Offering at Colombo Tea Auction improves marginally from previous week

The offering at the Colombo Tea Auction was marginally higher this week than the previous week, with the quantities totalling five MnKgs, which were met with fair general demand.

The Ex-Estate offerings too were marginally higher and totalled 
0.70 MnKgs. 

There was improved demand for the select Best Westerns, in the backdrop of their limited availability and saw price gains of Rs.100-200 per kgs for the seasonal teas.

The other Westerns were firm and Rs.50-100 per kg dearer. The Nuwara Eliya BOPs were limited in volume and appreciated Rs.200-300 per kg following quality, whilst there were hardly any corresponding BOPF invoices on offer, a report by Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers highlighted. The teas from the Uda Pussellawa region gained Rs.100 per kg and more, whilst selling at the lower end of 
the market.  

The Uva BOPs gained Rs.100-150 per kg, whilst the corresponding BOPFs sold around last week’s levels. 
The CTC teas continued to sell around its previous week’s prices, with a few select invoices gaining up to Rs.50 per kg, particularly from the Mid Grown sector. 

The Low Growns comprised of 2.3 MnKgs. The Leafy catalogues met with fair demand, whilst the semi-leafy and small leaf varieties were easier. The shippers to Iran and Turkey continued to be very selective, whilst the shippers to Russia were fairly active.

In the Leafy and Semi Leafy catalogues, a selection of well-made OP1/BOP1s were firm to selectively dearer, whilst the balance was irregular and was mostly lower. The OP/OPAs, in general, were firm. The PEK/PEK1s too in general were easier.

In the Tippy catalogues, the select Best FBOPs were easier. However, a few cleaner Below Best and cleaner teas at the bottom met with fair demand, whilst the others were lower. The well-made FF1s declined, whilst a few cleaner Below Best sold around last levels.

In the Premium catalogues, the very Tippy teas together with the Best declined, whilst a few cleaner Below Best and cleaner teas at the bottom sold around last levels.