Tea auction sees mixed demand

Saturday, 23 March 2019 00:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Traditional markets see good demand, Small Leaf teas face sluggish market

The tea auction this week had on offer 6.5 M/kgs with Low Grown/Large Leaf teas continuing to meet with good demand but High and Mid Grown Small Leaf teas encountered a sluggish market, Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers said in their latest report.

Ex-Estate offerings totalled 1.0 M/kgs. Overall, quality of teas from the Western planting districts showed a decline, whilst teas from the Eastern sector showed no change.

Best Western BOP – a few select invoices appreciated following special inquiry, whilst the majority were irregular and easier. Corresponding BOPF – select high priced teas of last week were irregularly easier, whilst the others, particularly the coloury sorts, appreciated by up to Rs. 20 per kg.

In the Below Best category BOP/BOPF were Rs. 20 per kg lower. Plainer BOPs were firm and up to Rs. 10 per kg easier, whilst the corresponding BOPF were irregular and barely steady. Nuwara Eliyas were irregular and disappointing following quality.

Udapussellawas though sold around last levels, continued to be disappointing following quality. Uva – select invoices of BOP/BOPF substantially dearer, whilst the others were irregular. CTC BP1s saw limited interest and consequently, were mostly unsold, whilst the PF1s were firm and up to Rs. 20 per kg lower, the statement said.

Low Growns totalled 2.7 M/kgs in the Leafy/Tippy catalogues. There was good demand. In the Leafy catalogue, a selection of well-made BOP1/OP1s together with clean/improved below best maintained. Others were easier following quality. OP/OPA’s too were fully firm to dearer. At the lower end however, very stalky types were barely steady. Select best PEK/PEK1s maintained. Others were irregular and lower.

In the Tippy catalogue, better FBOP/FF1s together with the cleaner secondaries were fully firm to dearer. At the lower end too the cleaner types were fully firm to last. In the Premium catalogue, there was good demand and prices gained for most teas compared to the preceding sale. There was good demand from shippers to CIS, Turkey, Dubai, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Libya.