At the CTC sale, market opened to good demand. More than 85 per cent of the 44,462 packages on offer were sold. All categories of teas, including good and better Assams, brokens and fannings recorded a steep fall in prices with brokens being quoted at Rs 68-95 per kg as against Rs 72-102 a kg in the past sale. Following similar trend, fannings quoted lower at Rs 68-84 a kg compared to Rs 70-88 in the last sale. Low-priced brokens, however, were ruling firm while all other categories declined by up to Rs 4 a kg at Rs 70-80 a kg. Fannings prices fell discernibly at Rs 6-73 from Rs 72-76 per kg.

Hindustan Lever and western Indian traders consumed a fair amount of teas while other packeters were subdued, except Bush Tea Co which absorbed selected teas.

At the Darjeeling sale, very small amounts were offered and prices fell substantially from their past levels. Prices of better whole leaves declined to Rs 130-180 per kg from Rs 140-190 while the good and general brokens sold at Rs 80-120 per kg as against Rs 100-140 per kg. The good fannings declined too to Rs 65-80 per kg showing a drop by Rs Rs 10-15 per kg. The local traders were the mainstay at the market with very selected enquiries from the traditional exporters.

The market opened to fair demands for 15,472 packages of orthodox teas offered at the sale. In spite of the loss in quality loss, more than 80 per cent were sold at easier rates. A nominal quantity of tippy whole leaf sold well at firm levels while the remaining teas sold at irregularly lower rates. The all good whole leaf quoted at Rs 90-130 per kg as against Rs 90-135 a kg with medium sorts selling at Rs 50-65 per kg compared to Rs 60-70 in the past sale. Good brokens and good fannings also came at lower rates with brokens falling to Rs 75-100 a kg from Rs 85-110 and fannings to Rs 41-45 per kg from Rs 46-54 a kg.

Prominent consumers, including shippers for Iran and Iraq and West Bengal and North India traders, were selective on certain lines. The CIS shippers, however, were active takers here.

The dust sale with an offering of 23,083 chests saw less demand with 75 per cent teas being sold. Assam varieties eased by Rs 2-6 a kg to Rs 60-90 while Dooars dust showed some steady note at Rs 64-76 a kg, marginally down from last week's over Rs 66-76 a kg.

All buyers, including Hind Lever, western Indian consumers and other packeters, were operating on selected lines. Their were export enquries for pekoe dusts. Guwahati sale Guwahati Sale No 9 displayed lower demand for all categories with prices depleting further.

In the CTC sale, where 48,581 packages were offered and only 65 per cent of them sold, prices for all teas fell sharply in line with quality. Hind Lever, Eveready and other packeters were selective takers while western Indian buyers took interest in better liquoring teas.

In an offering of 25,607 chests pf dusts teas more than 40 per cent were unsold showing a distressed demand situation. All teas tended easy from their past levels with browner and end-season varieties finding no taker.Hind Lever, as well as domestic sections absorbed selected teas. Some export enquiries also witnessed.