Tea prices move up on good demand

Active participation by blenders has lifted the prices of almost all varieties of tea, especially good liquoring, at the Kochi auctions.

However, the auctions witnessed low arrivals with CTC in the dust category at 8,49,500 kg in sale no 45. Export demand was subdued even though there was fair demand from upcountry buyers and loose tea traders.

The orthodox market was also steady to firm with 14,000 kg on offer. Exporters were the mainstay for the dust mark, auctioneers Forbes, Ewart & Figgis said.

In Cochin CTC dust quotation, good varieties fetched ₹105-149, the medium grades quoted ₹97-124 and the plain varieties stood at ₹90-99.

There was good demand in the leaf category with the market for Nilgiri smaller brokens and whole leaf in orthodox grades firm to dearer. The quantity on offer was 213,000 kg and 80 per cent got sold. Fannings were firm to dearer, while clean black, well-made medium brokens and whole leaf, tippy grades were barely steady to firm.

In the CTC grades, all varieties were steady to firm following quality. Upcountry buyers and exporters absorbed the bulk and the quantity on offer was 39,500 kg.

In the dust varieties, Waterfall SFD quoted the best prices of ₹150, followed by Puduthottam SFD/Monical SFD with ₹149 each. Chamraj FOP-S (Green Tea) came to the top in the leaf varieties quoting ₹360, followed by P’s Woodlands Hyson Green Tea at ₹300.

COMMENT NOW