Demand improves at Colombo Tea Auction

There was generally good demand for teas on offer this week at the Colombo Tea Auction that amounted to a total of 6.2 million kg, marginally lower than last week's 6.3 million. Prices were irregular.
 

Ex-Estate offerings were marginally lower and a selection of Westerns together with a few select Nuwara Eliya's showed improvement, whilst teas from the other regions were fairly similar to last. Improved demand, in general, although prices tend to ease towards the close.
 

Best Western BOP/BOPFs gained Rs.100 per kg and more for select invoices following special inquiry. In the Below Best and plainer categories, select BOP invoices gained up to Rs.150 per kg and more, whilst the others were firm and dearer to a lesser extent.
 

A selection of the corresponding BOPF's appreciated up to Rs.100 per kg, whilst the others together with teas at the lower end of the market were firm and dearer to a lesser extent.
 

Uva BOP's - Select high prices teas of last week appreciated Rs.50 per kg whilst the other brighter sorts were firm and Rs.50-100 per kg dearer. Corresponding BOPF's sold around last week's levels.
 

High and Mid Grown CTC teas - BP1s gained Rs.50-100 per kg in most instances, whilst the corresponding PF1s gained Rs.50 per kg and more for a selection of High Grown invoices following special inquiry. Low Grown CTC BP1s/PF1s sold mostly around last week's levels.
 

There was improved demand from Japan and South Africa, whilst shippers to the CIS continued to be active on a wide cross-section of teas in the Below Best and Plainer categories.
 

Low Growns comprised 2.4 million kg. Semi Leafy and Small Leaf categories met with fair demand whilst the Leafy categories were easier.
In the Leafy cataloguues well-made OP1s were firm while the balance eased. In the Tippy catalogues FBOPs in general were firm.
In the Premium catalogues very Tippy teas met with improved demand and were dearer. Best varieties sold around last week levels, while the balance eased. However, the leafier varieties in general were dearer. (SD)