Support from exporters has pushed up prices for certain orthodox leaf grades at the Coonoor Tea auctions. However, the prices for other grades have remained stable in Sale 16, reflecting subdued demand from blenders. Traders reported a decrease in offerings due to rising temperatures adversely affecting tea production.
According to Global Tea Auctioneers, the sales percentage for leaf grades reached 84% of the offered quantity of 1,408,201 kg, while dust grades maintained a higher sales rate of 89% from an offered quantity of 474,137 kg.
Price Surge
In CTC leaf, high-priced teas and better liquoring varieties experienced minor increases of ₹4 to ₹5, with some lots seeing larger price jumps, while a few were sold for ₹3 to ₹4 less. Better medium grades remained mostly steady, showing slight increases of ₹1 to ₹2.
For orthodox leaf, primary whole leaf grades were mostly stable but occasionally increased by ₹2 to ₹3; some lots did, however, decline by the same margin. Brokens saw a decrease of ₹1 to ₹2.
In CTC dust, the high-priced teas and better liquoring varieties traded at ₹4 to ₹5 lower. The better medium sorts were in fair demand, showing stability or minor increases of ₹1 to ₹2, while the medium sorts remained mostly unchanged. Plainer grades dropped by ₹2 to ₹3, resulting in some withdrawals.
The primary orthodox dust grades remained stable with occasional increases of ₹2 to ₹3, while secondary and finer dusts held steady around previous levels.
The article was published on April 20, 2026.
