In the CTC section the market opened to a good demand with more than 96 per cent of the offering of 31,779 packages being consumed by the buyers. Dooars grown smaller brokens went up by Rs 2-3 per kg. Clean well made Dooars fannings also looked up to a similar extent. Bolder teas also gained by Re 1 per kg. The overall Dooars category brokens ruled between Rs 65 per kg and Rs 77 per kg and fannings between Rs 60 per kg and Rs 68 per kg. Better liquoring Assam grown brokens and fannings also ruled steady between Rs 88 per kg and Rs110 per kg against Rs 84 per kg and Rs 106 per kg ruling in the past week. Medium Assams also witnessed a firm trend in prices while smaller brokens in this category were dearer by Rs 3 per kg. Medium Assams quoted between Rs 64 per kg and Rs 77 per kg including brokens and fannings.

West Bengal traders extended good buying support with Gujarat and Maharashtra traders being active in liquoring lines. Among packeteers, Brooke Bond opted for a moderate quantity of teas. Liquoring lines also attracted good continental inquiry while CIS buyers remained selective.

Good general demand was witnessed for Darjeeling teas of which 4944 packages were offered in the sale. The overall trend of the sale was firm to dearer with whole leaf grade selling at last levels. The continental buyers operated for liquoring teas at slightly higher prices. The brokens and fannings were absorbed by the major blender, Brooke Bond. However, the price saw softening at top levels with best quality Darjeeling quoting at Rs 270 a kgcompared to the last week's prices at Rs 665 a kg.

The orthodox sale where 29,565 packages were offered compared to 32,002 packages in last week, witnessed a firm to easy trend in price with clean well made and stalkier varieties maintaining last levels. All sections of brokens ruled easy by Rs 2 and were ruling between Rs 72 per kg and Rs 92 per kg. The fannings on the other hand, eased further by Rs 2-3 per kg following the decline in quality. The fannings also suffered some withdrawal and quoted between Rs 63 per kg and Rs 75 per kg. Whole leaf orthodox sold at fully firm between Rs 80 and Rs 120 a kg compared to the previous levels of Rs 80 and Rs 115 a kg.

The Middle East and other Gulf buyers absorbed a fair quantity of teas and operated with improved strength. On the contrary, CIS remained very selective. Some continental inquiry was evident for liquoring brokens at lower levels.

Dust teas saw an improved sale with more than 97 per cent of the offering amounting to 19,509 packages selling at theauction. A nominal weight of Dooars teas sold at firm rates with few well made plainer Dooars tending slightly dearer in prices. The overall Dooars ruled between Rs 664 per kg and Rs 80 per kg. The medium Assams also followed a similar trend with good Assams selling at higher rates. The cleaner liquoring Assam sold primarily at firm rates but fell at times in line with the quality. The Assams category ranged between Rs 85 per kg and Rs 115 per kg against previous levels of Rs 82-110 a kg.

Western Indian markets lent good inquiry with local support. Hindustan Lever and Tata Tea also rendered fair support with selective export inquiry for larger dusts.