TEA REPORT

‘Ethical Tea’ gaining ground worldwide

Bartleet Producemarketing Tea Surveillance Report upto September 17

The quantity of tea arriving at the Colombo auction this week increased to 6.963mkg from 6.688mkg traded in the previous week’s sale. Meanwhile, the Ex-estate crops too showed an increase from 0.711mkg to 0.782mkg.

Market segments:

In the Ex-estate segment, Uvas seemed to come down due to the quality issue whilst Dimbulas moved up with inquiries coming from Japan and UK buyers. Industry sources are anticipating the trend to continue till the end of the month as the erratic weather pattern is affecting the quality of the crops.

Whatever brighter teas were picked up by Japan and UK where as Germany and Holland showed some selective buying pattern. CIS was fairly strong as the buying pattern has increased after the summer vacations.

In the Tippy market segment buyers from CIS and Dubai were moderate whilst Iran showed active buying pattern. In the Leafy grade, except for teas that is shipped to Russia all others were irregularly lower through ought the sale.

Demand for good tea was noticeable as the availability was less. Bottom types had less demand as the standard of tea that Iraq imports has been upgraded.

Tea Aid;

The first ever Charity Tea Auction of the Ceylon Specialty Tea award ceremony in Sri Lanka held at the Chamber of Commerce auditorium on last Wednesday was a big hit and it recorded an attractive Rs. 6.2 million within 25 minutes. The auction was held in aid of tsunami affected children to uplift their education.

Meanwhile, further funds were donated by the Head of Ethical Tea partnership in UK which resulted in a total collection of Rs. 6.2 million. Which will go to ‘Back to school’ Project for the tsunami affected children.

Some fabulous prices were fetched during the event with a kilo of tea from Pothotuwa estate which was sold at Rs. 12,500 and recorded the highest amount per kilo whilst others averaged Rs. 6,000 per kilo and above.

Pounds worth;

Two honeymooners who visited the island have since been inspired to set up a charity to help people in Ragalla which includes a fund raising event to build a school.

The duo who pioneered The Tea Leaf Trust and since the inception which became a registered charity in March has raised Sterling Pounds 17,000 through a number of fund raising events such as out door activities, where one of these events saw a group trekking up Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England which stands at more than 3,000 feet, in fancy dress as well as sponsored walks and runs and much more.

It is hoped that their next big event, the Winter Ball, will help to raise most of the remaining Sterling Pounds 13,000 they need to start up the school which will offer 100 places to people in the estate community.

The aim of the school, according to them is “to teach people so they can teach in schools, work in offices and get a basic trade”.

More Ethics;

Ethical products, the buzzword nowadays is gaining major ground in the European markets.

So it is a small coup for aid-agency Care International to gain funding from the Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP) which is an affiliation of twenty top European Tea brands as well as the European Union, for its’ Plantation Community Empowerment Project (PCEP).

According to the Executive Director of the ETP European consumers are becoming increasingly aware of where their goods come from.

They want to know that no body has suffered or been exploited to bring them their cup of tea.

The care project will run through three years but it is planning to hand ownership to the new forums.

The project which will be implemented by Care International in partnership with the Plantation Human Development Trust aims to increase focus on social and environmental issues in a long-term sustainable way through the formation of partnerships between the various stake-holders in the tea industry.

That includes the workers in the fields, as well as plantation owners, international traders, and ethical groups.

Plantation stocks:

With reference to the weekly surveillance of the 18 plantations stocks, all 18 were lower in value compared to last week.

Bartleet Producemarketing Tea Surveillance Report upto September 17

The quantity of tea arriving at the Colombo auction this week increased to 6.963mkg from 6.688mkg traded in the previous week’s sale. Meanwhile, the Ex-estate crops too showed an increase from 0.711mkg to 0.782mkg.

Market segments:

In the Ex-estate segment, Uvas seemed to come down due to the quality issue whilst Dimbulas moved up with inquiries coming from Japan and UK buyers. Industry sources are anticipating the trend to continue till the end of the month as the erratic weather pattern is affecting the quality of the crops.

Whatever brighter teas were picked up by Japan and UK where as Germany and Holland showed some selective buying pattern. CIS was fairly strong as the buying pattern has increased after the summer vacations.

In the Tippy market segment buyers from CIS and Dubai were moderate whilst Iran showed active buying pattern. In the Leafy grade, except for teas that is shipped to Russia all others were irregularly lower through ought the sale.

