Last year, Pakistan’s textile industry witnessed a drastic shortage of cotton resulting in chaos in the market. This year, with better government policies and good profit margins, farmers have shown great interest in the cultivation of the cotton crop. The first fortnightly report of the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association said that out of the total, 1.51 million bales were sold to the mills, 200 to the exporters, while 280,388 bales were in stocks.
The country stockpiled 1.79 million bales until September 1, with a 100 % increase expected by mid of September. Sources in the industry expected arrivals of around 2.22 million bales by September 15, which would increase around 100 %, compared with 1.03 million bales in the same period last year. Sindh contributed 1.21 million bales in the total arrivals led by Hyderabad district with 91,061 bales, followed by Sanghar with 85,3091 bales and Nawabshah with 80,000 bales.
Mr. Naseem Usman, Chairman Karachi Cotton Brokers Association, said the cotton crop was satisfactory. The weather remained suitable, and pest attacks were low compared with the past years. “Per acre yield is also higher this year, and seed-cotton prices are increased, while more ginning factories have commenced operations.”
Contrarily, Cotton Crop Assessment Committee held this season’s first meeting on September 1. It revised the cotton production target with a reduction of 2.0 million bales to 8.5 million bales from earlier estimates of 10.5 million bales.
