Fair demand seen at tea auction this week

The penultimate sale of the year, concluded this week, had on offer a total of 5.8 million kilogrammes (M/Kgs), down from 6.1 M/Kgs on offer the previous week.
In general, there was fair demand, whilst there was an easier trend in prices for most varieties of tea, with a fairly significant decline being recorded for the High and Medium liquoring BOP/BOPF grades.  
The Ex-Estate offerings totalled 0.93 M/Kgs, up from a 0.88 M/Kgs on offer the previous week. The overall quality of the teas from the Western slopes was lower to last, whilst the teas from the Eastern sector showed no significant change. 

The Best Western BOP/BOPFs had on offer a few select invoices, which sold around last week’s levels, whilst the majority declined by up to Rs.100 per kilogramme. In the Below Best category, the BOP/BOPFs – particularly in the higher price bracket – declined by Rs.50 per kilogramme and more. At the lower end, the BOPs declined by Rs.50-100 per kilogramme, whilst the corresponding BOPFs declined by Rs.20-40 per kilogramme and more as the sale progressed. 
The Nuwara Eliya BOP/BOPFs were mostly unsold. The Uda Pussellawa BOPs declined by Rs.50 per kilogramme and more, whilst the corresponding BOPFs lost up to Rs.100 per kilogramme. The Uva – Select Best BOP invoices, declined by Rs.20-40 per kilogramme, whilst the others declined substantially more. The corresponding BOPFs – Select Best invoices, were Rs.20-40 per kilogramme easier, whilst the others eased further and substantially more by the close.   
The High and Medium Grown CTC teas – BP1s, had hardly any offerings, whilst the PF1s followed a similar trend, with the prices declining by up to Rs.50 per kilogramme and more for the better invoices and to a lesser extent, at the lower end of the market. The Low Grown varieties – BP1s, continued to sell well, whilst the PF1s too sold reasonably well around last week’s levels. 
No doubt, it was a disappointing sale, particularly for the liquoring teas.
Less activity was there from the shippers to the CIS, whilst the other traditional markets too were fairly selective and in general. The intensity of buying was less.   
The Low Growns comprised of 2.3 M/Kgs. All categories met with fair demand. 
In the Leafy and Semi-Leafy catalogues, the Select Best BOP1s were easier, whilst the Best varieties together with the Below Best and bolder varieties maintained. The teas at the bottom too followed a similar trend. The OP1s, in general, were easier. The well-made OPs were easier, whilst the Below Best and teas at the bottom together with the shorter varieties declined sharply. 
The high-priced OPAs were easier, whilst the balance maintained. The Select Best PEKs declined, whilst the Best, Below Best and clean leaf teas at the bottom were easier. The PEK1s, in general, were irregularly lower.
The FBOPs together with a few Select Best FF1s were firm, whilst the Best and Below Best declined. The Cleaner Leaf teas at the bottom were firm to dearer, whilst the balance was irregular.
In the Premium catalogue, the Very Tippy teas were firm to dearer, whilst the Best and Below Best too followed a similar trend. The balance was irregular, following quality.