Colombo tea auction quantities drop

Quantities at the Colombo Tea Auction have dropped to 4.77 million kg this week with 2.31 million kg of Low Grown Main Grades and 1.66 million kg of High and Mid Grown Main Grades.

In the Leafy and Semi Leafy catalogues Select best BOP/OP1s maintained. However, best varieties were barely steady. Improved below best varieties gained substantially; poorer sorts maintained. Well made OP/OPAs in general were fully firm, whilst below best varieties gained.

Teas at the lower end were fully firm. Select best together with best Pekoe/Pekoe1’s were generally firm, whilst below best varieties too were generally easier. Teas at the lower end maintained. In the Premium Flowery catalogues well made very tippy teas met with fair demand, whilst others were generally firm following quality.

A reduced quantity in the Ex-Estate catalogues met with fair demand with best Western BOPs firm on quality, whilst their BOPFs were dearer Rs.50 and more; below best and bottom BOPs tended lower, whilst BOPFs were about firm with no Nuwara Eliya BOPs on offer.

Limited quantity of BOPFs sold well. Udapussellawa BOPs were lacking in quantity, whilst BOPFs were firm. Uva BOPs and well made BOPFs were firm and at times slightly dearer. Medium BOPs and best BOPFs were firm. CTC BP1s and PF1s were firm on last. (SD)