Tea prices at the Kochi auction market have been buoyed by strong overseas demand, especially for orthodox grades, following an easing of the West Asian crisis, according to a report by The Hindu Business Line. The market saw robust buying in Sale 27 from CIS and West Asia, with traders expecting this trend to persist as war-related issues in the Gulf region normalize.
Orthodox Tea Performance
The orthodox tea market recorded a 92% sales out of an offered quantity of 2,80,925 kg. According to auctioneers Forbes, Ewart & Figgis, the market for whole leaf and brokens was firm to dearer. This strong uptake was driven by demand from overseas buyers, particularly CIS and West Asian countries.
CTC Dust Market
The CTC dust market saw an 89% sales out of an offered quantity of 7,78,264 kg. Good liquoring teas were steady to firm and sometimes dearer by Rs1 to Rs2. All blenders together absorbed 70% of the total CTC quantity sold, indicating robust blending demand.
Buyer Activity
Anil George, president of the Tea Trade Association of Cochin, noted that the market witnessed good general demand, with popular and good liquoring varieties selling at fully firm levels. However, local bazaar demand remained moderate, while exporters operated cautiously, particularly for blacker varieties.
Market Summary Table
| Grade | Offered Quantity (kg) | Sales (%) | Price Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orthodox | 2,80,925 | 92% | Firm to dearer |
| CTC Dust | 7,78,264 | 89% | Steady to firm, dearer by Rs1-2 |
Outlook
Traders expect the overseas demand to continue following the normalization of war-related issues in the Gulf region. The easing of the West Asian crisis has been a key factor supporting demand from that region. With strong sales ratios and firm price trends, the Kochi tea auction market is poised to maintain its positive momentum, according to market participants.
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