At Sale No. 36 at Kolkata tea auction this week, the average prices of both CTC and Orthodox were lower than that of last week (Sale No. 35).
According to J Thomas & Company Pvt Ltd, the tea auctioneers, the average price of CTC at Rs 140.96 per kg was lower than last week’s Rs 143.48 per kg. Orthodox prices were down at Rs 216.85 per kg (Rs 227.68).
An estimated 80.48 per cent (78.31 per cent) of CTC and 86.25 per cent (88.7 per cent) of Orthodox volumes offered were sold.
This week, the total offerings (packages) at the three North Indian auction centres at Kolkata, Guwahati and Siliguri were 4,62,210 compared with 3,89,629 in the corresponding Sale No. 36 of last year.
Offerings at Kolkata comprised CTC/Dust 1,60,931 (1,42,461), Orthodox 44,764 (30,518) and Darjeeling 5,104 (6,733), The corresponding offerings at two other centres handling mainly CTC/Dust were: Guwahati 1,44,429 (1,10,113) and Siliguri 1,06,982( 99,804).
Improved demand
Assam CTC teas met with improved demand at irregularly lower rates following quality. Plainer sorts saw better enquiries and were generally firm to occasionally dearer. Dooars were around last levels and at times appreciated. Tata Global was active.
Hindustan Unilever operated selectively for the mediums. Western India operated actively for the liquoring teas. There were fair enquiries from other internal and local sections. Exporters operated on the larger brokens and fannings.
Orthodox tippy teas sold well in line with quality. Clean well-made whole leaf and brokens were sold around last levels while the remainder was irregularly lower. Fannings eased in value and saw some withdrawals. CIS and West Asia shippers were active. There was some Continental interest on the tippy teas.
Darjeeling offerings met with limited enquiry. Selected whole leaf varieties maintaining quality and plainer whole leaf were readily absorbed. The remainder eased in value and witnessed withdrawals.
Brokens and fannings also declined. There was fair export interest. Tata Global was quiet. Local dealers operated for cheaper sorts.