Colombo Tea Auction sees 5.3 MnKgs come under hammer this week

The Colombo Tea Auction saw 5.3 MnKgs come under the hammer this week. 

The offerings were marginally behind compared to that of last week. 

The Low Growns and most Leafy teas met with less demand and consequently declined in value with the Tippy teas weakening quite substantially. The High and Medium liquoring teas were mostly firm. 

The Ex-Estate offerings showed no significant change in quality though most teas from the Eastern sector often showed a decline.  

The Best Western High Grown BOP/BOPFs were mostly firm. In the Below Best and Plainer categories, the BOPs continued to sell around last week’s levels, whilst the corresponding BOPFs were firm and up to Rs.50 per kg lower. The Nuwara Eliya BOPs were irregularly easier, whilst the corresponding BOPFs had hardly any offerings.

The Uda Pussellawa BOPs were mostly Rs.50-100 per kg easier. The corresponding BOPFs – Best available were Rs.50-100 per kg lower, whilst the others were irregular and barely steady following quality. The Uva BOPs declined by Rs.100 per kg and more for select high priced teas of last week, whilst the corresponding BOPFs were up to Rs.100 per kg lower for most teas on offer.  

The High and Medium CTCs – BP1s had hardly any offerings. The PF1s – Majority of the teas declined Rs.50-100 per kg and more for a range of Mid Grown teas in the fair average quality bracket. The corresponding Low Grown varieties continued to sell around last week’s levels. 

The Low Growns comprised of 2.2 MnKgs. The Leafy and Semi Leafy teas in general were firm, whilst the Tippy teas continued to decline. The Premium categories too were substantially lower and at times unsellable, due to a lack of suitable bids. There was less demand from the shippers to Iran, whilst Turkey and Russia were active.
In the Leafy and Semi Leafy catalogues, BOP1s in general maintained. The Select Best OP1s too maintained, whilst the Below Best varieties declined substantially and remained unsold. 

The teas at the lower end maintained. A selection of well-made OP/OPAs was firm, whilst the prices were barely steady and mostly easier for others where quality was not maintained. The teas at the lower end met with improved demand. The PEK/PEK1s in general were fully firm.

In the Tippy catalogues, the well-made FBOP/FF1s declined, whilst a selection of cleaner Below Best and cleaner teas at the bottom were firm. The balance eased.

In the Premium catalogues, the well-made teas declined substantially. A few cleaner Below Best sorts sold around last levels, whilst the balance too declined.