Good demand at Colombo Tea Auction

The Colombo Tea Auction saw 5.43 million kg of tea on offer this week with 2.41 million kg of Low Grown Main Grades and 1.81 million kg of High and Mid Grown Main Grades.

In the Leafy and Semi Leafy catalogues select best BOP1s maintained, whilst corresponding OP1s were barely steady; others in the best and below best category maintained following quality. Teas at the lower end fully firm. Select best OP/OPAs in general declined, whilst improved below best varieties were fully firm to selectively dearer, brokers said.
 

In the small leaf catalogues select best FBOPs gained, whilst corresponding FBOPF1s maintained. Teas in the below best category were fully firm to selectively dearer following quality. Others in the lower end met with improved demand. In the Premium Flowery catalogues well-made tippy teas gained substantially, whilst others too were dearer but to a lesser extent.
 

There was good general demand in the Ex-Estate catalogues. Better Western BOPs were fully firm with a wide selection gaining Rs.150 and more; others were firm. A few invoices moving up in value. Best BOPFs were fully firm. Others tended irregular with quality. Below best and others were irregularly lower Rs.20 to Rs.40 particularly for the plainer sorts. Nuwara Eliya BOPs were irregular, BOPFs were dearer on special inquiry. BOPFs were full firm to Rs.50 dearer. Select stylish Medium BOPs sold well, others were firm. BOPFs were fully firm on last. High priced CTC PF1s were fully firm on last. Other liquoring sorts were irregular but generally held last levels. Better BP1s moved up Rs.50 to Rs.100; others were fully firm. (SD)