KOCHI, April 29

A MIXED trend persisted for almost all varieties of tea at the Kochi auction last week. Though a good general demand was witnessed in the dust sale, it was comparatively low for the leaf varieties.

Of the quantity of 7,98,000 kg on offer in the dust category, good CTCs fully firm to dearer by Re 1 to Rs 2 and occasionally more. Orthodox remained steady and irregular, while medium barely steady.

The best CTC varieties commanded prices between Rs 60 and Rs 90, medium CTC realised Rs 52-57 and poorer type were quoted Rs 30-37. Highgrown BOPD fetched prices between Rs 83 and Rs 90, while medium BOPD realised Rs 35-36. Secondaries and residuals were quoted Rs 25-30 and Rs 17-18 respectively.

The leaf sale witnessed only a fair general demand and the quantity on offer was 4,63,000 kg. Orthodox brokens and Fannings were generally lower by Rs 2 to Rs 4. CTCs were also lower by Rs 2 to Rs 4. CIS exporters operate mainly on good quality Orthodox tea. Poorer orthodox were mainly absorbed by other exporters. CTCs witnessed less demand from exporters, while poor CTCs were absorbed by upcountry buyers.

The best Nilgiri varieties commanded prices between Rs 63 and Rs 75, medium Orthodox realised Rs 42 and Rs 61 and plain Orthodox realised Rs 35 and Rs 40. The best CTC leaf fetched prices between Rs 53 and Rs 56 and medium CTC realised Rs 44 and Rs 49. In the dust category, Surianalle SFD fetched the best prices of Rs 91.10 followed by Kodanad BOPD CL by Rs 90.

hindubusinessline 30.04.2001

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With the aim of popularising tea culture among foreigners, the Ceylon Hotels Corporation will establish a hotel at Nuwara Eliya with a tea centre in collaboration with a Japanese investor to cater to both foreign and local tourists.

The Japanese investor has agreed to work with the Ceylon Hotels Corporation on this project, said Ceylon Hotels Corporation's chairman Bennet Cooray at a press conference in Colombo on Wednesday.

The Urban Development Authority (UDA) has allocated a land in Nuwara Eliya to construct a hotel for this purpose and the work on the project will start soon," he said. Meanwhile, the Ceylon Hotels Corporation has embarked on a project to refurbish and upgrade rest houses and hotels that come under its purview. Mr. Cooray said that steps would also be taken to refurbish the Dambulla Rest House.

To promote regional tourism, the Ceylon Hotels Corporation has slashed the prices of food and drinks at rest houses and hotels run by the corporation. In addition, special incentive packages have been offered to local tourists.

Referring to the Far Inn Hotel at Horton Place, Mr. Cooray said that he had requested the Tourism minister to acquire the hotel from the Department of Wild Life as there was a big demand for it from foreign tourists. The Ceylon Hotels Corporation is equipped with its own website and this would help to promote its activities abroad.

Meanwhile, plans are under way to privatise the Ceylon Hotels Corporation and a draft bill in that connection is expected to be tabled in parliament shortly.

The Ceylon Hotels Corporation which was established almost four decades ago has earned a profit of Rs 18.million for the year 2000. Its subsidiaries are the Associated Hotels Ltd, Kandy Hotels Ltd, United Hotels Ltd, and Airline Service Ltd.

Sunday observer 29.4.2001

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COLOMBO (Dow Jones)--Sri Lanka's tea exports in the first quarter of this year have increased 6.7% to 71.3 million kilograms, reports the Daily News Friday. Earnings from tea exports during the period under review totaled 15.5 billion Sri Lankan rupees ($1=LKR89.10), up from LKR12 billion in the same period last year, the report added. It also said that Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States continue to be the largest buyers of Sri Lankan tea, accounting for around 40% of total exports. Tea is one of Sri Lanka's biggest foreign exchange earners.

Dow Jones 27.04.2001

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