Offering barely maintained and totalled 5 MnKgs at tea auction this week

The total offerings were barely maintained and totalled 5.0 million kilogrammes at the Colombo Tea Auction this week.
Notwithstanding the price fluctuations, based on the qualitative factors and availability, the Large Leaf/Low Growns met with fair demand. 
The High and Mid Grown Small Leaf teas in the higher price bracket were irregularly easier, whilst the prices at the lower end were firm to marginally easier, Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers said.
The Ex-Estate offerings were maintained around 0.69 million kilogrammes. The overall quality of teas from the High and Mid Grown sector were selectively improved and against this backdrop, the price realisation for the better teas could be considered disappointing.    
The Best Western BOPs declined by Rs.50-70 per kilogramme and more following quality. The corresponding BOPFs declined by up to Rs.100 per kilogramme and more for select high-priced teas of last week. In the Below Best category, the select BOPs were firm and Rs.20-40 per kilogramme dearer, whilst the others declined by a similar margin and more. 
The High and Mid Grown CTC teas – BP1s, were irregular and barely steady. The PF1s – Better sorts, were often up to Rs.50 per kilogramme easier, whilst the others were lower to a lesser extent. The corresponding Low Grown types – BP1s, were mostly unsold, whilst the PF1s sold around last week’s levels.

“A better selection of the Westerns are on offer next week and no doubt the producers would look forward to an improvement in the price structure. Perhaps could be considered a reality against the backdrop of the shortfall in availability in North India,” Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers said.    
The Low Growns comprised of 2.1 million kilogrammes. The Leafy, Semi-Leafy and Tippy categories met with fair demand.
In the Leafy and Semi-Leafy catalogues, the Select Best and Best BOP1s were firm, whilst the Below Best varieties were easier. The clean leaf teas at the bottom were firm. The OP1s, in general, were lower. The Select Best and Best OP/OPAs declined, whilst the Below Best and clean leaf teas at the bottom were firm. The well-made PEKs were firm, whilst the balance, where quality was not maintained, was easier. The high-priced PEK1s were easier, whilst the balance was firm to selectively dearer.
In the Tippy catalogues, the FBOPs were firm, whilst the bolder varieties were easier. The well-made FF1s, together with the clean leaf Below Best and clean leaf teas at the bottom, were firm to dearer, whilst the balance was easier, following quality.
In the Premium catalogues, the Very Tippy teas continued to attract good demand and were firm. The Best and Below Best were firm to easier, following quality, whilst the balance too followed a similar trend.