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| Sunday, 14 March 2004 |
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Tea prices up at Colombo auction by ELMO LEONARD February's Colombo tea auction average of Rs 164.50 per kilo was the highest sale average for a month, and bettered the previous best, Rs. 161.71 per kilo for January. February's high grown average of Rs. 174.69 was also the highest for a month. February's total average of Rs 164.50, per kilo, was $1.7 in dollar terms, and higher than the $1.5 per kilo, total average, for February 2003, Forbes' executive, Lalanka de Silva, said. February's medium grown average of Rs 143.97 recorded a growth of Rs 19.42 when compared with the Rs 144.55 average for the corresponding month of last year. February's low grown average of Rs 165.54 also recorded a growth of Rs. 18.10 when compared with the Rs 147.44 average achieved during the corresponding month of last year. The dry weather conditions, prevailing in the western plantations (occasional showers are experienced) prolongs the quality western season. At the last Colombo auction, a good BOP tea averaged Rs 225 per kilo, and BOPFs Rs 230 per kilo. The Eastern or Uva region, is also dry and last week BOPs averaged Rs. 165 per kilo and BOPFs Rs 185 per kilo. If the dry weather prevails, the current Eastern or Dimbula, quality tea season, which usually ends with rainfall, end-March, may be prolonged and prices could rise, De Silva said. In spite of dry weather, February's low grown tea crop at 14.2 million kilos, is higher than June 2003's low grown crop of 13.66 million kilos. June is a month when widespread rain is experienced, with appreciation of tea crop, but last June was hit by floods, which was detrimental to tea harvests in the lowland plantations. In February, Moray Estate produced the first Western high grown BOPF tea to reach Rs 300 per kilo. Last month, a medium highland BOP of Kenilworth Estate was sold at Rs 350 per kilogram. There are many other significant prices achieved during the month of February from other western tea estates; from the Central Nuwara Eliya hills, and the Eastern or Uva, Udapussellawa regions. Even low growns, have accounted for high prices last month with Ceciliyan Estate selling a BOP at Rs 240 per kilo, being an example. |
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