This week at Sale Number 6 at Kolkata tea auction centre, there was a mixed trend in prices. The average price of orthodox at Rs 144.25 a kg was significantly lower than last week’s (Sale No 5) Rs 167.10. An estimated 85.62 per cent (90.43 per cent) of the orthodox and 82.52 per cent (74.62 per cent) of the volumes offered was sold.
This week the total offerings (packages) at three North Indian tea auction centres at Kolkata, Guwahati and Siliguri were 2,85,679 compared with 2,59,828 in the corresponding sale a year ago.
The offerings at Kolkata comprised CTC/Dust 1,42,002 (97,172), Orthodox 5,496 (16,092) and Darjeeling 1,020 (918). The corresponding figures for two other centres, mainly handling CTC/Dust, were: Guwahati 63,208 (83,620) and Siliguri 73,953 (62,026).
Selected Assams maintaining quality sold well, while the remainder eased in value following the decline in quality. Selected good, quality Dooars sold at irregularly lower rates, while the remainder was easier. Tata Global was selective while Hindustan Unilever operated actively. Western India dealers operated on the few liquoring sorts on offer. There was fair enquiry from North India and local sections. Exporters were very selective.
Nominal quantity of well made Orthodox offerings readily absorbed at dearer rates. Stalky and poorly-made varieties at times witnessed withdrawals.
Selected Continental enquiry was witnessed on the few tippy and liquoring varieties on offer. Exporters to CIS and West Asia operated. Limited weight of Darjeeling whole leaf grades on offer tended lower. Brokens and fannings sold in line with quality. Hindustan Unilever and Tata Global were quiet. Local buyers were the mainstay.