Quantities improve at Colombo tea auction

The Colombo tea auction this week saw an increase in the quantities with 5.02 million kg of tea on offer with 2.10 million kg Low Grown Main grades and 1.71 million kg of High and Mid Grown Main Grades.
 

Asia Siyaka Brokers in their market report this week stated that in the Leafy and Semi Leafy catalogues select best BOP1/OP1s were fully firm to selectively dearer following special inquiry. Best/ improved below best varieties maintained following quality. Others and poorer sorts were fully firm. Select best OP/OPAs maintained, whilst a range of improved best/below best varieties gained; others and poorer sorts were fully firm.
 

Select best Pekoe's gained, whilst Pekoe1s declined. Improved below best varieties were fully firm, whilst prices of others and mixed varieties in particular declined. In the Small leaf catalogues select best FBOPs gained, whilst corresponding FBOPF1s declined. Best/Below best varieties were generally easier. Teas at the lower end were maintained. In the Premium Flowery catalogues select best leafy varieties gained, whilst others were fully firm.
 

Westerns gained at this week's Ex-Estate auction. Select Western BOPs opened firm and gained sharply towards the close and the BOPFs gained up to Rs.50. Below best and bottom were a firm market. Nuwara Eliya BOP/BOPFs were sharply dearer. Udapussellawa BOP/BOPFs were lower by Rs.50 to Rs.80. Uva BOP/BOPFs gained up to Rs.50. BOPFs were firm to slightly dearer. CTC BP1s were a firm market. A few select high priced CTC PF1s lost sharply; others maintained. (SD)