6.7 million kilos on offer met good general demand. Best Western BOPs where quality was maintained gained Rs10 while others were barely steady. In the below best category a selection of bright teas were upto Rs10 dearer while others were barely steady; plainer coloury types were Rs5-10 dearer while others were lower by a similar margin. Nuwara Eliya selected invoices appreciated sharply following quality while others were irregular. Udapussellawas were Rs10 lower while Uva clean leaf types eased by a similar margin with others firm. Best Western BOPFs gained Rs10-20 and more following quality while others were irregular and sold around last week’s levels. In the below best and plainer categories prices were generally firm around last week’s levels. Nuwara Eliyas were firm around last while Udapussellawas were irregular and around previous levels. Uva clean leaf were barely steady while others were irregular following quality. The Low Growns were irregular. Shippers to the CIS, South Africa, Pakistan, Hong Kong and Japan continued to be fairly active while interest from the UK and the Continent appeared fairly selective; there was good demand from shippers to Dubai, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait.

Auction quotations in Rupees per Kg                            BOP                                      BOPF

Better Western High Grown                                        480.00 – 510.00                      480.00 – 600.00                    

Uva / Udapussellawas                                                360.00 – 660.00                      430.00 – 460.00                    

Good Medium                                                          500.00 – 550.00                      415.00 – 490.00    

Low Medium                                                            430.00 – 480.00                      360.00 – 390.00

(Exchange Rate: RUPEE APPROX PER UNIT AGAINST US DOLLAR – 143.04).