A mixed trend continues to be witnessed at the Kochi tea auction with prices of certain varieties quoting lower. In sale no 48, the quantity on offer in the Dust CTC grades was 12,98,500 kg.
With fair demand, the market for select best good liquoring teas remained barely steady. Others were irregular and lower by Rs 3 to Rs 7. As the sale progressed, prices declined by Rs 5 to Rs 10 and sometimes more. A number of withdrawals were also witnessed.
However, the drop in prices was less for clean black plainer teas compared to high-priced and medium teas. Though better export enquiries were noticed at lower levels, the demand from upcountry buyers was subdued.
The quantity on offer in the orthodox grades was 12,000 kg and the market was irregular and lower by Rs 2 to Rs 3. A small quantity offered was absorbed by exporters.
In the best CTC dusts, PD varieties quoted Rs 95/107, RD grades fetched Rs 95/120, SRD ruled at Rs 106/141 and SFD fetched Rs 110/148.
The quantity on offer in the orthodox leaf category was 165,000 kg. With good demand, the market for Nilgiri brokens and fannings was fully firm to dearer. Whole leaf from the same area showed a strong feature and moved up in value following quality.
Well-made clean black tippy grades and bolder brokens were firm to dearer. Others were irregular and tended to ease.
There was good demand in the CTC grades and the quantity on offer was 65,000 kg. The market for good liquoring teas was firm to dearer, while others remained barely steady and irregularly easier.
In the dust grades, Manjolai FD, Pasuparai SFD and Kallyar SFD fetched best prices of Rs 150 each, followed by Sholayar SFD at Rs 148. In the leaf category, Chamraj FOP (S) (green tea) quoted best prices of Rs 312, followed by Pascoes Hyson Green Tea at Rs 300.