Guwahati, May 28: In what the tea industry is describing as an “important benchmark moment” for Assam tea, a premium lot of Assam CTC tea fetched ₹800 per kilogram at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC) during Auction Sale No. 22 held on May 27.

The record price was reportedly secured by a premium tea line from Deckiajuli Tea Estate and has drawn widespread industry attention at a time when Assam’s tea economy is facing pressure from climate stress, rising production and labour costs, and fluctuating global demand.

Although speciality teas from Assam have fetched significantly higher prices in niche auctions in the past, industry observers say this development is particularly significant because it comes from the mainstream CTC auction ecosystem, considered the backbone of Assam’s tea trade.

Tea industry experts say the strong pricing reflects renewed premium demand for high-quality Assam tea, especially among buyers willing to pay more for flavour consistency, strong liquor and superior leaf quality.

The development also comes amid growing concern over climate change and erratic weather conditions impacting tea yields and quality across Assam in recent years.

Excessive rainfall, prolonged dry spells and rising temperatures have emerged as key challenges for tea growers across the state.
Industry sources believe premium auction performances such as this could help improve market sentiment and strengthen the push toward value addition and quality-focused production rather than dependence solely on bulk-volume sales.
Among the world’s largest CTC tea auction centres, GTAC plays a critical role in price discovery for Assam’s tea industry and supports the livelihoods of lakhs of tea workers, small tea growers and tea-dependent families.

The performance is being closely watched because strong premium pricing at this stage could indicate renewed buyer confidence in top-grade Assam teas despite broader pressures facing the industry.

For a state where tea remains deeply intertwined with identity, economy and exports, the ₹800-per-kg benchmark is being viewed as more than just an auction figure. For many in the industry, it is also a sign that premium Assam tea continues to command strong demand even in a challenging global market environment.

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