Despite good arrivals compared to last week, the Kochi tea auction witnessed a mixed trend this week with the prices of almost all varieties quoting lower.
In sale no 19, the quantity on offer in CTC dust category was 11,25,500 kg. With a fair demand, the market opened irregular and the prices were lower by ₹2 to ₹4. As the sale progressed, the prices declined with longer margins of ₹5 to ₹10 and sometimes more.
According to auctioneers, Forbes, Ewart & Figgis, there was a subdued demand from exporters.
There was good demand in orthodox grades and the quantity on offer was 9,500 kg. The market for primary grades was steady, while secondary grades were quoting lower. A small quantity of orthodox dust offered was absorbed by exporters.
In the best CTC dusts, PD grades quoted ₹100/118, RD varieties fetched ₹106/125, SRD ruled at ₹121/156, while SFD stood at ₹129/154.
Leaf sale
Mixed trend was witnessed in leaf sale also and the quantity on offer in the orthodox grade was 1,32,500 kg. With a fair demand, the market for Nilgiri smaller brokens was firm to dearer. Others were irregular and tended to ease. Medium clean black well made bolder brokens and whole leaf was steady to firm and sometimes dearer.
The quantity on offer in CTC grade was 76,000 kg. The market for good liquoring varieties sold around last levels. Others were irregular and lower and witnessed some withdrawals. Good liquoring fannings appreciated in value.
In the dust varieties, Waterfall SFD quoted the best prices of ₹159 followed by Waterfall SRD at ₹157. In leaf grade, Chamraj Green FOP (S) fetched the best prices of ₹296 followed by Pascoes Woodlands Hyson Green Tea at ₹281.