This week at Sale No 25 at Kolkata tea auction, the average prices of both the Orthodox and CTC varieties were higher than those of last week (Sale 24), according to J Thomas & Company Pvt Ltd, the tea auctioneers.
The average price of the Orthodox was Rs 239.32 a kg (Rs 218.99) and that of the CTC was Rs 146.98 (Rs 142.37). An estimated 93.03 per cent (94.28 per cent) of the Orthodox and 61.85 per cent (62.42 per cent) of the CTC volumes offered were sold.
This week the total offerings (packages) at three North Indian auction centres at Kolkata, Guwahait and Siliguri were 2,87,013 compared with 2,45,971 in the corresponding sale (No 25) of last year. The offerings at Kolkata comprised CTC/Dust 98, 251 (84,799), Orthodox 26,720 (12,448) and Darjeeling 6,024 (7,165). The offerings at two other centres, mainly CTC/Dust, were: Guwahati 74,666 (79,773) and Siliguri 81,352 (61,786).
Improved Assam CTC teas sold well at dearer rates with liquoring categories selling at attractive rates. Dooars sold irregularly lower. Tata Global operated on the liquoring sorts. Hindustan Unilever operated selectively on the mediums. Western India operated actively for the liquoring teas.
Orthodox, tippy, whole leaf grades were readily absorbed at attractive levels but tippy brokens saw fewer enquiries at easier rates. Darjeeling teas showing seasonal improvement in quality sold well.