Colombo Tea Auction quantities increase

The Colombo Tea Auction saw 2.60 million kg of Low Grown Main Grades and 1.89 million kg of High and Mid Grown Main Grades on offer with a total of 5.84 million kg of tea on offer this week.

Prices maintained in the Leafy and Semi Leafy catalogues together with best BOP1s but the OP1s declined substantially; and others and poorer sorts were generally firm.

A few select best OP/OPAs maintained, whilst well-made teas in general declined.  Below best with poorer sorts were fully firm to dearer. Select best Pekoe/Pekoe1s were fully firm. Well-made Pekoe’s gained; corresponding Pekoe 1s declined. In the Small leaf catalogues Select best FBOP/FBOPF1s gained, whilst improved best/below best varieties gained substantially, whilst others too gained to a lesser extent. Shippers to Iran, Syria and Turkey were very active, whilst shippers to Russia were selective following quality and availability.

There was fair demand at lower rates in the Ex-Estate catalogues. Well-made Coloury Western BOPs were firm to dearer; others were lower up to Rs.50. Better Western BOPFs and bottom were lower upto Rs.50. Better Western BOPFs and bottom were lower upto Rs.50, whilst some coloury sorts were about firm. Nuwara Eliya BOP/BOPFs were mostly unsold. Udapussellawa BOPs were irregularly lower but BOPFs were about firm. Clean Uva BOPs were about firm; others and BOPFs lost upto Rs.50. Better Medium BOPs were about firm; others irregular. BOPFs were about firm. CTC BP1s lower upto Rs.100 and the CTC PF1s lower Rs.50 to Rs.100. (SD)