Tea prices remain firm as arrivals ease at Kochi auction

Kochi Sept 3: Prices remained firm at the Kochi Tea Auction even as arrivals have begun to ease on account of heavy August rains in the tea growing regions of South India. There was 9,87,000 kg of dust and 3,41,000 kg of leaf tea on offer at the auction. Prices remained firm to dearer at the CTC dust auction, particularly the good liquoring and medium grades. Plain grades quoted around last week’s levels. AVT, Tata Global, Hindustan Unilever and Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation were active on good liquoring grades. Loose tea traders lent useful support. Upcountry buyers and exporters remained subdued. Primary grades were steady at the orthodox dust auction while secondaries inched lower. There were several withdrawals from the orthodox dust auction market. Leaf Auction High grown grades remained firm to dearer at the orthodox leaf auction following quality. Other Nilgiri teas tended to ease. Medium bolder broken and whole leaf grades were firm to occasionally dearer. Most other orthodox leaf was irregular and sometimes quoted lower. Traditional exporters, including those to CIS countries were active. Fannings were absorbed by tea bag manufacturers and exporters. Upcountry buyers lent useful support on whole leaf grades. HUL was not active. There was good demand at the CTC leaf auction where good liquoring grades were firm to dearer. Others grades were irregular to easier. Exporters were active on medium/plainer grades. Superior grades were absorbed by upcountry buyers. HUL lent fair amount of support. Top Prices Pasuparai FD fetched the top price at the dust auction at Rs 142 followed by Pasuparai SFD at Rs 133, Injipara SFD and Injipara SRD at Rs 129. At the leaf auction Pascoe’s green tea fetched the top price at Rs 289 followed by Chamraj OP and Chamraj FOP at Rs 206 even as Havukal OP fetched Rs 205. Source: The Hindu