Tea market comments

COLOMBO: Sale No. 8 which was concluded this week comprised of 5.0 m/kgs. There was good demand all round.

Ex Estate offerings totalled a 5.0 m/kgs. Quality was irregular from most High and Mid grown planting districts. Yet there was good demand over all establishing a number of All Time Record Prices as highlighted in our Top Price page. Improved Western BOP/BOPF gained Rs. 30-40 per kg and more.

The Plainer clean leaf varieties too appreciated. The poor leaf sorts were however, irregular and prices too fluctuated accordingly. Nuwara Eliyas together with Uva/Udapussellawas met with better demand and prices gained Rs. 10-15 per kg and at time more on last.

Once again the CTC varieties continued their good run with prices appreciating on last. Shippers to UK, Japan and the Continent were active particularly in respect of better liquoring teas whilst CIS continued on a wider selection of teas.

At yesterday’s Low grown sale a total of 2.6 m/kgs came up for sale in the Leafy/Tippy catalogues. Better made tippy teas were dearer Rs. 10-15 whilst their cleaner secondaries met with better demand and were dearer Rs. 20-30 per kg and more.

In the Leafy catalogues too BOP1s/OP1s sold well although at time were marginally lower to previous. OPAs too were a strong feature particularly for the teas at the lower end.

The feature of the sale however was the demand that prevailed for the better Pekes. CIS, Turkey, Iran, Dubai together with Syria were active whilst Saudi Arabia were active but to a lesser extent.

Courtesy: Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers (Pvt) Ltd