Offerings at this week’s Colombo tea auction fell to 5.1 million kilogrammes from 5.3 million kilogrammes the previous week, with prices moving in both directions across the catalogues, the Daily Mirror reported.

Large Leaf teas in the Low Grown and High and Mid Grown catalogues continued to sell around last week’s levels. Orthodox and Rotovane BOP and BOPF grades were sluggish by contrast, and many lots were withdrawn rather than sold into weak bidding.

Western and Uva grades

Ex-Estate offerings came to roughly 0.7 million kilogrammes, close to the previous week, with no change in quality and few better teas available.

Best Western BOPs were irregular and easier. The corresponding BOPFs gained Rs. 20–40 per kilogramme for a selected range, while others were firm to easier by a similar margin. In the Below Best category a few BOP invoices fell Rs. 20–40 a kilogramme and the rest eased further. At the lower end, both BOPs and BOPFs were irregular and often easier, and the Uda Pussellawas drew very limited interest on poorer quality.

Uva BOPs told a different story: selected coloury teas were firm and Rs. 20–40 a kilogramme dearer, while the coloury BOPFs gained up to Rs. 50 a kilogramme and more — though others in the same grade fell by a comparable amount.

CTC and Low Growns

Among High and Mid Grown CTC teas, BP1s were scarce and met poor interest. Better all-round PF1s were firm and up to Rs. 50 a kilogramme dearer, with the rest fluctuating on quality; the Low Grown equivalents sold firm, selected invoices appreciating up to Rs. 20 a kilogramme.

Low Growns totalled about 2.2 million kilogrammes — some 43% of the week’s offering — and all categories met fair demand. In the Leafy and Semi-Leafy catalogues BOP1s were generally firm, OP1s firm to dearer, and well-made OPs held their levels. High-priced OPAs were firm while the balance eased, and PEKs and selected Best PEK1s appreciated on quality.

Not reported

The report gives no average price for the sale, no total value, and no year-on-year comparison, so the direction of the market overall cannot be read from it. It does not say how many lots were withdrawn, name the broker whose market commentary it draws on, or indicate whether the fall in offerings reflects the dry weather now affecting the plantations, where the Ministry of Environment says El Niño has cost livelihoods across the sector. Buyer origin and export demand are not addressed.