In the CTC section, altogether 47,236 packages of tea were offered of which about 90 per cent were consumed. Good liquoring Assam brokens witnessed a lower trend in prices except some selected lines which ruled around last. The overall good Assam brokens quoted between Rs 110 and Rs 130 a Kg while fannings gained and moved between Rs 110 and Rs 125 per Kg. Medium Assams including brokens and fannings which sold between the levels of Rs 70 and Rs 90 per Kg, sold at lower rates in with quality. Dooars however, remained steady at Rs 110 to Rs 115 per Kg.

Hindustan Lever and Gujarat-Maharashtra madegood purchases and were supported by other local buyers. CIS operated selectively up the level of Rs 76 a Kg.

There was good demand for Darjeeling category teas offering of which was recorded to 5447 chests. The prices moved on a slightly easy note. The whole leaf variety sold between Rs 250 and Rs 450 per Kg, and was largely absorbed by UK and continental shippers. Some selected liquoring whole leaf and brokens, however, remained steady at last levels. Some improved fannings also sold readily at comparatively higher prices by Rs 40 a Kg with overall level recording between Rs 180 and Rs 240 per Kg. The local buyers lend improved supports for medium and common brokens and fannings at slightly easy rates.

Market opened to a good demand for orthodox grade teas and prices maintained a higher level. The offering was 8,490 packages of which 95 per cent were sold. In the whole leaf and brokens grades, tippy and liquoring lines were readily absorbed by the continental shippers at slightly higher rates whileremaining teas sold at previous levels.

The whole leaf quoted between Rs 165 and Rs 190 a Kg, brokens between Rs 125 and Rs 160 per Kg and those of fannings between Rs 100 and Rs 115 a Kg.Continental and Middle-East shippers absorbed fair share of orthodox teas with worthwhile supports from CIS. The West Bengal buyers opted for cheaper teas.

In an offering of 19,252 packages of dust teas more than 95 per cent teas was sold showing an improved demand for this grade. Prices of all dusts were ruled firm with brighter liquoring and pekoe dusts registering a gain in prices.

The UK shippers purchased better teas like larger and pekoe dusts while Western Indian buyers quoted for good liquoring sorts. Tata Tea also absorbed fair share of general dusts teas backed by the supports from other domestic sections.

Guwahati sale

The Guwahati sale no 33 marked an improved demand with about 93 per cent of an offering of 162,000 packages, including CTC and Dust, being sold. The good and better varieties CTCsand Dusts were sold at last levels while other teas declined in prices.

The good and clean Assam CTCs maintaining quality were steady in prices while browner and fibrous teas eased as quality dropped. Prices of bolder brokens in CTC variety also witnessed a fall.

A substantial share of CTC was absorbed by Gujarat- Maharashtra and other domestic buyers. Hindustan Lever, though was fairly active but their off-take was lower than past week's. The major packateers such as Tat Tea, Godfrey Phillips, Duncans were selective in their purchases.

In the dust section, the good liquoring clean varieties sold at last levels while other fell in prices by up to Rs 3 a Kg. Hind lever, and Tata Tea absorbed bulk quantity of dusts teas. The remaining saleable teas were consumed by Western Indian and other domestic buyers.