Good demand last week resulted in an upswing in the tea market with the prices of almost all varieties soaring at the Kochi tea auction.
The quantity on offer in the CTC dust category was 14,16,000 kg.
The market was firm to dearer by Rs 1 to Rs 2 and occasionally more, especially the good liquoring varieties. The auctioneers Forbes, Ewart and Figgis said in a statement that AVT, Hindustan Unilever and the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation were active on good liquoring varieties along with the Kerala Loose Tea Traders, while Tata Global was selective.
The upcountry market was fair and exporters were confined to the medium and plainer varieties.
In the Orthodox dust category, the quantity on offer was 22,500 kg. The market was lower with many withdrawals, while primary grades were absorbed by exporters.
In the best CTC dusts, PD varieties stood at Rs 90/110, RD varieties quoted at Rs 86/100 and SRD varieties ruled at Rs 93/107.
In the leaf category, the quantity on offer in the Orthodox varieties was 2,11,500 kg. Highgrown Bolder Brokens, Whole Leaf and Fannings were fully firm to dearer by Rs 5 to Rs 10 or more following quality. Smaller Brokens were irregular and sometimes lower. Medium Whole Leaf Bolder Brokens and tippy grades were firm to dearer by Rs 5 to Rs 10 and sometimes more.
The corresponding Fannings barely remained steady and tended to ease. The Secondaries and Plainer varieties were irregular and lower.
Unilever was active along with exporters to the CIS countries. The Tunisian account was less, while upcountry buyers and the Tea Bag account absorbed Fannings.
In the CTC leaf grades, the quantity on offer was 75,500 kg. Better varieties remained steady to firm, while others were irregular and lower by Rs 3 to Rs 5 and sometimes more. There was good demand from upcountry buyers.
In the dust category, Injipara (Prm) RD quoted the best price of Rs 137 followed by Injipara (Prm) SFD at Rs 136. In the leaf varieties, Pascoes Woodlands Green Tea quoted the best price of Rs 261 followed by Chamraj OP at Rs 255.