With widespread demand, new year cheers up Kochi Tea auctions

The first sale of the New Year at KochiTea auctions opened on a bullish note, with strong and widespread demand both for dust and leaf varieties.

The average price realisation in Sale 1 was up by ₹7 at ₹181 compared with ₹174 in the previous week. The auctioneers Forbes, Ewart & Figgis said the CTC dust market was higher by ₹4 to ₹5 and more as the sale progressed, witnessing 99 per cent sales out of the offered quantities of 5,85,710 kg. Lower and medium plainer teas also witnessed strong features and increased by ₹5 to ₹10. All blenders together absorbed 58 per cent of the total CTC quantity sold, while loose tea traders and upcountry buyers lent useful support.

However, the demand was less in orthodox dust market with 59 per cent sales out of the offered quantity of 8,000 kg. Upcountry buyers were the main stakeholders.

Russian buyers pick up high-priced teas

Traders said that the orthodox leaf market also witnessed a strong feature with a 92 per cent sales out of the offered quantity of 2,59,426 kg. The average price realisation was up by ₹4 at ₹178 compared with ₹174, both orthodox and CTC leaf put together. There was a good demand for high-priced quality teas from Russian buyers mainly because of the absence of crop in Kolkata due to winter. At the same time delayed payments from Iran buyers due to the unrest in that country is also posing a concern, traders added.

Anil George, Chairman of the Tea Trade Association of Cochin, said despite the ongoing Iran crisis and payment delays, demand for good-quality whole leaf and tippy orthodox teas remains firm, with shipments continuing. Iran imports an estimated 35–38 million kg of premium orthodox teas, of which South India accounts for about 3–5 per cent. While there is no immediate disruption to trade, buyers are proceeding cautiously, with orthodox purchasing slowing due to payment delays, he said.

e.o.m.

Published on January 9, 2026