A volume of 13.60 lakh kg will be offered for Sale No: 14 of the auctions of Coonoor Tea Trade Association (CTTA) to be conducted on tomorrow and Friday, reveals an analysis of the listing by brokers.

This is the highest volume so far in 2011 except Sale No: 2 held on January 13 when 14.22 lakh kg was offered. It is as much as 1.53 lakh kg more than last week's offer and 49,000 kg less more the offer this time last year.

Of the 13.60 lakh kg on offer, 9.50 lakh kg belongs to the leaf grades and 4.10 lakh kg belongs to the dust grades. As much as 12.80 lakh kg belongs to CTC variety and only 0.80 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 0.41 lakh kg belongs to orthodox while 9.09 lakh kg, CTC. Among the dusts, only 0.39 lakh kg belongs to orthodox while 3.71 lakh kg, CTC.

In the 13.60 lakh kg, fresh tea accounts for 11.69 lakh kg and 1.91 lakh kg comprises teas remaining unsold in previous auctions. Accumulation of unsold teas is causing concern to producers – last week, as much as 46 per cent remained unsold despite shedding Rs 3 a kg. Quality teas, however, fetch good bids.

This week, Vigneshwar speciality teas continued to top CTC market. “Our Pekoe Dust topped at Rs 165 a kg. Our Red Dust and Super Fine Dust fetched the next high prices in dust market. In all, our 11 grades got Rs 118 and more,” Vigneshwar Managing Partner, Mr Ramesh Bhojarajan, told Business Line .