The declining trend continued for the second consecutive week at the Kochi tea auction for almost all varieties of tea.

In sale no: 16 dust category, the quantity on offer in the CTC grades was 11,43,500 kg.

The market for select best clean black well made teas clubbed with good liquoring properties were barely steady. Others were irregular and lower by Rs 2-5 and sometimes more towards the close of the sale.

The offer in the orthodox grades was 9,500 kg. Auctioneers Forbes, Ewart and Figgis said exporters and upcountry buyers absorbed major portion of the offerings.

In the best CTC dusts, PD varieties quoted Rs 115-128; RD grades ruled at Rs 128-155, SRD stood at Rs 130-155 and SFD at Rs 130-157.

Prices in the leaf sale also showed a downward leaning with a mixed trend in the sale of certain grades.

The quantity on offer in the orthodox category was 1.4 lakh kg and the market for best Nilgiri bolder brokens, smaller brokens whole leaf, fannings was fully firm to dearer. Others were irregular.

Medium bolder brokens and smaller brokens barely remained steady. Medium whole leaf was irregular and tended to ease and witnessed some withdrawals. Secondary teas were steady to firm and sometimes dearer, while corresponding fannings were steady to dearer.

The quantity on offer in the CTC grades was 80,500 kg and the market for good liquoring teas barely remained steady and tended to ease.

Despite the downward trend in the auction, Jayashree Premium SRD quoted the best prices in the dust category fetching Rs 1,643.

In the leaf grades, Chamraj OP Delight (Green) fetched the best prices of Rs 431 followed by Chamraj Green FOP (S) at Rs 421.

>sajeevkumar.v@thehindu.co.in