In the latest tea auction held on January 16-17, Sri Lanka witnessed a shift in tea prices across various categories, indicating a departure from the upward trend observed over the past two months. Market data revealed that while certain grades within the categories experienced gains, the overall weekly sale average price dropped by 26.52 rupees to 1248.22 rupees per kilogram.
During the auction, a total of 4.6 million kilos were sold by public auction, drawing attention to the dynamics within different tea varieties.
High Grown Teas
High Grown BOP teas saw an increase, particularly Best Westerns, which rose by 50 to 100 rupees. Plainer categories within this group also gained by 70-80 rupees. Notably, Nuwara Eliya's and Uda Pussellawa's offerings remained scarce. Despite these fluctuations, the high grown sale average experienced a decline, falling by 4.96 to 1,082.30 rupees per kilo.
Medium Growns
In the medium grown category, BOP1 Select saw an increase of 50 rupees, while OP1 Select best held firm. However, certain grades like OP/OPA Select best and PEK Select Best witnessed a decrease of 50 rupees. The overall medium grown sale average declined by 9.91 rupees to 1,055.82 rupees.
Low Growns
Low Grown teas exhibited mixed trends, with BOP1 Select best falling while Best and Below Best experienced gains. OP1 Select Bests remained firm to lower, while PEKOE/PEKOE1 Select best and bold PEK varieties showed irregular patterns. The Low Growns average recorded a notable decrease, falling by 33.92 rupees to 1356.22 rupees per kilogram.
The fluctuations in prices underscore the intricate dynamics within Sri Lanka's tea market, influencing growers, traders, and consumers alike. Industry analysts are closely monitoring these shifts to gauge the potential implications for the broader tea sector.
