The offerings at the Colombo Tea Auction totalled 5.8 million kilogrammes, where the Low Grown/Leafy teas – the Better sorts, continued to sell well, whilst the others were easier. 

The OP/OPA grades were most impacted with an increased volume of tea remaining unsold. 

The Ex-Estate offerings totalled 0.8 million kilogrammes. The overall quality of the teas was barely maintained with greater availability of offerings comprising of fair average quality, Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers said.   

The Best Western - Select BOP invoices gained by Rs.50 per kilogramme and more following special inquiry, whilst the others were irregular, following quality. 

The corresponding BOPFs sold around last week’s levels. In the Below Best category, the clean leaf coloury BOPs were firm and Rs.50 per kilogramme dearer, whilst the others sold around last. The corresponding BOPFs mostly sold around last week’s levels, except in the case of distinct quality variances. 

At the lower end, the BOPs were firm and Rs.50 per kilogramme easier, whilst the corresponding BOPFs were generally firm. The Nuwara Eliyas had hardly any offerings. The Uda Pussellawa – Clean leaf BOP/BOPFs, were firm, whilst the others were Rs.20-40 per kilogramme lower. The Uva BOPs were Rs.50-100 per kilogramme dearer, whilst the corresponding BOPFs appreciated by Rs.20-30 per kilogramme.    

The High and Mid Grown CTC teas – BP1s, declined by up to Rs.100 per kilogramme, whilst the PF1s were up to Rs.50 per kilogramme easier, mostly following quality. The corresponding Low Grown varieties sold around last week’s levels, with select neat leaf PF1 invoices appreciating by Rs.20 per kilogramme.   

The better teas continued to be supported by the shippers to the UK, Japan and the continent, with improved activity from South Africa, whilst there was widespread interest for the teas at the lower end. 

The Low Growns comprised of 2.5 million kilogrammes. The Leafy category met with less demand, whilst the Semi-Leafy and Tippy categories met with fair demand.

In the Leafy and Semi-Leafy catalogues, the Select Best BOP1s were easier, whilst the Best varieties were firm. The Below Best varieties together with the clean leaf teas at the bottom declined substantially. The well-made OP1s were firm, whilst the balance declined. The Select Best OP/OPAs declined by Rs.50-100 per kilogramme, whilst the others eased further. A few high-priced PEK/PEK1s were firm, whilst the balance declined. 

In the Tippy catalogues, the Select Best FBOPs were firm, whilst the others in general declined. The well-made FF1s sold around last levels, whilst the others declined.

In the Premium catalogues, a few Select Best Tippy teas were firm to dearer, whilst the Best together with the Below Best varieties were easier following quality.