Colombo Tea Auction’s 45th sale sees 5.43 Mnkgs under hammer

A total of 5.43 million kilogrammes came under the hammer at this week’s Colombo Tea Auction that was met with fair demand.
There was a firm trend in prices, Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers said.
The Ex-Estate offerings were fairly similar to last, quantity-wise and qualitatively.  
In the Best Western category, a few select BOP invoices appreciated irregularly, following special inquiry, whilst the others sold around last week’s levels. The corresponding BOPFs – a few select invoices, were firm, whilst the others were irregular though mostly sold around last week’s levels. 
In the Below Best category, select improved BOPs gained sharply by up to Rs.150 per kilogramme and more, whilst the corresponding BOPFs were firm to marginally easier. The plainer BOPs were firm and Rs.50-100 per kilogramme dearer, whilst the corresponding BOPFs were Rs.20-40 per kilogramme lower, with the exception of the clean leaf coloury sorts, which continued to sell around last week’s levels. 

The Nuwara Eliya BOPs were irregular, whilst the corresponding BOPFs sold around last, with select invoices appreciating sharply, following special inquiry. The Uva/Uda Pussellawa BOPs, which were limited in availability appreciated by Rs.50-100 per kilogramme and more, whilst the corresponding BOPFs gained up to Rs.50 per kilogramme.    
The High and Mid-Grown CTC teas were firm to marginally dearer, whilst the Low Grown varieties mostly sold around last week’s levels, subject to price fluctuations, following quality.