Offering at Colombo Tea Auction increases to 9.7 MnKgs this week

The offering at the Colombo Tea Auction increased to 6.7 MnKgs this week, where the quantities met with better demand.

The Ex-Estate offerings, which totalled 1.0 MnKgs, saw better demand and more so for the BOP grade, which appreciated quite substantially throughout the sale.  

Best Western BOPs gained Rs.50-100 per kg and more for select invoices. The corresponding BOPFs, where quality was maintained, were firm and irregularly dearer, whilst the others declined by Rs.20-40 per kg. 

In the Below Best and Plainer categories’ BOPs, which were Rs.100 per kg dearer at the commencement of the sale, appreciated further as the sale progressed. The corresponding BOPFs, which were firm and dearer at the commencement, declined up to Rs.20-30 per kg, as the sale progressed, whilst the Plainer sorts declined further by up to Rs.50 per kg. Nuwara Eliya – Select BOP invoices were substantially dearer, whilst the others were firm and dearer to a lesser extent. 

The corresponding BOPFs were firm to irregularly easier. Uva/Uda Pussellawa BOPs gained up to Rs.100 per kg, whilst the corresponding BOPFs declined by Rs.30-50 per kg and more following quality.  

High and Medium Grown CTC – BP1s were substantially easier and often unsold, whilst the PF1s declined by Rs.40-60 per kg and more following quality. Corresponding Low Grown varieties – BP1s were substantially easier by up to Rs.100 per kg. PF1s – Better sorts were up to Rs.200 per kg dearer, whilst the poorer sorts were irregular and barely steady. 

Low Growns comprised of 2.7 MnKgs in the Leafy/Semi Leafy and Tippy catalogues. Well-made teas appreciated, whilst the cleaner Below Best too followed a similar trend. Balance was easier following quality. Shippers to Russia remained active, whilst there was limited activity from Turkey and Iraq.

In the Leafy and Semi Leafy catalogues, a few select Best BOP1/OP1s maintained, whilst the Below Best varieties were barely steady. Teas at the lower end maintained. Well-made OP/OPAs in general were fully firm, whilst the Below Best varieties and poorer types met with improved demand. A range of select Best PEK/PEK1s maintained, whilst the Below Best varieties were barely steady. Others and poorer sorts were firm.

In the Tippy catalogues, select Best FBOP/FF1s appreciated, whilst the Best and cleaner Below Best too followed a similar trend. Others were easier following quality. 

In the Premium catalogues, very Tippy teas continued to attract good demand and were dearer. Best and the cleaner Below Best too appreciated, whilst the balance were irregular following quality.