Auction offerings totalled 6.1 million Kgs, marginally lower to the 6.4 million Kgs of last week. Good general demand and a firm to dearer trend in prices for most teas on offer, perhaps reflective of an anticipated decline in volumes and a strong parity rate favouring exports.
Ex-Estate offerings were similar to last and totalled 0.8 million Kgs. Overall quality of teas were fairly similar to last.
Best Western BOP/BOPF's continued to sell around last week's levels subject to price fluctuations following quality. In the Below Best category, a selection of brighter BOP/BOPF's gained up to Rs. 50 per kg, whilst the others were irregular. At the lower end, BOP's were firm and marginally dearer for the cleaner sorts, whilst the corresponding BOPF's were barely steady. Nuwara Eliyas' were mostly unsold due to a lack of suitable bids. Uda Pussellawa BOP/BOPF's were barely steady. Uva - BOP's were firm, whilst a select range of clean leaf coloury BOPF's gained up to Rs. 50 per kg. Others sold around last.
CTC teas sold around last week's levels.
Select liquoring Leafy teas, both from the Eastern and Western sectors, in the High & Medium catalogues continued to attract fairly useful demand.
Selective buying from shippers to the UK and the continent, whilst there was less activity from shippers to South Africa. Fair activity from shippers to Japan, China, whilst shippers to the CIS and Middle East continued to be active on a wider cross-section of the teas.
Low Growns totalled approximately 2.5 million Kgs, with the Leafy, Semi-Leafy, Tippy and Premium categories experiencing good demand.
In the Leafy and Semi-Leafy catalogues, well-made BOP1's appreciated, whilst the others including the bolder varieties remained firm. Select Best and Best OP1's together with the Below Best varieties appreciated, whilst the balance were firm. Well-made OP's and the cleaner Below Best sorts gained, with the others selling around previous levels. The neater, shorter varieties gained in value, whilst the balance mixed/open types were irregular. High-priced OPA's eased, whilst the balance were firm to dearer. Select Best and Best PEK's were firm to dearer, whilst the others including the mixed/open varieties were lower. Teas at the lower end held firm. PEK1's, in general were firm.
In the Tippy catalogue, Select Best and Best FBOP's appreciated, whilst the balance were firm. Select Best FF1's were firm, whilst the Best were firm to easier. Below Best varieties and teas at the bottom sold at last levels.
In the Premium catalogue, very Tippy teas experienced strong demand and were significantly higher in price, whilst the Best and Below Best sorts appreciated, though to a lesser extent. However, teas at the lower end were irregular.
TEA AUCTION DETAILS
| AUCTION NO. | 28 | 27 | |||
| Dates | 22nd/23rd Jul 2025 | 15th/16th Jul 2025 | |||
| No. of Lots | No. of Kgs | No. of Lots | No. of Kgs | ||
| Ex Estate | 739 | 713,699 | 777 | 760,431 | |
| High & Medium | 1,749 | 787,170 | 2,140 | 974,273 | |
| Leafy | 2,112 | 836,355 | 2,210 | 889,195 | |
| Semi Leafy | 1,598 | 697,770 | 1,672 | 737,193 | |
| Tippy | 1,984 | 927,161 | 2,093 | 995,689 | |
| Premium/Flowery | 398 | 57,723 | 403 | 63,586 | |
| Off Grades | 2,649 | 1,413,184 | 2,605 | 1,406,690 | |
| Dust | 567 | 504,756 | 548 | 487,227 | |
| Grand Total | 11,796 | 5,937,818 | 12,448 | 6,314,284 | |
(Source- Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers)
