CTC leaf, dust varieties see good demand

Kolkata: The CTC leaf and dust varieties in Kolkata, Siliguri and Guwahati auction centres saw good demand with improved sorts selling dear. The western Indian purchasers increased their purchases with a major blender purchasing more actively than in the previous week. The orthodox market continued to be buoyant with prices ruling firm to dearer. There were good inquiries from the shippers to West Asia and CIS countries. It was up as compared to 56.4 mkg in the same month of the previous year. The climatic condition in the second fortnight of May having improved, the crop prospects have brightened. Sri Lanka is likely to aggressively push its teas into Pakistan, whose tea trade size is pegged at $220 million.