Firm to dearer prices at Tea Auction this week with low availability, greater LKR stability

The offerings at the Colombo Tea Auction were maintained around 5.0 million kilogrammes. 
There was good general demand and a firm to dearer trend in prices, in the backdrop of lower availability and greater stability in the currency, said Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers.
The Ex-Estate offerings were similar to last and totalled 0.68 million kilogrammes. The overall quality of the teas showed no significant change, whilst the prices tend to appreciate, primarily in the backdrop of restricted availability and improved activity from the shippers to the CIS.  
The Best Western BOP/BOPFs – Select invoices, appreciated by Rs.50-100 per kilogramme, whilst the others were firm and dearer to a lesser extent. In the Below Best category, better BOPs were up to Rs.50 per kilogramme dearer, whilst the others were irregular and barely steady. The corresponding BOPFs appreciated by Rs.50-100 per kilogramme for select invoices, whilst the others were firm and dearer to a lesser extent. 

At the lower end, the BOPs appreciated by Rs.100 per kilogramme and more for select invoices, whilst the corresponding BOPFs gained up to Rs.50 per kilogramme. The Nuwara Eliya BOPs – Select Best invoices, sold well, whilst the others were difficult of sale. The corresponding BOPFs gained up to Rs.100 per kilogramme. 
The Uda Pussellawas – Better teas, were generally firm, whilst the others were substantially dearer. The Uva BOPs mostly sold around last levels, whilst the corresponding BOPFs gained Rs.20-40 per kilogramme.   
The High and Mid Grown CTCs – BP1s, were generally dearer, whilst the PF1s mostly sold around last week’s levels. The corresponding Low Grown varieties sold around last, though the prices tend to fluctuate, following quality.  
The Low Growns were similar to last and totalled 2.2 million kilogrammes. The Leafy and Semi-Leafy teas met with fair demand, whilst the Small Leaf varieties continued to witness a bearish sentiment.      
In the Leafy catalogues, the well-made OP1s were firm to selectively dearer, whilst the balance sold around last levels. The BOP1s were fully firm, whilst the OP/OPAs too were generally firm. The well-made PEK/PEK1s were firm, whilst the balance was irregularly easier.  In the Tippy catalogues, the well-made FBOPs sold around last levels. The teas in the Below Best category together with the bolder varieties were easier, whilst the teas at the lower end were firm. The well-made FF1s together with the Below Best varieties declined, whilst the teas at the lower end sold around last.  
In the Premium catalogues, the very Tippy teas, particularly the leafier varieties, maintained, whilst the balance was irregular. The teas in the Best and Below Best category together with the teas at the lower end declined, whilst the leafier varieties maintained.