Colombo Tea Auction sees 5.6 MnKgs under hammer this week

The offering at the Colombo Tea Auction declined to 5.6 MnKgs, from 6.7 MnKgs in the previous week. However, the quantities were met with improved demand. 

The Ex-Estate offerings comprised of 0.88 MnKgs, when compared with 1.0 MnKgs in the previous week. 
“There was good general demand although at irregular rates following quality,” Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers said in its latest tea report.

In the Best Western BOPs, few select invoices were firm and dearer, following quality/special inquiry, whilst the others together with the corresponding BOPFs declined up to Rs.50 per kg and more. In the Below Best category, BOPs were irregular, following quality. The corresponding BOPFs, where quality was maintained, were mostly firm, whilst the others were irregularly easier. 

Plainer BOPs were firm. The corresponding BOPFs – clean leaf types, were Rs.20-30 per kg dearer, whilst the others were irregular. 

Nuwara Eliya BOPs continued to sell well, whilst there were hardly any BOPF invoices on offer. Uva/Uda Pussellawa BOPs were firm and dearer. The corresponding Uda Pussellawa BOPFs gained up to Rs.50 per kg, whilst the Uva BOPFs were irregular and barely steady. 

High Grown CTCs met with better demand and were often Rs.20-30 per kg dearer, whilst the Medium Grown CTCs were irregular and often lower by a similar margin. The corresponding Low Grown varieties – BP1s bounced back this week, with a substantial appreciation in prices. PF1s, which increased substantially toward the latter part of the sale last week, declined approximately Rs.100 per kg on last week’s closing levels. There was less demand for the poorer types.  

Low Growns comprised of 2.0 MnKgs in the Leafy/Semi Leafy and Tippy catalogues. Well-made teas together with cleaner secondaries and cleaner teas at the bottom appreciated, whilst the balance declined following quality. Shippers to Russia, Iran and Turkey remained active, whilst there was limited activity from Iraq.

In the Leafy and Semi Leafy catalogues, select Best BOP1/OP1s were firm, whilst the Below Best varieties were barely steady. Others and poorer sorts maintained. A range of well-made OP/OPAs maintained, whilst the prices were irregular and mostly lower for the Below Best varieties, where quality was not maintained. The teas at the bottom end were barely steady. 

In the Tippy catalogues, well-made FBOP/FF1s together with the cleaner Below Best and the cleaner teas at the bottom appreciated, whilst the balance declined 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 was irregular, following quality.