Kochi tea auctions witnessed good demand for CTC dust varieties with 81 per cent of teas on offer getting sold. The quantity offered in sale no 36 was 10,74,000 kg, up from the previous week’s level.
Good liquoring teas were easier by ₹3-5 a kg and sometimes more as the sale progressed. Mediums witnessed a less pronounced decline whilst the plainer varieties held steady, auctioneers Forbes, Ewart & Figgis said.
Though there was good support from leading blenders on good liquoring varieties, buying from the local loose tea traders and upcountry buyers was noticeably lower. Exporters were fairly active in the plainer varieties.
Among orthodox varieties, the market for primary grades was steady to easier, while secondaries remained firm. The quantity on offer was 15,500 kg. Exporters were the mainstay of the small quantity offered.
In the Cochin CTC dust quotation, good varieties fetched ₹105-165, mediums quoted ₹90-124, while plain grades stood at ₹82-100.
In the leaf category, the market for best Nilgiri brokens, whole-leaf grades in orthodox varieties was fully firm to sometimes dearer.
Of the 198,000 kg on offer, 87 per cent was sold. Exporters to CIS countries and traditional exporters continued to be active.
Good demand also lifted prices of CTC leaf with the market for good liquoring brokens and Fannings steady to firm.
Medium and plainer, smaller brokens and Fannings also witnessed a similar trend. The quantity on offer was 72,000 kg, with 93 per cent getting sold.
In dust varieties, Monica SFD quoted the best price of ₹165 followed by Surianalie SFD at ₹150.
In leaf grades, Chamraj FOP-Sup green tea fetched the best price of ₹420 followed by P’s Woodlands-Hyson at ₹347.