Guwahati, Aug. 28 -- Auction prices of North Indian tea have fallen sharply over the past five to six weeks, deepening a liquidity crisis in the tea industry in Assam and West Bengal, even as flash floods, excessive heat and severe pest and disease infestations continue to hit production this season.

A sale-to-sale analysis for financial year 2026-27 shows a sharp decline in average tea prices at the three major North Indian auction centres, Kolkata, Guwahati and Siliguri, between July and mid-August, from Sale 27 to Sale 34.

At the Calcutta Tea Traders' Association (CTTA), Kolkata, the average CTC sale price fell from Rs 291.27 in Sale 26 to Rs 238.77 in Sale 34, a drop of Rs 53, or around 17 per cent, in less than two months.

At the ...