Tea offerings higher at N. India auctions

This week, the total offerings (packages) at Sale-2 at three North Indian tea auction centres at Kolkata, Guwahati and Siliguri were 3,94,222 compared with 2,98,349 in the corresponding sale of last year, according to J. Thomas & Company Pvt Ltd, the tea auctioneer.

Of this, the share of Kolkata was 1,75,549 (1,85,270) comprising 1,56,383 (1,47,398) of CTC/Dust, 15,917 (34,553) of Orthodox and 3,249 (3,319) of Darjeeling. In other words, the drop in offerings in Sale-2 this year vis-à-vis the same sale last year was due to drop in offerings of Orthodox and Darjeeling.

The offerings at Guwahati were 1,15,840 (nil) and at Siliguri 1,03,533 (1,13,079).

Dust grades

Selected clean, grainy and improved Assam CTC leaf grades were firm to occasionally dearer while the remainder were irregularly easier in line with quality. Dust grades, however, continued to meet with less demand and sold at easier rates. Well made Dooars were firm to dearer while the remainder were around last levels following quality. There was good support from the major blenders. Western India operated on better liquoring teas. Some export enquiries were there on bolder brokens and grainier fannings. Local dealers operated on cleaner grainier varieties.

Orthodox invoices

Selected well-made Orthodox invoices sold well while the remainder tended easier in line with quality. West Asia and CIS shippers operated. There was good enquiry for fannings from Hindustan Unilever and fair support from local dealers. North India operated on the bolder whole leaf.

Darjeeling whole leaf grades tended lower in line with quality. Brokens and fannings met with good enquiry and sold at irregular rates. There was fair support from Hindustan Unilever Selective export enquiry on few lines. Local buyers operated for brokens and fannings.