Colombo tea auction quantities drop, prices improve

The quantities at the Colombo Tea Auction this week dropped to 4.48 million kg on offer with 1.97 million kg Low Grown Main Grades and 1.61 million kg of High and Mid Grown Main Grades.

In the Leafy and Semi Leafy catalogues select best BOP1 were fully firm to dearer, whilst corresponding OP1s declined sharply. Improved below best varieties were fully firm to dearer following quality. Select best OPs maintained, whilst corresponding OP1s declined substantially. Below best varieties together with poorer sorts were fully firm to dearer. Select best Pekoe’s were marginally easier, whilst corresponding Pekoe1’s gained; others and improved below best varieties gained further; poorer sorts were fully firm. In the Premium Flowery catalogues select best leafy varieties gained substantially, whilst others gained to a lesser extent.

There was more general demand in the Ex-Estate catalogues. Best Western BOPs were substantially dearer Rs.100 and more; other better teas gained Rs.100 to Rs.150; all others were fully firm to dearer to a lesser extent. Better Western BOPFs were dearer Rs.50 to Rs.100; but buyers’ demand was selective for better liquoring teas; others were generally dearer Rs.50 and at times more.

Better BOPFs gained Rs.20-50; others were irregular with quality. High priced Uva BOPs were fully firm to dearer; others moved up Rs.50 to Rs.100. BOPFs gained Rs.50 on average. High priced CTC PF1s were selectively dearer. Liquoring sorts were irregularly dearer Rs.30 to Rs.40. (SD)