Offerings at Colombo Tea Auction continue to maintain around 5 MnKgs

The offerings at the Colombo Tea Auction continued to be maintained around the 5.0 million kilogramme mark, which was met with fair general demand and the price realisation was often closely following quality. 
The Ex-Estate offerings too were similar to last and totalled 0.7 million kilogrammes. The overall quality of the teas on offer showed no significant change. 
The Best Westerns – A few select BOP/BOPF invoices, gained Rs.50-100 per kilogramme, following special inquiry, whilst the others were irregular and up to Rs.50 per kilogramme easier. In the Below Best category, a few select improved BOPs appreciated by up to Rs.50 per kilogramme, whilst the others were barely steady.

 The corresponding BOPFs followed a similar trend and gained Rs.20-40 per kilogramme for the brighter teas, whilst the others often declined by a similar margin. 
At the lower end, the BOPs declined by Rs.20-30 per kilogramme, whilst the corresponding BOPFs were firm and up to Rs.50 per kilogramme easier. The Nuwara Eliya BOPs were mostly unsold. The corresponding BOPFs – Better teas, sold around last, whilst the others were irregular and often easier. The Uda Pussellawa – Better BOP/BOPFs, declined by Rs.50-100 per kilogramme and Rs.50-70 per kilogramme, respectively. The Uva BOPs declined up to Rs.100 per kilogramme, with many withdrawals, whilst the corresponding BOPFs eased by Rs.20-40 per kilogramme. 
The High and Medium Grown CTCs – BP1s, were irregular and barely steady. The PF1s – Better sorts, sold around last, whilst the others were irregular, following quality. The corresponding Low Grown varieties – BP1s, were mostly firm. The PF1s – Few select invoices, were firm, whilst the others declined by Rs.50-100 per kilogramme.
The Low Grown offerings were similar to last and totalled 2.1 million kilogrammes. The Leafy, Semi-Leafy and Tippy catalogues met with fair demand. In the Leafy catalogues, the select Best OP1s were firm. The teas in the Best and Below Best categories appreciated, whilst the teas at the bottom sold around last levels. The Select Best BOP1s were firm, whilst the balance was easier. A few high-priced OPs appreciated, whilst the balance was irregularly easier. The OPAs, in general, declined. The PEKs were lower, whilst the PEK1s were fully firm.  
In the Tippy catalogues, the select Best FBOPs were firm to selectively dearer. The teas in the Best and Below Best categories together with the teas at the bottom were easier. The well-made FF1s together with the cleaner Below Best were firm, whilst the balance was irregular, following quality. 
In the Premium catalogues, the very Tippy teas sold around last levels. The teas in the Best category together with the cleaner Below Best appreciated, whilst the balance was fully firm.