Dibrugarh hosted its maiden public tea e-auction on September 25, marking a new development in Assam’s tea trade. The auction brought organised tea trading closer to Upper Assam’s major tea-producing belt.
The auction was conducted by Assam Chai Bazaar, a brokerless digital platform promoted by tea producers. It aims to connect tea producers directly with buyers across India and improve digital price discovery.
Dibrugarh Becomes Assam’s Second Tea Auction Centre
The launch gives Dibrugarh a new role in Assam’s organised tea trade. Guwahati has traditionally served as the state’s main auction centre. Now, Dibrugarh has emerged as the second tea auction centre.
This development is particularly important for producers in Upper Assam. Tea is grown extensively across Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sivasagar, Charaideo and nearby areas.
Therefore, a market closer to the production centres could reduce transportation and handling costs. It could also shorten the distance between tea gardens and buyers.
127 Sellers and 55 Buyers Registered
The maiden auction attracted strong initial interest from the tea industry. Before the auction, 127 sellers and 55 buyers had registered on the platform.
Around 258 lots containing nearly 2.23 lakh kg of tea were listed for the first sale. The lots included different grades and specialty varieties.
However, the final auction saw participation from 18 buyers. Some registered buyers, including Hindustan Unilever Limited, could not participate because of technical issues.
CTC Tea Records Average Price of Rs 207 Per Kg
The first auction covered both CTC Leaf and CTC Dust categories.
In the CTC Leaf category, 175 lots containing around 1.49 lakh kg of tea were offered. About 61.33 per cent of the quantity was sold at an average price of Rs 206 per kg.
Meanwhile, 83 CTC Dust lots containing nearly 74,694 kg were offered. Around 63.16 per cent was sold at an average price of about Rs 210 per kg.
Overall, the tea sold during the inaugural auction fetched an average price of approximately Rs 207 per kg.
Brokerless Digital Platform Connects Producers and Buyers
Assam Chai Bazaar operates as a brokerless digital auction platform. It allows producers and buyers to participate through a common marketplace.
The platform supports several varieties of tea. These include CTC, Orthodox, Green and specialty teas.
Moreover, the digital system can help producers access buyers from different parts of the country. As a result, tea producers can explore markets beyond their immediate region without depending entirely on traditional auction channels.
Focus on Small Tea Growers
The new auction centre could also be important for Assam’s growing small tea grower community.
Many producers in Upper Assam have traditionally had to send tea to larger auction centres. This process can add transportation and handling expenses.
Therefore, bringing the auction closer to production areas could help reduce some of these costs. Veteran tea planters have also highlighted the potential benefits for small growers in the region.
At the same time, the platform will need to attract more buyers to strengthen competition. Tea Board India Executive Director Arunita Phukan Yadav urged the organisers to bring additional buyers to improve competition and price discovery.
Tea Board India Oversees Auction Framework
The new auction operates under the regulatory framework of the Tea Board of India.
Tea Board India issued the Auction Organiser Licence to Assam Chai Bazaar on July 18. The first auction followed roughly two months later.
During the inaugural event, Tea Board officials also stressed the need to follow the Board’s rules and pan-India auction directives.
Digital Trading Could Strengthen Assam’s Tea Economy
The Dibrugarh auction comes at a time when Assam is seeking to modernise its tea marketing system.
A digital auction platform can bring producers and buyers onto a common marketplace. In addition, it can support faster price discovery and improve access to wider markets.
The development is also significant because Dibrugarh sits close to one of Assam’s most important tea-producing regions. Consequently, a local auction centre could reduce logistical challenges for producers.
A New Chapter for Upper Assam Tea Trade
The maiden e-auction marks a new chapter for Assam’s tea industry. For the first time, Upper Assam has a dedicated public auction platform located close to its production belt.
The first auction provides an initial indication of buyer interest and market participation. However, the platform’s longer-term impact will depend on attracting more buyers, maintaining competitive bidding and expanding participation among producers.
Nevertheless, Dibrugarh’s new tea auction centre creates another route for Assam’s tea producers to reach the market. It also strengthens the role of digital technology in the state’s traditional tea economy.