Industry struggles to up tea prices at auctions as output plays spoilsport

Widespread availability of low-grade leaves adds to companies woes as auction prices dip in Kolkata and Guwahati

A surge in tea production till June and widespread availability of low grade leaves pulled down tea prices of north Indian teas even as companies and the Tea Board of India are battling to jack up prices in the auction centres. 

According to data from the Tea Board, auction prices fell by 4.23 per cent at Rs 173.17 a kilo in the Kolkata auction centre and by 5.41 per cent at Rs 156.14 per kilo