What changed
Van Rees reported 3,120 packages offered and 14% of invoices unsold. Main broken-grade availability remained limited after pre-auction cancellations; secondary and off-grades dominated the remaining lots.
Procurement decision
Confirm the invoice list and grade before committing to an order programme. If the matching main grade is unavailable, trial a qualified alternative rather than relabelling a secondary grade as equivalent. Ask the supplier how processing, particle size and infusion will affect the finished blend. Keep a documented substitution limit and confirm whether a current sample represents material actually available for the required shipment window.
HOUTU TEA market reading
Packages, invoices and kilograms measure different things, and cancellation before the sale can change the available grade mix without appearing as an unsold lot. HOUTU TEA's interpretation is that a buyer should check the live catalogue for the contracted grade. Adequate aggregate supply cannot remove a specification-specific shortage, while low unsold percentages do not guarantee easy access to every required component.
Illustrative order scenario - not an actual transaction
A blender expecting main broken tea can request a reserve invoice and a separate secondary-grade trial. It should approve the latter only if the finished recipe remains acceptable. If neither matches, delaying a discretionary lot may be preferable to buying an unsuitable parcel that later requires costly reformulation.
Buyer action checklist
- Check the live grade-specific catalogue
- Distinguish cancellations from unsold lots
- Do not equate secondary and main grades
- Approve any recipe change before purchase release
Limits and risk
The unsold percentage is invoice-based and should not be converted directly into unsold packages or kilograms. The report does not quantify the full national stock position.
The buying implications above are HOUTU TEA analysis, not statements by the source. Use this update to request comparable offers, not as a live price quotation. Keep the approved sample, batch specification, testing scope, packing details and shipment terms together before authorising a purchase. Where regulation is involved, the importer should verify the applicable product and destination requirements before shipment.
For tea specification matching, samples, private-label packing and shipment planning, contact Sophie at jessie@hoututea.com or WhatsApp +86 18888798057.
