Tea sees quality and price drop

• In 25th sale of the year shippers to CIS positive but other markets selective

The 25th sale of the year, which concluded this week, saw overall quality of teas drop when compared to the previous auction and consequently the majority of the offerings from the western planting districts recorded a decline in prices.

The auction this week had on offer a total of 5.9M/kgs, Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers said in its weekly update. There was fair demand at irregular rates following quality. Ex-estate offerings totalled 0.9M/kgs. Best Western BOPs declined by an average Rs. 20 per kg and more following quality. 

The corresponding BOPF where quality was maintained were firm on last whilst the others declined Rs. 10-20 per kg. In the below best category BOP/BOPF declined Rs. 10-20 per kg mostly following quality, the report said.  

Plainer clean leaf BOPs gained Rs. 10-20 per kg whilst the others together with the corresponding BOPF were firm. Nuwara Eliya – BOP/BOPF select invoices appreciated following special inquiry whilst others were firm. 

Udapussellawa BOPs were mostly firm whilst Uvas appreciated Rs. 10-20 per kg. Corresponding BOPF where quality was improved appreciated in value whilst the others were barely steady.

High and Mid Grown CTC BP1s were up to Rs. 20 per kg lower whilst corresponding PF1s were irregularly easier following quality. Low Grown types sold around last. Liquoring leafy teas continued to be neglected with majority of the offerings remaining unsold.

There was fairly widespread interest from shippers to CIS whilst other markets were selective.

Low Growns totalling 2.5M/kgs in the Leafy/Tippy catalogues came up for sale this week. There was fair demand in respect of well-made clean leaf teas. In the Leafy Catalogues better OP1/BOP1s were fully firm to dearer. 

Others were irregular and lower where leafy style was not maintained. Better OP/OPAs too were firm. Here again, the poor stalky types declined fairly sharply. Better PEK/PEK1s though irregular were firm. Balance was barely steady.

In the Tippy catalogues better FBOP/FF1s together with the cleaner secondaries maintained whilst others were lower. Poor leafy sorts too at the lower end declined fairly sharply. In the Premium catalogues select best varieties were irregular. Others were mostly firm. There was good demand from shippers to Turkey, CIS, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and Dubai this week.