There was good general demand for 54,481 packages of CTC offering of which around 85 per cent teas was sold against 90 per cent in the past sale. Barring a few well made liquoring brokens in good Assam grades, prices of all grades eased in line with quality. Good Assam brokens were sold at Rs 78-90 a kg against Rs 80-90 a kg while medium Assam brokens declined by Re 1 a kg and quoted at Rs 69-87 a kg. Prices of good fannings declined to Rs 78-87 a kg compared to Rs 80-90 a kg while medium fannings dropped by Re 1 to Rs 2 per kg and quoted at Rs 61-70 per kg.

Dooars brokens ruled around last and those of Cachar bolder brokens was strong at Rs 53-56 a kg. Hind Lever, Gujarat-Maharashtra and the local traders were the mainstay in the market, lifting a major share of CTC offerings while others, including packeteers were selective buyers.

The offtake at the Darjeeling sale with an offering of 7227 chests saw a slight improvement at lower levels. Whole leaf and bolder brokens retaining quality sold at slightly easy rates and the remaining were easy. Better teas were consumed by one of the UK shippers and Hind Lever while the medium and common grades lifted by the local dealers. The whole leaf CTCs quoted at Rs 120-160 a kg with only one lot realising Rs 190 per kg against Rs 130-200 in the last sale. Brokens sold at Rs 120-140 a kg and fannings ranged between Rs 100 and Rs 130 per kg. Some teas in fine orange fannings having lost Darjeeling characteristics even declined to a low of Rs 60-65 a kg.

Market opened to a good general demand for 17,161 chests of Orthodox teas with 85 per cent teas being sold. Tippy and well made teas once again sold at firm to dearer levels on sustained Iran buying. This category sold betwen Rs 130-165 a kg. Medium whole prices leaf declined by Rs 5 a kg at Rs 90-110 per kg on lower demand. The larger and smaller brokens ruled steady at Rs 100-130 per kg and Rs 66-76 a kg respectively.