Over 5 mn kg at Colombo Tea Auction, prices declined

There was 5.41 million kg of tea on offer at this week’s Colombo Tea Auction with 2.25 million kg of Low Grown Main Grades and 1.98 million kg of High and Mid Grown Main Grades.

In the leafy and semi leafy catalogues select best OP1s maintained, whilst corresponding BOP1s declined. A range of best varieties were fully firm to dearer. Teas at the lower end were generally firm. Select best OP/OPAs were fully firm, whilst best together with improved below best varieties were full firm to dearer. Teas at the lower end maintained. Select best Pekoe’s were marginally easier, whilst Pekoe 1’s declined further. Others were fully firm to dearer. In the Small leaf catalogues select best FBOP/FBOPF1s maintained, whilst best together with poorer sorts gained. In the Premium Flowery catalogues leafy varieties gained, whilst smaller varieties gained further.

Demand at lower levels at this week’s Ex-Estate auction. A few select Western BOPs and BOPFs maintained on special inquiry; others were lower Rs.40 to Rs.60 and more. Most Nuwara Eliya BOP/BOPFs were unsold. Udapussellawa BOP/BOPFs were regularly lower up to Rs.40 and more. Uva BOP and BOPFs were about Rs.50 and more lower. Best Medium BOPs were firm, whilst others lost up to Rs.50. Cleaner Medium BOPFs were lower Rs.60 to Rs.80, whilst bottom was about firm. Selected CTC BP1s maintained, whilst others were irregular. The best CTC PF1s were firm, whilst other continued lower. (SD)