Colombo Tea Auction sold 5.39M kg

The Colombo Tea Auction this week saw 5.39 million kg of tea on offer with 2.2 million kg being Low Grown Main Grades and 1.97 million kg were high and Mid Grown Main Grades.
 

In the Leafy and Semi leafy catalogues select best BOP1/OP1s were fully firm to selectively dearer, whilst improved best and below best varieties gained. Teas at the lower end too were fully firm to dearer. Well-made OP/OPAs were fully firm to dearer, whilst below best varieties and corresponding Pekoe1's gained further. Poorer sorts gained substantially.
 

In the Small leaf catalogues select best FBOPF1/ FBOPs were irregular and at times lower, whilst below best varieties and poorer sorts gained substantially. In the Premium Flowery catalogues select best very tippy teas barely steady; below best varieties gained substantially.
 

Ex-Estate prices continue to rise all-round. Best Western BOPs gained Rs.100; others were fully firm to dearer to a lesser extent. Select better BOPFs were dearer by Rs.100 with a few moving up further; below best types moved Rs.50-Rs.100 with teas at the bottom gaining further.
 

Nuwara Eliya BOP/BOPFs were irregular with select invoices holding last levels. Better Udapussellawa BOPs moved up Rs.50; others were firm; better BOPFs were sharply dearer Rs.100 to Rs.150; others moved up Rs.50 to Rs.100. Seasonal Uva BOPs continue to enjoy premium; others gained Rs.50 to Rs.100.
 

BOPFs with seasonal quality were selectively dearer on special inquiry with some maintaining last levels. Others gained Rs.50 to Rs.100. Medium BOPs were fully firm to dearer. Better BOPFs gained upto Rs.100; others sold well but not as strong. High priced CTC PF1s were fully firm; liquoring teas opened Rs.50 to Rs.70 dearer and moved up Rs.100 by the close; others followed a similar trend and were slightly dearer. BP1s were irregularly dearer all round. (SD)