Tea auction offerings record lowest volume since April 2020 final sale

The offerings at the Colombo Tea Auction contracted further this week, recording the lowest volumes since the final sale of April 2020.

The latest tea auction report showed that the total auction offerings declined to 4.7 MnKgs. The Low Grown/Large Leaf teas continued to meet with good demand, whilst there was less demand for the High Grown Small Leaf liquoring teas.

The Ex-Estate offerings declined to 0.65 MnKgs, which saw less and more selective demand this week. 
Consequently, whilst the better Western BOP/BOPFs continued to sell at last week’s levels, others in the Below Best and Plainer categories were irregular and tended easier often following quality. 

Nuwara Eliyas continued to sell around last week’s levels. Uva/Uda Pussellawa BOPs – Neat leaf well-made teas were firm, whilst the others declined by up to Rs.50 per kg. 

The corresponding BOPFs were firm and dearer for the clean leaf types, whilst the others declined by a
similar margin. 

The tail end of the seasonal teas, which were on offer this week, met with limited interest and sold at much lower levels to last and from a producer point of view, disappointing prices. Non-seasonal BOPs – Neat leaf teas were firm, whilst the poorer sorts declined up to Rs.50 per kg. The corresponding BOPFs – Clean leaf types were up to Rs.50 per kg dearer, whilst the others were irregular and lower by a similar margin. 

High and Medium Grown CTCs – BP1s continued to be maintained though irregular, following its limited availability, whilst the PF1s declined quite substantially from their attractive levels realised over the past couple of weeks. The corresponding Low Grown varieties – BP1s were mostly firm, whilst the PF1s declined by a further Rs.300 per kg on average this week and mostly sold between Rs.2,000-2,500 per kg. 

Shippers to the CIS continued to be fairly active on a wide cross-section of the offerings. Japan and the continent bid on the better teas, whilst being selective on the qualitative aspects.

Low Growns comprised of 2.0 MnKgs in the Leafy/Semi Leafy and Tippy catalogues, which were fair demand. In the Leafy and Semi Leafy catalogues, select Best BOP1/OP1s were barely steady and mostly lower, whilst only a few clean/improved Below Best varieties were maintained. Others and poorer sorts though irregular were firm. Well-made OP/OPAs too were fully firm to dearer, whilst the others and poorer sorts gained. Select Best PEK/PEK1s were fully firm, whilst the Below Best varieties gained. Poorer sorts gained further. In the Tippy catalogues, well-made FBOP/FF1s were firm, whilst the cleaner Below Best and cleaner teas at the bottom appreciated. The balance sold around last levels.

In the Premium catalogues, very Tippy teas together with the Best declined. However, the cleaner Below Best were firm, whilst the balance was easier.