Quantities surge at Colombo Tea Auction

There was an increase in quantities sold at the Colombo Tea Auction this week with 5.26 million kg on offer with 2.07 million kg were Low Grown Main Grades and 1.85 million kg were High and Mid Grown Main Grades.

In the Leafy and Semi Leafy catalogues select best OP1s were fully firm to selectively dearer, whilst best varieties maintained. Bolder below best OP1s declined, whilst the corresponding BOP1s gained. Teas at the lower end too were dearer. Well-made OP/OPAs in general gained, whilst below best and poorer sorts too were dearer. Select best Pekoe/Pekoe1s were fully firm to dearer whilst others and poorer sorts gained following quality. In the Small leaf catalogues select best FBOP/FBOPF1s were fully firm, whilst imported below best varieties gained following quality; others were irregular. Teas in the premium flowery catalogues were quite steady.

There was fair general demand at this week’s Ex-Estate auction. The better and below best Western BOPs were lower Rs.50 and more on quality, whilst bottom lost Rs.20 to Rs.40. Better Western BOPFs were lower on quality with the below/best  and bottom losing Rs..50 upto Rs.80. Nuwara Eliya BOPs were irregular but BOPFs were firm. Udapussellawa BOP/BOPFs were a lower market. Uva BOP/BOPFs were lower Rs.50 and more. Best Medium BOPs were firm; others and the BOPFs were irregularly lower upto Rs.80. CTC PF1s were about firm, whilst CTC PF1 were irregularly lower on quality. (SD)