TradeForge glitches disrupt Kochi tea auctions; buyers seek Tea Board

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Pending delivery orders and disrupted transactions have affected small buyers, while subdued participation in the latest sale has weakened prices

By V.Sajeev Kumar

Updated - October 30, 2026 at 04:15 PM. | Kochi

Tea auction operations in Kochi have faced disruptions following technical glitches in the newly introduced TradeForge platform.

The Tea Buyers Association has raised concerns about difficulties in Kochi during the first sale conducted through the newly introduced TradeForge auction platform, citing technical glitches that disrupted the auction and subsequent delivery processes.

Several buyers have complained that delivery orders were not generated for Sale No. 44 despite the allocation of funds. This has resulted in logistical disruptions, affecting the timely lifting and delivery of purchased tea, highly placed sources in the association said.

The new system has significantly affected the traditional business model followed by many small buyers in Kochi. These buyers typically purchase tea in small quantities, take immediate delivery on the same day and sell it in the local market. This practice enabled them to realise payments within the following week and sustain their regular business operations.

Posing difficulties

However, the introduction of the new platform has severely disrupted this established business model. It has almost brought it to a halt, creating considerable operational and financial difficulties for small buyers.

According to sources, the situation is adversely affecting the livelihoods and business activities of stakeholders, particularly small buyers and exporters, while disrupting their day-to-day operations.

In view of these difficulties, the Association has sought the Tea Board’s urgent intervention to address the issues and resolve the operational bottlenecks at the earliest, ensuring the smooth and uninterrupted conduct of tea auctions under the new platform.

The transition marks an important step in auction modernisation, but operational issues remain unresolved. Building buyer confidence, ensuring seamless bidding and transaction processing, and delivering a reliable user experience will be critical to securing wider adoption of the new platform, the sources added.

Meanwhile, local buying was subdued in Sale No. 44 in both dust and leaf varieties, leading prices to drop. Sales in dust were only 52 per cent of the offered quantity of 4,38,007 kg, while leaf sales were 87 per cent of the offered quantity of 3,30,766 kg.

e.o.m.

Published on October 30, 2026

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