CTC leaf and orthodox leaf teas gained at Sale No. 37 this week at Kolkata auction, according to auctioneer J. Thomas & Company Private Ltd. The average CTC leaf price was Rs 149.27 a kg compared with Rs 146. 37 last week at Sale No. 36 and Rs 124.70 at the corresponding sale last year. The corresponding figures for orthodox leaf were Rs 224.91, Rs 219.61 and Rs 157.90.
Among the broking firms, Assam Tea Brokers’ list commanded the highest average price for CTC leaf at Rs 160.75 a kg, followed by J. Thomas & Company, Rs 160.11, Contemporary, Rs 154.65, Parcon, Rs 138.02, Associated Brokers, Rs 130.19, Paramount, Rs 125.63 and S. Chatterjee, Rs 103.13.
For orthodox leaf, the J. Thomas list fetched the higher average price of Rs 240.29 a kg, followed by Parcon, Rs 200.36, Contemporary, Rs 189.85, Associated Brokers, Rs 181.83, and Assam Tea Brokers, Rs 139.85.
The total offerings (packages) fell at the three North Indian auction centres in Kolkata, Guwahati and Siliguri at 4,21,962 compared with 4,29,321 in the corresponding sale last year. The offerings at Kolkata comprised 1,41,939 CTC/dust offerings (1,48,434), 29,777 orthodox (29,198) and 9,067 Darjeeling (5,736). The offerings at Guwahati were 1,38,295 (1,35,625) and at Siliguri 1,02,884 (1,10,328).
Assam CTCs opened at around previous levels but with progress of sale moved irregularly lower. Dooars sold around previous levels and irregularly lower. Tata Global was the mainstay and there was selective support from Hindustan Unilever. Western India dealers operated on the liquoring sorts. North India and local sections were selective. Exporters operated on the larger brokens and fannings.
Selecetd clean and well-made orthodox whole-leaf grades sold at barely steady rates. The remainder were irregularly easier. There was good support from Continental buyers on tippy and liquoring varieties. West Asian and CIS shippers were active. Hindustan Unilever operated selectively with some support from local and internal sections.
Darjeeling whole-leaf grades maintained previous levels with support from Tata Global, Hindustan Unilever and traditional exporters. Brokens maintained levels while fannings tended dearer owing to improved export enquiry. santanu.sanyal@thehindu.co.in