THE TEA MARKET.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 184, 5 August 1920, Page 2

THE TEA MARKET.

HIGHER QUALITY, HIGHER PRICE.

' Cabled advices from Colombo and Calcutta in the present state of the tea market show that with the improvement in quality there has come an improvement in the price equivalent to that ruling in March last. In February and March New Zealand bought teas in heavy quantities, and the prices to-day are practically back to where they were then, and an advance is looked for during the next two or three months, as quality continues to improve. This so far as Colombo is concerned. The Calcutta sales re-opened about a fortnight back, but owing to the lack of demand the sales were indefinitely postponed. .As a general rule, the teas going i#to Calcutta early in the season are not good enough for this market, which' demands a higher tea than is procurable In India quite early, in the season.

Besides, buyers are more discriminating, with Russia out of the" Indian markets for the present. From advices received by mail and cable (says the Post), everything at present points to a steady advance in the price of good to high-class teas during the next two or three months. Common teas rule low in price, but anything Avith quality in it is firmly held at present.