Good Assam brokens was sold between Rs 120 and Rs 130 a kg with selected brighter liquoring CTCs ruling at higher levels. The similar fannings ruled around last levels between Rs 110 and Rs 125 per kg. Medium Assams brokens fetched Rs 105 to Rs 110 with fannings of the same category was sold between Rs 95 and Rs 105 per kg. A nominal weight of good Dooars also was there which received good support from exporters selling between Rs 103 and Rs 110 per kg.

Brokens of this sort was quoted between Rs 94-116 a kg. Plain bolder brokens, on the other hand, met with limited buying support in line with quality and at times neglected. Some export enquiry was witnessed for bright liquoring fannings whileother teas were absorbed by the domestic buyers. The western Indian traders operated at cheaper varieties. Local buyers opted for Dooars grown teas while Hindustan Lever operated on selected lines.

There were 2,221 chests of Darjeeling teas on offer which were well-received by the overseas and local traders. The whole leaf teas of muscetal varieties realised attractive prices from the continental shippers while other whole leaf ruled at last levels between Rs 500 and Rs 700 a kg. There was a good response for brokens and fannings too from the continental shippers as well as from the West Bengal traders.

The overall levels were slightly easy from the last sale with brokens realised between Rs 170 and Rs 200 a kg and those of fannings between Rs 150 and Rs 170 per kg. The highest price in the sale was Rs 850 a kg of whole leaf tea from a line of Temi garden.

The orthodox sale opened to a good demand with 90 per cent of an offering of 4,281 packages was absorbed by the foreign and domestic buyers. Cleanstylish whole leaf and well made brokens were sold at around last levels. Whole leaf grade ruled between Rs 115 and Rs 160 a kg while brokens and fannings ruled between Rs 75 to Rs 130 a kg. Plain bold whole leaf grades suffered demand crunch and were sold at lower levels. Few fannings on offer, however, received useful support.

Bright liquoring teas lifted by continental shippers with some CIS offtake for cheaper variety orthodox. West Asian shippers opted for clean well made whole leaf and brokens while Bengal traders supported fannings and smaller brokens.

There was an offering of 2,774 chests of dust teas in the sale of which 90 per cent was sold at firm to easy rates. Brown teas suffered major losses and was withdrawn from the sale. The Assam dusts ruled between Rs 10 and Rs 125 a kg with Dooars between Rs 95 and Rs 105 a kg.

There was limited export enquiry for good liquoring larger dusts. Among the domestic traders, major takers were Western Indian traders. Hindustan Lever was selective in theiroperation.

Guwahati sale

The sale of dust teas witnessed a spurt by about 10 per cent and CTC by 5 per cent following improvement in demand at Guwahati sale.

In the CTC section, the market opened to a good demand at lower rates for an offering of 32,508 packages during the week. All medium variety CTCs were readily absorbed at lower rates by about Rs 5 a kg with bold brokens and small brokens dropped further by up to Rs 8 a kg. Lower medium and plainer teas were sold at easier rates by Rs 6 to Rs 8 a kg. The better Assams along with Cachar teas remained unsold.

Hindustan Lever and Eveready operated with fair strength and normal offtake. In the dust sale, where in 10,945 packages were offered, the offtake increased to 90 per cent from 80 per cent in past sale. Some selected liquoring dusts ruled at last levels, attracting good competition with remainder easing up to the levels of Rs 5 a kg. Plainer sorts also declined by upto Rs 7 a kg while clean mediums falling by Rs 6 a kg. Cachar dusts,offered so far, were barely steady in prices.

Hindustan Lever was well active with other packateers remaining subdued. The Western Indian traders also lent worthwhile buying support.