COLOMBO TEA AUCTION 22/04/2015

C O M M E N T S

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A total of 7.4 M/Kg came under the hammer this week. There was fair demand.

Ex-Estate offerings showed a marginal increase and totalled 1.3M/Kg. Overall quality of teas on offer showed a general decline resulting in a larger weight of today’s offering comprising of “fair average quality teas”. Consequently, Best Western BOP/BOPF's declined by Rs. 20-30/- per kg. Other Western BOP’s were irregular and on average Rs. 10/- per kg lower whilst the corresponding BOPF's declined a Rs. 10-20/- per kg following quality. Nuwara Eliya BOP’s continued to sell well although prices eased up to Rs. 30/- per kg. The corresponding BOPF’s were barely steady. Uva/Udapussellawa BOP/BOPF’s were irregular.

CTC teas continued to witness a weak market and on average declined a Rs. 10-20/- per kg with a fair weight remaining unsold.

Low Growns comprised of approximately 3.5M/kgs in the Leafy/ Tippy catalogues. There was improved demand for most grades this week. In the Leafy catalogue OP/OPA’s were fully firm to dearer with the lower end of the market in particular gaining Rs.5-10/- per kg. PEK/PEK1’s too were fully firm to dearer. Here again, the bold types gained Rs.10-15/- per kg. OP1/BOP1’s too were mostly dearer with a fair range of BOP1’s in particular, in the better category, gaining Rs.10-15/- per kg. In the Tippy catalogue a limited selection of better FBOP/FF1’s were fully firm. Others were barely steady. At the lower end however there was good demand and prices gained Rs.5-10/- per kg and more. Tippy teas too gained on last with a selection of improved sorts in particular being substantially dearer. At this week’s sale Shippers to Turkey, Dubai, Libya, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and CIS were active.

YORKSHIRE TEA & TAYLORS COFFEE NOW PART OF MARS DRINKS’ PORTFOLIO OF WORKPLACE DRINKS SOLUTIONS

Mars Drinks, a 100 percent workplace dedicated segment of Mars, incorporated, has entered an agreement with Taylors of Harrogate, to bring the Taylors premium coffee and tea varieties to offices throughout the United Kingdom. Taylors Yorkshire Tea and Rich Italian Coffee are now available as part of Mars Drinks’ workplace beverage portfolio in addition to FLAVIA® drinks machines, coffees, espressos, teas and hot chocolates. Taylors of Harrogate is a Yorkshire family business devoted to the craft of outstanding tea and coffee since 1886.

Source: TBEA’s Mombasa Tea Market Report