At the CTC sale, where 41,188 packages were put up for sale, demand rose to 85 per cent. There was an all round easy outlook and prices suffered a setback. The good Assam were quoted lower at Rs 74-84 a kg for brokens and Rs 68-82 per kg for fannings. The medium brokens and fannings sold between Rs 50-65 per kg showing a decline by Rs 1-2 a kg. Dooars, however, continued to quote at Rs 60-75 per kg for brokens and Rs 56-66 per kg for fannings.

Prominent buyers such as Hindustan Lever and the western India markets absorbed fair quantities, while other domestic buyers lent good support.

A nominal volume of teas was offered at Darjeeling sale with prices moving around their last levels. Good whole leaf lines sold at around Rs 130-170 per kg, while brokens' prices hovered around Rs 80-110 per kg.

Fannings suffered slightly and was selling at Rs 60-80 per kg. West Bengal buyers were the mainstay in the sale, while Hindustan Lever purchased selected lines. Shippers remained subdued.

Also, good demand was recorded for Orthodox teas. It was, however, offered on a must reduced scale, around 5,922 packages, and more than 85 per cent of that was sold. A few lines of clean and well-made Orthodox were readily consumed by the market, at slightly lower rates while all other lines sold at substantially low levels.

The good whole leaf prices ruled at Rs 70-80 per kg and mediums between Rs 50 and Rs 65 per kg. The brokens quoted at Rs 46-70 per kg and fannings at Rs 57-66 a kg. Iraq and CIS were more or less active buyers, while West Bengal dealers remained selective. North India buyers operated for bolder lines.

There was good demand for 19,523 chests of dust tea and more than 85 per cent was consumed. A few well-made Assam dusts sold around last levels between Rs 90-98 a kg, while all other varieties sold at irregular rates in line with quality. All Assam lines quoted between Rs 42-98 a kg, while Dooars prices plummeted at Rs 42-52 a kg.

Local buyers, Hindustan Lever and western Indian markets were active buyers at the sale, while packeters and all internal sections offered weak supports.

Guwahati sale
Guwahati dust sale opened to good demand with more than 80 per cent teas having sold in an offering of 21,905 kg. A few selected good lines dust and leaf mediums sold around last levels remainder eased in line with quality. A major portion of teas was absorbed by Hindustan Lever and western Indian buyers. Internal sections also purchased a fair share of teas.

Siliguri sale
Siliguri sale 11 met with good demand at all round easy rates. Prices of better CTCs declined by Rs 2-4 per kg, while remaining lines eased more. There were some export buying by CIS and Poland shippers. In the domestic section, Hindustan Lever as well as Gujarat and Delhi buyers consumed a fair quantity. Packeters were quiet.