Coonoor Auction: Tea prices rise on blenders support, export demand

Tea prices at the Coonoor auctions moved up on the back of good support from blenders and exporters, with CTC leaf witnessing a particularly high sales percentage.

Traders attributed the price rise to lower crop arrivals at Sale 44, a seasonal trend generally observed during September and October. They expect arrivals to improve after Deepawali.

However, enquiries for orthodox leaf teas were relatively subdued compared with the previous week, amid uncertainty in overseas markets due to prevailing geopolitical developments.

According to Global Tea Auctioneers, the quantity of CTC leaf offered stood at 11,73,330 kg, of which 98 per cent was sold. In the CTC dust category, 3,16,250 kg was offered, recording a sales percentage of 96.

Overall, CTC leaf witnessed good demand. Better medium varieties were dearer by ₹1 to ₹2 per kg, with some lots fetching higher prices depending on quality. Medium and plainer varieties, including bolders and brokens, also appreciated by ₹1 to ₹2 per kg and more in some cases.

In the CTC dust category, high-priced teas and better-liquoring varieties generally declined by ₹3 to ₹4 per kg, although some lots appreciated by ₹2 to ₹3. Better medium varieties were lower by ₹1 to ₹2 per kg. Medium and plainer varieties witnessed fair demand and were barely steady at previous levels. Overall, demand in the CTC dust sale was fair.

Among orthodox dust varieties, primary grades witnessed fair demand and appreciated by ₹8 to ₹10 per kg and more in some cases, depending on quality. Secondary grades and finer dust varieties remained barely steady at previous levels.