Dibrugarh Holds Upper Assam's First Public Tea E-Auction

Tea Board supervision and local promoters say the licensed digital platform could cut costs and speed payments for thousands of small tea growers by moving auctions into the production belt.

Overview

The inaugural e-auction run by Assam Chai Bazaar LLP took place in Dibrugarh and completed its maiden sale using a web platform supplied by Tradeforge Technologies.
Organisers reported 127 sellers and 55 buyers registered for the catalogue of 258 lots (about 2.23 lakh kg), with 18 buyers actually participating in the sale.
Sale results showed 61.33% of CTC leaf and 63.16% of CTC dust offered were sold, with a combined average price of roughly Rs 207 per kg and top Gelakey lots fetching Rs 341/kg (leaf) and Rs 320/kg (dust).
Several major buyers, including Hindustan Unilever Limited, were unable to bid because of technical problems on their side, a glitch organisers say reduced participation in the first round.
The Tea Board of India has said it will supervise the new centre under pan-India auction rules, and promoters plan to continue operating the licensed platform to expand localised, brokerless access for producers.