15 lakh kg in Sale No: 6 and that too by dropping prices to an average of Rs 72.25 a kg from Rs 72.51 last week.

Consequently, the overall earnings slid to Rs 6.49 crore from Rs 6.63 crore.

This meant that the traders lost Rs 14 lakh in just one week, marking a decline of 2.11 per cent.

“All varieties of CTC leaf teas eased up to Rs 3 a kg. Orthodox leaf, however, gained up to Rs 4. High-priced CTC dusts lost Rs 2-5 and mediums Rs 1-2 but plainers gained up to Rs 3. Primary orthodox dusts gained Rs 2-5”, an auctioneer told Business Line .

Among CTC teas from bought-leaf factories, Homedale Estate, auctioned by Global Tea Brokers, topped at Rs 149 a kg. Highcliff supreme got Rs 141, Vigneshwar Estate Rs 139, Blue Mont Speciality Rs 138, Wavertree Rs 137, Hittakkal Estate Rs 135, Darmona Estate and Shanthi Supreme Rs 132 each. In all, 101 marks got Rs 100 and more.

Among orthodox teas from corporate sector, Chamraj got Rs 236, Kairbetta Rs 179, Havukal Rs 168, Highfield Estate Rs 167, Singara Estate Rs 163, Kodanad and Tiger Hill clonal Rs 162 each, Prammas Rs 161 and Curzon Rs 160. In all, 32 marks got Rs 100 and more.

On the export front, Pakistan bought selectively for Rs 53-57 a kg and the CIS Rs 53-81.

Quotations held by brokers indicated bids ranging Rs 48-55 a kg for plain leaf grades and Rs 85-141 for brighter liquoring sorts. They ranged Rs 56-59 for plain dusts and Rs 85-139 for brighter liquoring dusts.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW