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KEY SIGNAL
₹269.28/kg on 25 July
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KEY SIGNAL
₹246.55/kg on 15 August
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KEY SIGNAL
Comparable 2025 week: ₹237.40/kg
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Trade desk analysis
The sequence shows short-term price cooling without a full return to last year's level. Guwahati and Siliguri also eased over the four reported weeks, which supports the view that fresh supply or selective demand reduced immediate pressure across several northern auction centres.
A declining weekly average can improve negotiating conditions, but only when the quoted grade follows the same movement. Auction composition changes from week to week, and a better-quality catalogue can lift an average even when underlying demand is stable. Buyers should use a four-week series as context and still approve the physical tea.
West Africa translation
Importers with flexible timing can ask suppliers to refresh offers rather than automatically extending a late-July quotation. The saving should be tested against vessel availability and inventory cover; waiting for a lower leaf price can be expensive if it creates an emergency airfreight or stock-out decision later.
Four practical moves
Next market checks
A buyer's quotation was issued when the Kolkata average was near ₹269. The buyer asks for a re-costed offer after the average reaches ₹246.55, but keeps the same sample code and shipment date. This prevents a hidden grade downgrade from being presented as a market-linked saving.
