Kolkata, April 2: The small quantity of end-of-the-season CTC, Darjeeling, Orthodox and Dust presented at the Kolkata Tea Sale No 13 saw good demand with about 85 per cent sold at substantially higher levels. Tea estates, though, started offering some quantities of new season teas, but they were not adequate for cataloguing. Thus they were sold entirely through negotiations.There was good demand for 26,835 packages of CTC teas, of which around 80 per cent was sold at substantially higher levels. Very few of the new season teas were offered at the sale and these sold at attractive levels of Rs 113-126 per kg.
Hindustan Lever absorbed the major share of teas offered at the sale. Buyers from Gujarat and those from other western Indian states consumed a few liquoring lines with exporters showing interests in larger brokens and cheaper fannings.
A nominal quantity of Darjeeling tea was presented for sale which was consumed mostly by the local traders. Due to the absence of whole leaf teas, exporters did not show any interest in the sale. Brokens and fannings eased by Rs 5 to Rs 15 per kg, and even more in the face of the loss of Darjeeling character in the teas.
Market opened to a very good demand for a very low quantity of Orthodox tea, around 5,781 packages as against the average arrival of 15,000 packages. Selected better whole leaf were selling at last levels between Rs 75-100 per kg while all remaining varieties eased in prices following the line of quality.
CIS shippers consumed fair share of teas, while Middle East remained subdued. In the domestic sections, Punjab and Delhi markets absorbed bolder brokens with selective supports from the local buyers.
There was good demand for 16,871 packages of Dust teas offered at the sale and barely 10 per cent of this was out lot. Most of the teas were reprint varieties, which, in the earlier sales, were neglected by the buyers. Prices witnessed a massive slump to between Rs 40 and Rs 72 per kg.
Local traders were active buyers, while Gujarat buyers operated for selected liquoring lines. Hindustan Lever also was fairly active with other packeters quiet.
Guwahati sale
Arrivals of both CTC and Dust teas registered a major fall at the Guwahati Sale No 13. However, more than 82 per cent of the offering was consumed by the buyers.
Most of CTCs and Dust teas presented at the sale were of last season's carryovers and these sold at irregularly lower rates in line with quality. A few new season brokens with better liquoring characteristics sold at attractive prices. Hindustan Lever and Gujarat buyers concentrated their consumptions on few better lines. Other internal markets readily absorbed less quality teas at cheaper levels.
Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
