Irregular demand for ex-estate teas

Last week’s ex-Estate quantity comprising of 1.1 mkgs met with irregular demand. A few select Best Western High Grown BOP/BOPFs sold well, whilst the Below Best types eased Rs 10 to Rs 15 and plainer types maintained last week levels.

Nuwara Eliya’s continued with very poor demand and most BOP/BOPFs remained unsold with a few teas selling in the range of Rs 250 to Rs 260. Uva BOP/BOPFs and Pekoes with seasonal character sold well, gaining Rs 10 to Rs 20 and more with a few invoices selling above Rs 600. The plainer teas however were irregularly lower.

The Best Low Grown CTC PF1s appreciated Rs 10, whilst others were mostly firm.

High and Medium types declined by Rs 10 to Rs 15 with a fair weight remaining unsold.

There was good demand for the 3.2 mkg of Low Growns that were on offer this week. In the Small Leaf category, well made wiry FBOPs advanced in value.

The good Tippy varieties also continued to sell at attractive levels, however, the poorer sorts met with less demand and were often neglected. Better BOP1/OP1s declined Rs 10 to Rs 15. OP/OPAs too were lower by Rs 10 to Rs 20. Pekoes barely maintained last levels.

Western Teas

Select Best BOPs were firm, other good invoices were irregular, Below Best sorts declined Rs 5 to Rs 10 plainer varieties maintained last levels. Select Best BOPFs declined Rs 5 to Rs 10, other good invoices were Rs 5 easier, Below Best sorts shed Rs 5 on average, plainer varieties were firm. Medium BOPs gained Rs 10 to Rs 15. BOPFs were firm.

Nuwara Eliya Teas BOPs declined Rs 10 and more with a fair volume remained unsold. BOPFs shed Rs 10 on average.

Uva Teas

Bright BOP/BOPFs sold well on special inquiry, other BOPs on offer declined Rs 10, whilst BOPFs shed Rs 5 to Rs 10 on average. Uda Pussellawa BOPs were firm, whilst BOPFs were firm Rs 10 dearer.

CTC Teas

Select Best Low Grown PF1s advanced Rs 10, others maintained. BP1s declined Rs 10 to Rs 15 and more. High and Medium PF1/BP1s shed Rs 10 on average.

Low Growns

Lower demand. Select Best along with the Best OP1s eased Rs 10 to Rs 20, Below Best and poor sorts too were lower by Rs 5 to Rs 10. Select Best BOP1s declined sharply by Rs 30 to Rs 50, Best types too were lower by Rs 10 to Rs 15, Below Best and poor sorts were steady. Select Best and Best OP/OPAs shed Rs 30 to Rs 40, the balance too were lower by Rs 5 to Rs 10. Select Best Pekoes maintained last levels, Below Best and poor sorts were irregularly lower by Rs 5 to Rs 10. Select Best Pekoe1s appreciated Rs 5 to Rs 10, Best types were firm to Rs 5 to Rs 10 dearer at times, however Below Best and poor sorts tended lower by Rs 5 to Rs 10. Tippy varieties met with fair demand. Select Best BOP/BOPSPs maintained last levels, Best types too were firm, Below Best and poorer sorts shed Rs 5 to Rs 10.

Select Best wiry FBOPs moved up Rs 10 and at times more, Better types also gained Rs 5 to Rs 8, Below Best and poorer sorts were lower by Rs 5 to Rs 10. Select Best FBOPF1s were firm, Best and Below Best types eased Rs 5 to Rs 10, poorer types were lower by Rs 10. Select Best Tippy sorts maintained last levels, Best and Below Best sorts however, shed a few rupees on last levels, poorer sorts were lower by Rs 10 to Rs 20.

Off Grades

Select Best liquoring Fngs1s appreciated by Rs 20, Best and Below Best Fngs1s were firm to dearer by Rs 10, whilst the poorer sorts sold at firm levels. Select Best and Best BMs were lower by Rs 10 to Rs 15 and more at times, whilst the Below Best and poorer sorts depreciated Rs 5. All Low Grown Fngs met with poor demand and eased by Rs 15. All BPs appreciated by Rs 20. Select Best along with the Best BOP1As declined sharply by Rs 10 to Rs 20, whilst Below Best were lower by Rs 10 to Rs 15, poorer sorts too were lower to last by Rs 5 to Rs 10 with lower demand.

Dust

Best Dust1s were firm, whilst the Below Best types were irregularly lower by Rs 10 to Rs 15, poorer sorts declined Rs 20 to Rs 25. Clean secondaries were firm, whilst the balance eased Rs 10 to Rs 15 Best Low Grown Dust/Dust1s were firm, whilst the balance shed Rs 10 to Rs 15.

John Keells Tea Market Report