C O M M E N T S

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The 25^th sale of the year which was concluded today had on offer 7.7 M/Kgs. High and Medium Grown BOP/BOPF continued to witness a buoyant market whilst the Low Growns met with fair demand.

Ex-Estate offerings comprised of a similar volume to last and totalled 1.2 M/Kgs. Western’s were selectively improved whilst teas from the other regions showed no change. Best Western BOP’s gained Rs. 10-20/- per kg whilst the corresponding BOPF’s gained up to Rs. 20/- per kg and more following quality. In the below best category brighter BOP’s were up to Rs. 20/- per kg dearer whilst the others together with teas at the lower end were Rs. 5-10/- per kg dearer. The corresponding BOPF’s on average appreciated Rs. 20/- per kg. Nuwara Eliya BOP/BOPF’s witnessed limited interest following plainer quality. Udapussellawa BOP/BOPF’s gained Rs. 10/- per kg. Uva clean leaf BOP/BOPF appreciated Rs. 20-40/- per kg and Rs. 30-40/- per kg respectively. Others were firm and dearer to a lesser extent. High and Medium Grown CTC BP1s declined Rs. 10-20/- per kg whilst the corresponding PF1s were firm and irregularly dearer following quality. Poorest on offer were barely steady. Corresponding Low Growns declined Rs. 20/- per kg and more. Liquoring leafy teas met with selective demand and consequently prices were irregularly easier. Prices for these teas ranged between Rs. 400-1100/- per kg.

There was improved interest from UK and the Continent for a selection of better teas while shippers to CIS, Japan, South Africa and Hong Kong continued to operate as usual.

Low Growns comprised of approximately 3.6M/kgs in the Tippy/Leafy catalogues. There was fair demand. In the Leafy catalogue better OP/OPA’s sold around last levels whilst others were irregular and marginally lower. Better OP1’s together with a fair selection of BOP1’s too were firm whist others declined, particularly following quality. Select best PEK/PEK1’s maintained. Here again others declined Rs.5-10/- per kg. In the Tippy catalogue too FBOP’s were mostly firm. A selection of better FF1’s too, though irregular were firm whilst others declined. Better made Tippy invoices were selectively dearer whist others were irregular and lower. There was good demand from shippers to CIS, Dubai, Iraq whist Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Turkey too were active.  

SRI LANKA TEA PRODUCTION – MAY 2015

Sri Lanka Tea Production for the month of May totalled 32.2M/kgs showing a decrease of 7M/kgs vis-à-vis 39.2M/kgs of 2014. It is relevant to note that 39.2M/kgs achieved in 2014, is the highest ever recorded for a calendar month. Production for May in all elevations too show a decrease vis-à-vis May 2014.

Jan-May cumulative production however of 143.4M/kgs show  a marginal growth of 0.7M/kgs vis-à-vis 142.6M/kgs  of 2014. When analyzing the production pattern of the relevant elevations  Low Growns together with Mediums have shown a marginal increase whilst High Growns have shown a decrease.

CTC production too for the Month of May of  1.7M/kgs show a decrease of  0.5M/kgs when compared to 2.2M/kgs of May 2014. High & Medium Growns show a decrease vis-à-vis 2014 whilst Low Growns have shown a gain. On a cumulative basis too. Jan – May production 8.3M/kgs show a decrease of 0.4M/kgs vis-à-vis 8.7M/kgs Jan – May 2014. Here again High & Medium Growns have shown a decrease YOY, whist Low Growns show a gain vis-à-vis 2014. See more details on page no:09.