Coonoor sale: Homedale tea fetches record price at Rs 183

A new price record was created by Homedale Tea Factory at the first sale of 2013 of Coonoor Tea Trade Association auctions.

“Our broken pekoe leaf tea, auctioned by Global Tea Brokers, reached a new-high when Mittal Tea Company bought it for Rs 183 a kg.

“This was the highest price fetched by any CTC leaf and dust grade from any factory in this auction.

“Besides, it was the highest price fetched by us ever since our factory started manufacturing tea 61 years ago. Also, we have broken our own record established in the final auction of 2012 when we got Rs 180 as the highest price until then”, Homedale Managing Partner Prasant Menon told Business Line .

Vigneshwar Estate got Rs 168, Hittakkal Estate 160, Cross Hill Estate and Shanthi Supreme Rs 151 each.

In all, 219 marks got Rs 100 and more.

Among orthodox teas from corporate sector, Highfield Estate got Rs 270, Chamraj Rs 226, Havukal and Kairbetta Rs 190 each, Prammas Rs 180 and Mailoor Rs 175. In all, 42 marks got Rs 100 and more.

“Orthodox leaf was dearer by Rs 2-4 a kg. High-priced CTC leaf fetched Rs 2-5 more and at times, as much as Rs 15 more, better mediums Rs 2-3 and plainers up to Rs 3.

“Orthodox dust lost Rs 2-3. High-priced CTC dust was up by Rs 2-3, better mediums Rs 1-2 and plainers were irregular”, an auctioneer said.

On the export front, Pakistan was strong in Rs 89-104 range. The CIS gave fair support at Rs 90-100. There was some purchase for European ports at Rs 92-99.

Quotations held by brokers indicated bids ranging Rs 89-92 a kg for plain leaf grades and Rs 110-150 for brighter liquoring sorts. They ranged Rs 89-91 for plain dusts and Rs 105-150 for brighter liquoring dusts.