Sale Number 8 at the Kolkata tea auction centre this week saw an uptrend in prices. While the price rise for Orthodox varieties, quoting at Rs 150.72 per kg as compared to last week’s (Sale Number 7) Rs 149.36 per kg, was marginal, the rise for CTC quoting at Rs 135.71 per kg (Rs 128.83 per kg) was more, according to J. Thomas & Company Pvt Ltd, tea auctioneers. An estimated 86.85 per cent (82.98 per cent) of CTC volumes and 82.42 per cent (81.11 per cent) of Orthodox volumes were sold.
This week the total offerings (packages) at the three North India tea auction centres at Kolkata, Guwahati and Siliguri was 1,97,804 as compared to 2,20,211 in the corresponding sale of the previous year.
The offerings at Kolkata comprised CTC/Dust 1,48,059 (1,41,741), Orthodox 2,555 (9,350) and Darjeeling 1,163( 559). The offerings at the other two centres, handling mainly CTC/Dust, were: Guwahati 30,750 (39,689) and Siliguri 15,277 (28,872).
Select Assams maintaining quality met with strong enquiry and appreciated. Teas showing a decline in quality eased in value. The plainer sorts met with increased enquiry and were generally firm to dearer.
Selected good Dooars maintaining quality sold at around last levels, while the remainder was easier. Hindustan Unilever operated actively.
Tata Global was quiet. Improved enquiries were received from Western India dealers on the liquoring sorts. There was a fair amount of enquiry from North India and the local sections. Exporters operated on the bolder brokens.
Nominal quantities of well-made Orthodox offerings were readily absorbed at dearer rates. The remainder sold irregularly around last levels and tended lower. Stalky and poorly made varieties at times witnessed
withdrawals. Exporters to the CIS and West Asia operated. Hindustan Unilever operated on the fannings. Enquiries from local dealers were fair.
The nominal 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.