ALL descriptions of CTC tea met with a lower price trend following less support by some traditional buyers at the Calcutta auction sale last week. The price levels were often much lower compared to those of the corresponding sale in the previous year.

The offerings from Assam sold at irregularly easier rates while CTC brokens and fannings from Dooars and Cachar eased in value and suffered some withdrawals.

Good Assam brokens sold between Rs 78 and Rs 88 per kg against Rs 94 and Rs 102 of the corresponding sale in 1999. Good Dooars brokens sold between Rs 53 and Rs 62 per kg compared to Rs 84 and Rs 89 in the same sale last year.

More than 32 per cent of CTC tea sold below Rs 60 per kg in the previous week’s sale. The offerings consisted of 65,338 chests.

Darjeeling tea (6,794 chests) saw a good demand, the whole leaf grades being dearer with good support by exporters. Good brokens and fannings remained barely steady and flaky sorts were neglected. The major blender operated with strength with good enquiry from the internal markets.

(13/11/2000)

The Economic Times,

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