The penultimate sale of the year concluded today had on offer a total of 5.8 million Kgs, down from the 6.1 million Kgs on offer the previous week. In general, there was fair demand, whilst there was an easier trend in prices for most varieties of tea with a fairly significant decline being recorded for the High & Medium liquoring BOP/BOPF grades.
Ex-Estate offerings totalled 0.93 million Kgs, up from a 0.88 million Kgs on offer the previous week. Overall quality of teas from the Western slopes were lower to last, whilst teas from the Eastern sector showed no significant change.
Best Western BOP/BOPF's had on offer a few select invoices which sold around last week's levels, whilst the majority declined by up to Rs. 100 per kg. In the Below Best category, BOP/BOPF's - particularly in the higher price bracket - declined by Rs. 50 per kg and more. At the lower end, BOP's declined by Rs. 50-100 per kg, whilst the corresponding BOPF's declined by Rs. 20-40 per kg and more as the sale progressed. Nuwara Eliya BOP/BOPF's were mostly unsold. Uda Pussellawa BOP's declined by Rs. 50 per kg and more, whilst the corresponding BOPF's lost up to Rs. 100 per kg. Uva - Select Best BOP invoices declined by Rs. 20-40 per kg, whilst the others declined substantially more. Corresponding BOPF's - Select Best invoices were Rs. 20-40 per kg easier, whilst the others eased further and substantially more by the close.
High & Medium Grown CTC teas - BP1's had hardly any offerings, whilst the PF1's followed a similar trend with prices declining by up to Rs. 50 per kg and more for the better invoices, and to a lesser extent, at the lower end of the market. Low Grown varieties - BP1's continued to sell well, whilst the PF1's too sold reasonably well around last week's levels.
No doubt a disappointing sale, particularly for the liquoring teas!!
Less activity from shippers to the CIS, whilst the other traditional markets too were fairly selective and in general, the intensity of buying was less.
Low Growns comprised of 2.3 million Kgs. All categories met with fair demand.
In the Leafy and Semi-Leafy catalogues, Select Best BOP1's were easier, whilst the Best varieties together with the Below Best and bolder varieties maintained. Teas at the bottom too followed a similar trend. OP1's, in general, were easier. Well-made OP's were easier, whilst the Below Best and teas at the bottom together with the shorter varieties declined sharply. High-priced OPA's were easier, whilst the balance maintained. Select Best PEK's declined, whilst the Best, Below Best and clean leaf teas at the bottom were easier. PEK1's, in general, were irregularly lower.
FBOP's together with a few Select Best FF1's were firm, whilst the Best and Below Best declined. Cleaner Leaf teas at the bottom were firm to dearer, whilst the balance were irregular.
In the Premium catalogue, Very Tippy teas were firm to dearer, whilst the Best and Below Best too followed a similar trend. The balance were irregular following quality.
TEA AUCTION DETAILS
| AUCTION NO. | 01 | 51 | |||
| Dates | 07th/08th Jan 2025 | 23rd Dec 2024 | |||
| No. of Lots | No. of Kgs | No. of Lots | No. of Kgs | ||
| Ex Estate | 831 | 795,629 | 706 | 676,127 | |
| High & Medium | 1,833 | 815,320 | 1,266 | 550,043 | |
| Leafy | 1,946 | 715,245 | 1,561 | 551,320 | |
| Semi Leafy | 1,804 | 753,783 | 979 | 397,906 | |
| Tippy | 2,063 | 977,405 | 1,617 | 745,900 | |
| Premium/Flowery | 390 | 54,705 | 367 | 48,579 | |
| Off Grades | 2,646 | 1,350,449 | 1,449 | 706,637 | |
| Dust | 632 | 543,230 | 466 | 406,010 | |
| Grand Total | 12,145 | 6,005,766 | 8,411 | 4,082,522 | |
(Source- Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers)