Demand for good tea was noticeable as the availability was less. Bottom types had less demand as the standard of tea that Iraq imports has been upgraded.

Tea Aid;

The first ever Charity Tea Auction of the Ceylon Specialty Tea award ceremony in Sri Lanka held at the Chamber of Commerce auditorium on last Wednesday was a big hit and it recorded an attractive Rs. 6.2 million within 25 minutes. The auction was held in aid of tsunami affected children to uplift their education.

Meanwhile, further funds were donated by the Head of Ethical Tea partnership in UK which resulted in a total collection of Rs. 6.2 million. Which will go to ‘Back to school’ Project for the tsunami affected children.

Some fabulous prices were fetched during the event with a kilo of tea from Pothotuwa estate which was sold at Rs. 12,500 and recorded the highest amount per kilo whilst others averaged Rs. 6,000 per kilo and above.

Pounds worth;

Two honeymooners who visited the island have since been inspired to set up a charity to help people in Ragalla which includes a fund raising event to build a school.

The duo who pioneered The Tea Leaf Trust and since the inception which became a registered charity in March has raised Sterling Pounds 17,000 through a number of fund raising events such as out door activities, where one of these events saw a group trekking up Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England which stands at more than 3,000 feet, in fancy dress as well as sponsored walks and runs and much more.

It is hoped that their next big event, the Winter Ball, will help to raise most of the remaining Sterling Pounds 13,000 they need to start up the school which will offer 100 places to people in the estate community.

The aim of the school, according to them is “to teach people so they can teach in schools, work in offices and get a basic trade”.

More Ethics;

Ethical products, the buzzword nowadays is gaining major ground in the European markets.

So it is a small coup for aid-agency Care International to gain funding from the Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP) which is an affiliation of twenty top European Tea brands as well as the European Union, for its’ Plantation Community Empowerment Project (PCEP).

According to the Executive Director of the ETP European consumers are becoming increasingly aware of where their goods come from.

They want to know that no body has suffered or been exploited to bring them their cup of tea.

The care project will run through three years but it is planning to hand ownership to the new forums.

The project which will be implemented by Care International in partnership with the Plantation Human Development Trust aims to increase focus on social and environmental issues in a long-term sustainable way through the formation of partnerships between the various stake-holders in the tea industry.

That includes the workers in the fields, as well as plantation owners, international traders, and ethical groups.

Plantation stocks:

With reference to the weekly surveillance of the 18 plantations stocks, all 18 were lower in value compared to last week.

Firm trend at Kochi tea auction

Good general demand coupled with lower arrivals propped up prices at the Kochi dust tea auction. CTC varieties firmed up by Rs 10-20. Firm demand was witnessed from major blenders and loose tea traders. There was 8.84-lakh kg of dust tea on offer. Bolder CTC varieties moved up by Rs 10.

Orthodox high grown varieties remained steady. Medium orthodox was dearer by Rs 2-4. Best CTC dust fetched Rs 98-124; medium CTC quoted Rs 90-105 while below medium was at Rs 77-88. High grown BOPD ranged at Rs 114-115, medium BOPD was at Rs 70-75 and secondaries quoted at Rs 60-70.

There was 3.33-lakh kg of leaf tea on offer. Medium and high grown orthodox varieties generally quoted higher by Rs 5-15. CTC also quoted higher by Rs 5-10. Best Nilgiri varieties ranged at 105-140, medium orthodox fetched Rs 90-112 and plain orthodox was at Rs 80-90. Best CTC leaf fetched Rs 82-90 and medium CTC leaf quoted Rs 77-80.

Sify

Tata Tea plans to test-market cold tea

Tata Tea is planning to test-market its cold tea brand this fiscal, a company official said here Wednesday.”We are planning to test-market the cold tea brand this fiscal before finally launching it. With this, we will enter into a new system of distribution,” Sangeeta Talwar, Tata Tea executive director (Marketing), told reporters.

The company is also looking at opening another outlet of its branded tea shops ‘Chai Unchai’ in Bangalore, to take the number of outlets in the city to three.

Tata Tea, which has 31.73 percent holdings in Mount Everest Mineral Water Limited (MEWM) Wednesday launched New Himalayan Natural Mineral Water in Kolkata after Mumbai.

The company is also planning to enter into joint ventures in Russia to foray into that market. (IANS)