Offering at Colombo Tea Auction improves this week

The total offering at the Colombo Tea Auction improved to 5.0 MnKgs this week, on account of an additional volume of reprinted teas. The auction quantities met with good demand.

The Ex-Estate offerings were fairly similar to last and totalled 0.57 MnKgs and the overall quality of the offerings showed no significant change and the prices too were more or less firm. 

The price fluctuations evident for the Westerns were mostly reflective of quality. The Nuwara Eliyas had hardly any offerings of BOP/BOPFs, said Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers in its latest tea auction report. 

The Uda Pussellawa BOPs declined Rs.50 per kg, whilst the corresponding BOPFs were irregular following quality. The Uva BOPs – Select Best were mostly firm, whilst the others declined Rs.50 per kg, on average. The corresponding BOPFs – Better varieties were firm and dearer, whilst the others were irregular and mostly easier. 

The High and Medium CTCs – BP1s were firm and Rs.50-100 per kg dearer, whilst the PF1s continued to sell around last with a selection of teas at the lower end appreciating in value. The Low Grown varieties – BP1s sold around last, whilst the PF1s declined Rs.100-200 per kg. 

The Low Growns comprised of 2.3 MnKgs in the Leafy/Semi Leafy and Tippy catalogues. The well-made teas met with fair demand, whilst the Below Best and the teas at the bottom attracted good demand. The shippers to Iraq and Turkey were active.

In the Leafy and Semi Leafy catalogues, the Select Best BOP1/OP1s were barely steady, whilst a range of improved Below Best varieties were fully firm to selectively dearer. The prices were easier for the others where quality was not maintained. The teas at the lower end were fully firm to dearer. A range of well-made OP/OPAs, which were fully firm to selectively dearer at the commencement of the sale, declined towards the close. The teas at the lower end gained. The PEK/PEK1s, in general, were fully firm to dearer.

In the Tippy catalogues, the well-made FBOPs were firm to marginally easier, whilst the balance was firm. The Select Best and Best FF1s were firm to easier, whilst the Below Best and teas at the bottom appreciated.
In the Premium catalogues, the very Tippy teas declined, whilst the Best and cleaner Below Best sold around last levels. The balance was irregular following quality.