July 20, 2002	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 9, 1423

KOLKATA, July 19: Prices of leaf grade CTC and orthodox teas fell more than four per cent at the weekly Kolkata auction on Friday, extending last week’s fall, traders said.

The average price of leaf grade CTC teas fell to Rs77.95 per kg from Rs81.29 last week, they said.

In the heavily-traded leaf grade Assam CTC segment, the average price fell more than six per cent to Rs85.17 per kg. It has dropped almost 10 per cent from Rs94.41 per kg two weeks ago, traders said.

The leaf grade orthodox teas’ average price fell for a second week, dipping more than four per cent to Rs94.42 per kg from 98.56.

In the past two weeks, the average price of leaf grade orthodox teas has dropped 9.4 per cent, the Calcutta Brokers’ Joint Statistics Department said.

There was good demand for orthodox teas this week with fannings selling well at lower prices. There was also active buying support from Europe and the Middle East.

In the dust grade category, Assam CTC fell more than two per cent to Rs83.30 per kg from 85.18.—Reuters