Brisk buying from blenders and upcountry buyers pushed tea prices at Coonoor auctions higher, with the average price realisation rising by Rs2 per kg, according to a report by The Hindu BusinessLine. Traders attributed the uptick to improved demand and lower offered quantities, which facilitated the price increase.
Supply and Demand Dynamics
Global Tea Auctioneers reported that the offered quantity in leaf was 10,43,732 kg, with 96 per cent of the volume sold. For dust, the offerings totalled 3,34,618 kg, achieving an 88 per cent sales rate. The lower availability, combined robust demand, exerted upward pressure on prices.
Price Movements by Grade
| Grade Category | Price Change (₹ per kg) |
|---|---|
| High-priced CTC leaf & better liquoring sorts | Steady to dearer by ₹3-4 or more |
| Better medium CTC leaf | Fully firm to dearer by ₹2-3 |
| Medium & plainer CTC leaf (bolder grades) | Fully firm to dearer by ₹1-2 |
| CTC leaf brokens | Dearer by ₹2-3 |
| Orthodox primary whole leaf | Steady to dearer by ₹3-4 or more |
| Orthodox brokens | Lower by ₹1-2 with some withdrawals |
| High-priced Dust CTC & better liquoring | Lower by ₹6-8 or more with few withdrawals |
| Orthodox dust grades (primary) | Lower by ₹3-4 with some withdrawals |
| Orthodox dust (secondaries & finer) | Barely steady to lower by ₹2-3 |
Generally, a good demand was noticed in the overall CTC leaf in Sale 24, with high-priced teas and better liquoring sorts selling steady to dearer by ₹3-4 and more at times in line with quality. The better medium sorts had good demand and sold fully firm to dearer by ₹2-3. Medium and plainer sorts bolder grades sold fully firm to dearer by ₹1-2, while brokens sold dearer by ₹2-3.
In orthodox teas, the primary whole leaf grades sold steady to dearer by ₹3-4 and more at times. The brokens were lower by ₹1-2 with some withdrawals.
Dust Grades Weaken
Contrasting the leaf market, dust grades faced headwinds. The high-priced teas and better liquoring sorts in Dust CTC were lower by ₹6-8 and more at times with few withdrawals. The primary orthodox dust grades were lower by ₹3-4 with some withdrawals. The secondaries and finer dusts were barely steady and lower by ₹2-3.
The divergent movements between leaf and dust underscore the selective demand pattern at the auctions, with blenders and upcountry buyers focusing on higher-quality leaf grades.
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