Tea Prices Firm Up at Kochi Auctions Ahead of Onam Holidays

Tea prices at the Kochi auctions have firmed up due to the absence of sales next week on account of the Onam holidays. Both CTC dust and leaf varieties recorded steady demand during the trading sessions.

According to auctioneers Forbes, Ewart & Figgis, demand for CTC dust remained strong at Sale 34. Good-liquoring teas held steady to firm, with prices seeing increases of ₹1 to ₹2 in some cases. Out of the 7,35,423 kg offered for CTC dust, blenders accounted for 71 percent of the total quantity sold.

The orthodox leaf segment also experienced strong demand, with 94 percent of the 2,56,527 kg offered finding buyers. The average price realisation went up by ₹3 to reach ₹180 a kg, compared with ₹177 in the previous week. The whole-leaf market traded firm to dearer by ₹5 to ₹10 a kg, and occasionally higher.

Market participation showed varied regional interest. Buyers from CIS countries remained active, while the Middle East offered fair support to the market. Anil George Joseph, president of the Tea Trade Association of Cochin, noted that orthodox teas saw good demand, particularly for blacker, well-made whole-leaf grades and larger, firm types. However, the balance of the orthodox offerings remained irregular and generally lower.

Overall, trading conditions remained quality-driven and selective. While good-liquoring and well-made teas attracted strong buying interest, plainer, browner, and stalkier varieties faced greater resistance from buyers. Buyer participation remained steady across principal segments, though exporters continued to operate at comparatively lower levels.

"The recent price trends at the Kochi auctions highlight the direct impact of supply schedules and regional holidays on commodity markets. When trading windows narrow due to festive breaks like Onam, short-term demand compression naturally pushes prices higher for quality-driven produce. Businesses dealing in agricultural commodities must factor these recurring seasonal pauses into their inventory and supply chain planning to maintain steady margins." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes