Nov. 7, 2009 (The Hindu Business Line) --

Kolkata, Nov. 7 This week, Assam CTC teas in North India were irregular around last level, according to J Thomas & Company Pvt Ltd, the tea auctioneers. Better Dooars were firm to dearer while the remainder sold around last levels and at times dearer. Good support was received from Hindustan Unilever. (NYSE:UL) Enquiries from Tata Tea were fewer and those from other packeteers fair. Western India buyers operated actively for the liquoring sorts. Local dealers and North India operated. Interest in CIS exports for larger brokens and well made fannings was good.

Well made Orthodox teas were irregular around last levels, while remainder tended lower with quality. CIS and West Asia were the mainstay of the market. Hindustan Unilever was active while local dealers operated.

Darjeeling offerings met with good demand at firm to dearer rates. Hindustan Unilever, Tata Tea, traditional exporters and local dealers were active.

The September crop figure for North India has been announced at 78.8 m kg, a decrease of 6.1 m kg as compared to last year. The all India September crop, at 101.5 m kg is behind by 5.5 m kg compared to 2008. The year to date crop in North India now stands at 522.0 m kg, a deficit of 7.6 m kg, while the year to date all India crop at 696.7 m kg is behind by 10.0 m kg.
INTERNATIONAL

The Mombasa market saw good demand at irregular rates. Pakistan Packers were dominant while Egyptian Packers and Kazakhstan re-entered the market and were forceful towards the close. Afghanistan increased activity as the sale progressed. The UK and Bazaar were more active while Yemen, other West Asian countries and Russia maintained interest but Sudan was less active. The Egyptian Government sector was subdued. Somalia showed interest at the lower end of the market

The Colombo auctions saw offerings meet with irregular rates. CIS exporters were active while other traditional exporters operated.