Auction offerings were marginally higher to the previous week and totalled 6.2 million Kgs of which 0.7 million Kgs comprised of re-prints and fresh tea offerings of 5.5 million Kgs. Leafy/Semi-Leafy teas continued to sell well notwithstanding price fluctuations within grades. Orthodox/Rotovane teas and particularly teas in the higher price bracket from the Western slopes were substantially easier and often unsold due to lack of suitable bids partially due to plainer quality.
Ex-Estate offerings totalled 0.92 million Kgs. Overall quality was relatively uninteresting with a greater availability of the offerings comprising of teas in the Below Best and Plainer categories.
Westerns in the higher price bracket were sharply lower with many withdrawals due to a lack of suitable bids. Teas in the Below Best and Plainer categories mostly sold around the previous week's levels with price variances often reflective of quality. Nuwara Eliyas' continued to be sluggish. Uva/Uda Pussellawas' - Better teas were firm and marginally easier, whilst the poorer sorts declined quite sharply.
Current pricing levels reflect a distinct advantage for the BOPF grade which often realised a premium of Rs. 100-150 per kg plus vis-à-vis their corresponding BOP invoices.
High & Medium Grown CTC teas mostly sold around last week's levels, whilst the corresponding Low Grown types were firm and edged up marginally for selected invoices.
Shippers to the UK, the continent and South Africa appeared to be very selective. Fair interest from Japan, whilst perhaps there was less activity from China. Activity from shippers to the CIS and Middle East were as usual although often at lower levels.
Low Growns totalled approximately 2.4 million Kgs. Fair demand was witnessed in the Leafy, Semi-Leafy and Tippy categories, whilst the premium category met with less demand.
In the Leafy and Semi-Leafy catalogues, BOP1's in general were dearer. Select Best and Best OP1's were firm, whilst the balance were irregularly easier. OP's, in general were firm, whilst OPA's declined. High-priced PEK's maintained, whilst the balance together with the PEK1's were dearer.
In the Tippy catalogue, FBOP's in general sold around last levels. Well-made FF1's were firm, whilst the Below Best were irregular following quality. Balance sold at last levels.
In the Premium catalogue, Tippy teas in general declined.
TEA AUCTION DETAILS
| AUCTION NO. | 29 | 28 | ||
| Dates | 27th/28th July 2026 | 21st/22nd July 2026 | ||
| No. of Lots | No. of Kgs | No. of Lots | No. of Kgs | |
| Ex Estate | 926 | 943,774 | 879 | 885,706 |
| High & Medium | 1,653 | 698,076 | 1,588 | 690,283 |
| Leafy | 2,408 | 898,542 | 1,960 | 745,871 |
| Semi Leafy | 1,685 | 678,587 | 1,265 | 501,991 |
| Tippy | 1,990 | 902,697 | 1,565 | 692,799 |
| Premium/Flowery | 418 | 59,208 | 312 | 44,227 |
| Off Grades | 2,427 | 1,261,955 | 2,208 | 1,143,594 |
| Dust | 512 | 460,621 | 696 | 632,138 |
| Grand Total | 12,019 | 5,903,460 | 10,473 | 5,336,609 |
(Source- Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers)
