Colombo tea auctions buoyant, quantities dip

The Colombo tea auctions remained buoyant despite the declining quantities with 5.35 million kg on offer this week ahead of closing for the New Year holidays.

Out of this 2.32 million kg were Low Grown Main Grades and 1.92 million kg were High and Mid Grown Main Grades.

Low Growns met with good demand. In the leafy grade catalogues select best OP1s held firm while below best and others gained in value. OP/OPAs met with good demand and sold at dearer rates. In the Semi Leafy catalogues well-made stylish BOP1s held firm, while below best and others were firm to dearer, brokers said.

In the Small leaf catalogues select best FBOP1/FBOPs met with good demand and sold at last week’s levels, while below best and others gained in value. FBOPF1s followed a similar trend too. FBOPFs met with good demand and sold at dearer rates. BOP/BOPFs appreciated in value all-round.

There was more general demand in the Ex-Estate catalogues this week. High priced Western BOPs of last week were irregular with quality but most others gained Rs.50 to Rs.60. A range of below best and plainer sorts were dearer Rs.100 and more. Best Western BOPFs were dearer Rs.200 on average; others gained Rs.100 to Rs.150. Nuwara Eliya BOP/BOPFs were substantially dearer. BOPFs moved up Rs.100 and more. Uva BOPs gained Rs.50 to Rs.70. BOPFs were dearer Rs.100 to Rs.150 following the general trend. Medium BOPs moved up Rs.50 to Rs.80; below best gained further. BOPFs dearer Rs.100 and at times more. High priced CTC PF1s moved up Rs.100 to Rs.150; others were dearer Rs.30 to Rs.60. BP1s were irregular.

Meanwhile, at the auction this week in the Leafy Grade catalogues an invoice of Golden Garden OP achieved a record price of Rs.2400 per kg and improved their own record established last week. This tea was purchased by Ceylon Tea Marketing Ltd.

An invoice of BOPF offered from Somerset Estate sold at an all-time Record price of Rs.1350 per kilo in the Western High Grown category. This is the second record achieved by Somerset Estate during this year’s Dimbula season. This tea was purchased by St. Clair Teas.

In the Uva Medium category Wewesse Estate OP achieved an all-time record price of Rs.1800 per kg. Previous record for this grade was Rs.1650 per kg. This tea was purchased by Enrich Tea and Food Exports. These teas were sold by Asia Siyaka Commodities PLC. (SD)