Tea Auction sees marginal improvement in offering volumes this week

The Colombo Tea Auction this week saw the volumes improve marginally, totalling five million kilogrammes, which was met with good general demand although at irregular rates. 
The Ex-Estate offerings too improved and totalled 0.7 million kilogrammes, marginally up from the 0.6 million kilogrammes on offer during the previous couple of weeks. The quality of offerings did not show much change, whilst there was improved demand, particularly for a wider selection of the better teas, Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers said. 
The Best Western BOPs – select invoices, gained Rs.100 per kilogramme and more, following special inquiry, whilst the others were irregular. The corresponding BOPFs – select invoices, were firm and up to Rs.50 per kilogramme dearer, whilst the others were firm to marginally easier. In the Below Best category, a few select BOP invoices appreciated substantially, following special inquiry, whilst the others were irregular, following quality. 
The corresponding BOPFs followed a similar trend, with a select range of bright liquoring teas gaining up to Rs.50 per kilogramme, whilst the others were firm and Rs.20-30 per kilogramme easier. 

At the lower end, the clean leaf BOPs gained up to Rs.50 per kilogramme, whilst the others were firm and dearer to a lesser extent. The corresponding BOPFs declined by up to Rs.50 per kilogramme. 
The Nuwara Eliyas continued to sell well. The Uda Pussellawa – Better BOPs, were Rs.50-80 per kilogramme lower, whilst the others sold around last week’s levels. The corresponding BOPFs declined by Rs.50-100 per kilogramme. The Uva BOPs declined by Rs.50 per kilogramme and more, whilst the corresponding BOPFs declined by Rs.50-100 per kilogramme.   
There was less activity from the shippers to the UK and continent, whilst the shippers to South Africa were selective. Improved activity from the shippers to Japan was seen, whilst the shippers to the CIS continued to be active on a wide cross-section of the teas.   
The High and Medium Grown CTC teas generally sold around last, though some price fluctuations were evident within the different categories, whilst the Low Growns followed a similar trend.  
The Low Grown offerings increased this week and totalled 2.1 million kilogrammes. The Leafy, Semi-Leafy and Tippy catalogues met with fair demand.      
In the Leafy catalogues – the OP1s in general, were firm, whilst the teas at the bottom eased. A few select Best BOP1s appreciated, following special inquiry. The Best varieties sold around last levels, whilst the Below Best and teas at the bottom declined. The well-made OPs, in general, were firm. The high-priced OPAs sold around last levels, whilst the Best and cleaner Below Best appreciated. The balance was firm on last. The Select Best PEKs were firm to dearer, whilst the balance was irregular, following quality. The PEK1s, in general, were easier.       
In the Tippy catalogues, a few select Best FBOPs appreciated, following special inquiry, whilst the balance together with the Best and Below Best varieties declined. The teas at the bottom too followed a similar trend. The well-made FF1s were easier. A few clean leaf Below Best varieties sold around last levels, whilst the balance was lower, following quality. 
In the Premium catalogues, the very Tippy teas met with good demand and were firm to dearer. The teas in the Best and Below Best categories followed a similar trend, whilst the teas at the bottom were irregular, following quality.