As much as 32 per cent of the year’s largest offer of 20.70 lakh kg at Sale No: 21 of Coonoor Tea Trade Association auction remained unsold for want of bidders at high prices despite dropping average prices by ₹3 a kg.

Darmona Estate tea, auctioned by Paramount Tea Marketing, topped the Dust and the entire CTC market when Om Enterprises bought it for ₹201 a kg. This was the same grade which had won ‘Golden India Leaf Award 2015’. It was the only grade which entered the high-price bracket of ₹200-a-kg.

Homedale Estate tea, auctioned by Global Tea Brokers, topped the Leaf market at ₹186. In all, 53 marks got ₹125 and more. Havukal topped orthodox teas from corporate sector fetching ₹240, followed by Kairbetta ₹238 and Chamraj ₹225. In all, 34 marks got ₹125 and more.

Quotations held by brokers indicated bids ranging ₹40-45 a kg for plain leaf grades and ₹100-135 for brighter liquoring sorts. They ranged ₹45-50 for plain dusts and ₹110-160 for brighter liquoring dusts.

There was some purchase for Pakistan in wide range ₹47-116 a kg.