
About this episode
This episode discusses the tea price trends and market dynamics for the week ending 22 May 2026.
Quality Holds, Averages Ease | Tea markets closed ISO Week 21 with functional demand but a wider separation between quality teas and secondary descriptions. The market is not distressed, but it is more selective. Colombo saw fair demand, though the total sales average eased from the previous week. North India remained active, especially for improved teas and dusts, but Sale 21 averages moved lower from Sales 20. Mombasa stayed orderly against the latest available official benchmark, while Indonesia showed the clearest demand tone, with Van Rees reporting good demand for the week. | In Colombo, prices averaged $3.62/kg this week, ↓ -$0.20/kg vs the previous sale average, Sale 19 / 20 May 2026. In North India, prices averaged $2.47/kg this week, ↓ -$0.13/kg vs reconstructed prior auction benchmark, Sale 20. In Mombasa, prices averaged $2.18/kg this week, → 0.00/kg vs last available official average, EATTA Sale 17 CTC. In Indonesia, prices averaged $2.41/kg this week, → 0.00/kg vs prior indicative benchmark. | The structural drivers remain familiar: buyers are covering needs, not building speculative positions; exporters are defending prices where quality allows; and cost pressures…
People in this episode
Host: Dan Bolton
Topics covered
- tea market analysis
- price trends
- quality tea
- demand fluctuations
- export market
Keywords
- tea prices
- Colombo
- North India
- Mombasa
- Indonesia
- market demand
- quality teas
- auction benchmarks
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Colombo, North India, Mombasa, Indonesia, Van Rees
More episodes of Tea Biz
- Spotlight | The Power of Feedback · May 29, 2026 · 27 min
- Tea News Recap | Sri Lanka Slumps, Assam Struggles, Türkiye Rises · May 29, 2026 · 10 min
- Ep 241 | Sri Lanka Slumps, Assam Struggles, Türkiye Rises · May 29, 2026 · 45 min
- Tea Price Report | Week 19 | Ending 15 May · May 15, 2026 · 3 min
- Spotlight | Regenerative Farming Begins by Doing Less · May 15, 2026 · 10 min
- Tea News Recap | Fertilizer Crisis | Tea Day | India Auction Mandate · May 15, 2026 · 13 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Tea Biz podcast page.