As the market remained closed on account of Republic Day, the weekly leaf tea auction normally held on Thursdays was not conducted this week. Instead, it will be held along with the dust tea auction of Sale No: 4 of Coonoor Tea Trade Association on Friday.

Nevertheless, only 10.22 lakh kg would be offered. This is the lowest volume since March 4 last year. It is 1.17 lakh kg less than last week's offer but 2.13 lakh kg more than the offer this time last year.

Of the 10.22 lakh kg on offer, 7.36 lakh kg belong to the leaf grades and 2.86 lakh kg belong to the dust grades. As much as 9.55 lakh kg belongs to CTC variety and only 0.67 lakh kg, orthodox variety.

The proportion of orthodox teas continues to be low in both the leaf and dust grades. In the leaf counter, only 0.31 lakh kg belong to orthodox while 7.05 lakh kg, CTC.

Among the dusts, only 0.36 lakh kg belong to orthodox while 2.50 lakh kg, CTC.

In the 10.22 lakh kg, fresh teas account for 9.26 lakh kg. Only 96,000 kg comprises teas which had remained unsold in previous auctions.