Marginally lower quantities at Colombo Tea auction

The Colombo Tea auction had a total of 5.3 million kg on offer of which Ex-Estate offerings were 0.78 million kg, marginally behind last week’s offerings, a market report issued by Forbes & Walkers Brokers stated this week.

Low Growns and most Leafy teas met with less demand and consequently declined in value with Tippy teas weakening quite substantially. High and Medium liquoring teas were mostly firm.

Ex-Estate offerings showed no significant change in quality though most teas from the Eastern sector often showed a decline.

Best Western High Grown BOP/BOPFs were mostly firm. In the Below Best and Plainer categories, BOP’s continued to sell around last week’s levels, whilst the corresponding BOPF’s were firm and up to Rs.50 per kg lower. Nuwara Eliya BOP’s were irregularly easier. Uda Pussellawa BOP’s were mostly Rs.50-100 per kg easier. Uva BOP’s declined by Rs.100 per kg and more for select high priced teas of last week, whilst the corresponding BOPF’s were up to Rs.100 per kg lower for most teas on offer.

High and Medium CTC’s – BP1s had hardly any offerings. Low Grown varieties continued to sell around last week’s levels.

In the Leafy and Semi Leafy catalogues, BOP1s in general maintained. Low Growns comprised 2.2 million kg. Tippy teas continued to decline. Premium categories were substantially lower. There was less demand from shippers to Iran, while Turkiye and Russia were active. (SD)