Orthodox tea prices at the Kochi auctions rose ₹4 per kg week-on-week to ₹177, with sales reaching 98 per cent of the offered quantity of 2,38,637 kg in Sale 33, according to AGRI_TIO. The revival comes as easing tensions in West Asia prompted exporters to increase shipments, with overseas buyers showing strong demand for the orthodox segment.
Orthodox segment on revival path
According to AGRI_TIO, traders said the orthodox segment is on a revival path as concerns over the war have eased, prompting exporters to increase shipments. This was reflected in the sharp improvement in sales and price realization at the Kochi auctions. Anil George Joseph, president of the Tea Trade Association of Cochin, said continued participation by Middle East and CIS buyers provided positive support to the orthodox market, particularly for premium-quality teas. The report was published on August 14, 2026.
The orthodox segment is on a revival path as concerns over the war have eased, prompting exporters to increase shipments.
Sale 33 at a glance
| Metric | Orthodox | CTC dust |
|---|---|---|
| Offered quantity | 2,38,637 kg | 7,11,269 kg |
| Sales percentage | 98% | Not specified |
| Average price (₹/kg) | 177 | 155 |
| Previous week price (₹/kg) | 173 | 153 |
| Week-on-week change | +₹4 | +₹2 |
The 98 per cent sales percentage in Sale 33 indicates robust off-take across the orthodox segment. Auctioneers Forbes, Ewart & Figgis reported that medium whole leaf witnessed strong features with longer margins of ₹5 to ₹10 and sometimes more. Brokens were steady to firm, while lesser ones were firm to dearer.
Whole leaf and brokens gain
According to Anil George Joseph, larger whole-leaf grades gained ₹3–5 per kg, depending on quality, while primary brokens appreciated by more than ₹5 per kg. These gains, combined with the overall ₹4-per-kg average increase for orthodox teas, point to broad-based buying interest rather than demand concentrated in a single grade. The Tea Trade Association of Cochin president attributed the support to sustained participation by buyers from the Middle East and the CIS.
CTC dust market holds firm
In the CTC segment, the dust market was firm, with good-liquoring teas emerging dearer by ₹1 to ₹2, AGRI_TIO reported. The offered quantity was 7,11,269 kg, and the average price realization was up by ₹2 at ₹155, compared to ₹153 in the previous week. All blenders together absorbed 68 per cent of the total CTC quantity sold, indicating steady institutional demand for the CTC dust grades.
Price outlook: quality to drive premiums
The immediate outlook remains positive for both CTC and orthodox teas, with the latter showing stronger upward momentum, according to Anil George Joseph. Quality will remain the key differentiator, with good-liquoring CTC and premium orthodox teas likely to command firm to higher prices. However, increased availability of plain CTC could keep lower-quality teas under pressure, he said. For traders tracking the Indian tea market, the price spread between the orthodox and CTC segments—now approximately ₹22 per kg based on the average realizations reported by AGRI_TIO—highlights the premium orthodox teas continue to earn as geopolitical tensions in West Asia ease and export demand revives.
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