Mixed price trend persists in tea auction

COIMBATORE: Mixed price trend persisted in the Coimbatore tea auction, with leaf grade moving up and dust ruling lower, ranging from Re 1 to Rs 3 per kg, industry sources said on Wednesday.

With fair demand, particularly from exporters to the CIS countries, prices of well made Nilgiri large grades and whole leaf grade appreciated in value by Rs 2 to Rs 3, while others were lower by Re 1 to Rs 3, depending on quality. A few black smaller CTC leaf grades witnessed a dearer trend by Re one to Rs 2 in the auction last week.

In the dust category, orthodox eased by Rs 2, with heavy withdrawals, while CTC selected high prices popular mark and other teas quoted lower by Re 1 to Rs 2, while medium met some demand and barely steady to easier by Re 1.

Orthodox high grown broken ruled at Rs 62-80, good CTC brokens at Rs 43-49, fannings Rs 45-49 and medium brokens Rs 36-42 and fannings Rs 36-41.

Best CTC dust quoted Rs 57-67, good Rs 45-56, medium CTC Rs 38-44, while medium orthodox ruled at Rs 31-43 per kg.

Of the total offerings of 5.56 lakh kg, dust comprised 3.71 lakh kg, the sources said.