The Hindu Business Line : Good demand for CTC teas

There was a good demand for CTC teas in all three North India tea auction centres at Kolkata, Guwahati and Siliguri in the week ended June 30, according to the tea auctioneers, J. Thomas & Company Pvt Ltd.

Good Assam CTC remained a strong feature witnessing good support from western India markets.

Medium Assams were barely steady.

Dooars varieties were irregular and followed quality, with good domestic support.

The highest price for Assam CTC was Rs 144.

Orthodox teas saw strong enquiry at firm rates with selected tippy and liquoring sorts realising attractive prices.

There was a good inquiry from West Asia and the CIS countries with Continental inquiry on tippy sorts.

Darjeeling offerings saw good demand with prices following quality.

Improved sorts appreciated substantially with good competition from Germany, UK and Japan.

CROP PROSPECTS

Crops in North India, which had a promising start in the beginning of June, dropped in the later half following inclement weather.

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS

Sri Lankan crops showed some recovery in May, but their overall production trails last year by as much as 17.9 million kg, i.e. 13 per cent.

Indian exports from January to April this year totalled 53 mkg as compared to 53.7 mkg in the same period last year.