Rates ease at Kochi tea auction

Kochi: Tea arrivals at the Kochi tea auction remained to be strong despite the high levels last week. Dust tea arrivals was at 14,00,000 kg, while leaf arrivals was 3,87,000 kg. Good liquoring CTC dust remained steady at last week's levels, while medium CTC declined by Rs 2-4. Orthodox high grown dust was decrease by Rs 5, while medium orthodox prices eased by Re 1- Rs 2. Best CTC varieties quoted Rs 52-62, medium CTC was at Rs 47-50 and below medium ranged between Rs 37-40. High grown BOPD quoted at Rs 95, medium BOPD fetched Rs 42-44 and secondaries ranged between Rs 32-37. Prices of good CTC varieties continued firm, while medium and plain CTC prices declined by Re 1 - Rs 2. Exporters were fairly active in orthodox grades. Best Nilgiri varieties fetched Rs 72-92, medium orthodox ranged between Rs 46-72 and plain orthodox was at Rs 42-44. Best CTC leaf fetched Rs 51-54 and medium CTC leaf was at Rs 42-45. Pasuparai FD fetched the top price in the dust variety at Rs 96, followed by Kodanad BOPD at Rs 95, Kannavarai SFD at Rs 79 and Shanthi SFD at Rs 78.