World · India Bureau
Assam's tea sector goes digital with maiden e-auction platform launch
Assam Chai Bazaar has successfully conducted the state's first online tea auction in Dibrugarh, eliminating traditional brokers and attracting 18 buyers. The brokerless platform achieved an average price of Rs 207 per kilogram across CTC leaf and dust lots.
LSN India ·
The inaugural e-auction held in Dibrugarh represents a significant shift toward digital commerce in Assam's tea industry, long dependent on conventional auction house mechanisms. Assam Chai Bazaar's platform-based approach removes intermediaries, potentially improving price realization for producers while offering buyers direct access to quality offerings.
The maiden event drew participation from 18 buyers bidding on CTC leaf and dust consignments, which collectively averaged Rs 207 per kilogram. This pricing reflects current market dynamics for these standard tea grades, which form the backbone of Assam's commercial tea production.
The brokerless model addresses longstanding concerns within the sector regarding transparency and cost efficiency. By enabling direct transactions between sellers and buyers through a digital platform, the initiative aims to streamline logistics and reduce transaction costs traditionally borne by stakeholders.
The launch of Assam Chai Bazaar comes as India's tea industry explores modernization opportunities to enhance competitiveness. Assam, which produces approximately 50 percent of India's tea output, has increasingly sought technological solutions to optimize trade practices and market access for its substantial tea-growing community.