Offering at Colombo Tea Auction declines from previous week

The overall quantity at the Colombo Tea Auction declined from the previous week and totalled 4.87 MnKgs.
According to Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers, the offering met with good demand, although an element of selectivity was observed. 

The Ex-Estate offerings comprised of 0.55 MnKgs and the quality of offerings remain fairly similar from all growing regions. 

From the Western slopes – Best Western BOPs, where quality was maintained, appreciated by Rs.50 per kg, whilst the others were mostly firm. The corresponding BOPFs remained firm. In the Below Best and Plainer categories, the BOPs were irregular. The corresponding BOPFs – clean leaf teas were firm and marginally dearer, whilst the others tend to fluctuate following quality. 

The limited availability of the Nuwara Eliya BOPs gained substantially, whilst the corresponding BOPFs had hardly any offerings. 

The Uda Pussellawa BOP/BOPFs were mostly firm. The Uva BOPs were firm. The corresponding BOPFs – high priced teas of last week, declined by up to Rs.100 per kg, whilst the others sold around last week’s levels.   
The High and Medium CTCs were mostly firm. The corresponding Low Grown varieties – BP1s were firm and up to Rs.100 per kg dearer selectively, whilst the PF1s – better sorts, were firm and the others were irregular and easier. 
The Low Growns comprised of 2.1 MnKgs in the Leafy/Semi Leafy and Tippy catalogues. The market met with lower demand and a fair percentage of teas remained unsold, due to insufficient bids. 

In the Leafy and Semi Leafy catalogues, a few select Best BOP1/OP1s together with a range of improved Below Best varieties maintained, whilst the others declined.  The poorer sorts were fully firm to dearer. The well-made OP/OPAs in general declined, whilst a selection of improved Below Best varieties maintained. Others and poorer sorts gained. PEK/PEK1s, in general, were fully firm to selectively dearer. 

In the Tippy catalogues, the Select Best FBOP/FF1s declined, whilst the cleaner Below Best and cleaner teas at the bottom sold around last levels. The balance was irregular following quality.  

In the Premium catalogues, the very Tippy teas together with the Best varieties declined. However, the cleaner Below Best and cleaner teas at the bottom sold around last levels, whilst the balance eased.