In Pakistan, cotton production has seen the lowest in 30 years, significantly impacting the textile sector. “The shortage of cotton has increased the cost of production as textile millers have to import costlier cotton,” said Asif Inam, zonal head of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association, in February.
On the other hand, India increases the 2020-21 cotton crop estimate to 360 lakh bales.
The Cotton Association of India (CAI) has increased the country’s cotton crop production for the season 2020-21 beginning October 1, 2020, to 360 lakh bales of 170 kg each (i.
e., 382.5 lakh running bales of 160 kg each).
This is an increase of 1.5 lakh bales compared to its previous estimate (last month) of 358.5 lakh bales.
The CAI estimates the total cotton supply for October 2020 to March 2021 at 459.
26 lakh bales of 170 kg each, which consists of the arrivals of 326.76 lakh bales, imports of 7.50 lakh bales, and the opening stock estimated by the CAI at 125 lakh bales at the beginning of the season.
The domestic consumption estimated by the CAI has been retained at the pre-lockdown level of 330 lakh bales. The exports for the season have also been retained at 60 lakh bales.
The export estimate for the previous cotton season 2019-20 was 50 lakh bales.
