The tea offering at the auctions has thus become restricted so that all the remaining sales of the season could be conducted well, till the first flush tea comes by the end of February.

This resulted in prompt covering by all traditional buyers specially packeteers, who seemed not to have built much stock from their earlier offtakes. Packeteers generally do not market first flush teas in packet form.Consequently, prices of teas in all north Indian auctions, specially in Guwahati and Siliguri, have shot up by Rs 5-20 a kg at the sale no 3 held this week over end-December levels.

Calcutta sale: There was good demand for 40,795 chests of CTC teas offered at sale no 3. All good tea in Assam and Dooars category sold higher, by Rs 4-6 a kg while medium sorts sold at steady rates. Good Assam brokens sold at Rs 94-110 a kg against Rs 90-106 a kg, while fannings quoted slightly higher at Rs 86-92 a kg. The good Dooars brokens fetched Rs 84-90 a kg compared to Rs 80-90 and fannings were higher by Rs 6 a kg at Rs 80-85. Medium Assams brokens were steady at Rs 76-88 per kg while fannings were slightly lower at Rs 76-84 per kg.

Hind Lever and Gujarat buyers absorbed a fair quantity with good support from domestic traders and CIS shippers.

The Darjeeling sale with an offering of 4,230 chests met with good demand on fair offtake by exporters as well as traditional domestic buyers. Prices of almost all the categories surged over past levels by around Rs 20 and even more. The good whole leaf absorbed by Hind Lever and exporters was dearer at Rs 200-230 a kg and medium sorts moved up to Rs 160-180 per kg from Rs 140-160. Good and bolder brokens were quoted at Rs 160-189 per kg and were mostly absorbed by shippers and Hind Lever. Prices of medium brokens ruled steady at Rs 100-160 and were consumed by local buyers. Fannings showed a mixed trend at Rs 100-135 with low quality fannings selling at Rs 55-75 a kg.

The Orthodox section where a larger quantity of l19,026 packages was offered saw mixed trends. Selected tippy teas sold lower by Rs 5-10 a kg at Rs 110-150 a kg while medium whole leaf sold at Rs 70-85 per kg, as against Rs 70-90. Brokens and fannings were firm at Rs 85-110 and Rs 58-66 per kg.Iran and other West Asia shippers were fairly active buyers, with CIS lending good support. Locals absorbed medium brokens and fannings while north India opted for bolder brokens.

Market opened to a good demand for 16,652 packages of Dust teas of which 90 per cent was consumed. All sorts were firm with best teas declining by Rs 3-5 a kg. Good Assams sold at Rs 95-110 a kg and medium sorts at Rs 72-84 per kg.

Hind Lever and domestic sections were active buyers with selected offtake by other packeteers. Gujarat buyers were absorbed fair quantity of Dust.Guwahati sale: Guwahati sale 3 met with mixed demand but prices of all categories shot up by Rs 5-10 a kg.

At the CTC section, where 65,814 packages were offered and 70 per cent was sold, prices saw dearer tends. Selected cleaner and better teas were selling between Rs 150-135 per kg, showing a rise by Rs 8-10 a kg. The other teas including inferior quality, which quoted at Rs 70-80 per kg was also dearer by around Rs 5 a kg. The medium CTCs were steady at Rs 101-130 per kg. Dust teas amounting to 37,915 packages recorded a good demand with 90 per cent teas being sold. All teas fared fully firm in prices.

Hind Lever was active consumer for both CTC and Dusts. Western India buyers lifted a fair share of CTCs, but was a selected buyer for Dusts. CTCs also received good support from Duncans and north Indian buyers.