Colombo Tea Auction offering increased marginally this week

The offerings at the Colombo Tea Auction increased marginally to 5.79 million kilogrammes from the previous week’s 5.63 
million kilogrammes. 
The well-made teas met with less demand and consequently, witnessed a decline in prices. The seasonal Uva Quality tea continued to attract good demand, Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers said.
The Ex-Estate offerings totalled 0.83 million kilogrammes. Overall, the teas where quality was maintained, sold at last levels, whilst the others declined.
The Best Westerns – a few select BOPs, sold around last levels, whilst the others were irregularly lower. The corresponding improved BOPFs gained by Rs.20-40 per kilogramme, whilst the others declined by a similar margin following quality. The teas in the Below Best and Plainer categories followed a similar trend. The Nuwara Eliyas were mostly unsold. The Uda Pussellawa – Better BOPs, gained by Rs.20-40 per kilogramme, whilst the others appreciated to a lesser extent. 

The corresponding BOPFs declined by up to Rs.40 per kilogramme and more, at times. The seasonal Uva BOP/BOPFs, in general, appreciated by Rs.100-200 per kilogramme and consequently, the prices moved up to Rs.3,400 per kilogramme and Rs.2,400 per kilogramme for the BOP and BOPF grades, respectively.  
The CTC teas – Well-made BP1s, sold around last levels, whilst the others at the lower end gained considerably following special inquiry. The PF1s, which commenced around last levels, declined by Rs.20 per kilogramme and more towards the close.
The Low Growns comprised of 2.4 million kilogrammes. The leafy teas met with good demand, whilst the Tippy category met 
with less demand.
In the Leafy and Semi-Leafy catalogues, the well-made BOP1s were firm, whilst the balance together with the bolder varieties declined. The OP1s were firm, whilst the OP/OPAs in general were dearer. The well-made PEKs were firm on last, whilst the teas at the lower end were easier. The high-priced PEK1s sold around last levels, whilst the balance was irregularly easier.
The well-made FBOPs were firm, whilst the bolder varieties declined. The FF1s, in general, were lower.
In the Premium catalogue, the Very Tippy teas tended irregular. The best were firm, whilst a few cleaner Below Best sold around last levels. The balance was easier.