Date:09/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/01/09/stories/2007010904411200.htm

Back Coimbatore tea sale begins on positive note

Our Bureau

Coimbatore , Jan. 8

For the tea traders here, the year commenced on a positive note with total offerings of 6.63 lakh kg at the weekly auction, comprising 2.89 lakh kg of leaf grades and the rest dust. Trade sources described the market as generally "fair".

There was fair demand for the orthodox leaf. Shippers to the CIS countries operated on high-grown leaf grades selectively, while HLL showed interest on few lines of larger leaf grades. Iraq exporters remained silent. While mediums suffered withdrawals, the larger leaf grades quoted dearer by Rs 2-3 a kg.

Exporters and internal buyers lent support to leafy and clean grades of orthodox dust. There were some upcountry demand for the brighter liquoring CTC leaf, but the market remained barely steady. While the brokens and fannings ruled firm to dearer, the medium/bolder grades quoted easier at intervals. Plainer sorts were irregular. Tata Tea and internal buyers lent selective support.

The popular good liquoring CTC dust ruled firm to dearer, particularly those teas suited for packeters. The medium plainer sorts were steady to easier except for few lines of clean black bolder grades. Pakistan exporters operated selectively on the cleaner, well-made teas. Export enquiries were otherwise limited.