Page 20 - January-February-2021

Panic swells in ginning as
20 21

Pakistan faces the worst drought

of cotton crop production

The loss that the country is facing due to the scarce highlights how ignorant the government is being by
production of cotton has been the talk of the textile not taking quick action to fix this crisis which has
town for quite some time now and still the govern- been affecting growers, ginners, spinning and
ment has taken no action to make the situation any weaving industry, as well as the country’s textile
better. Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) export industry said Dr Jassu Mal.
is now demanding that emergency measures be
taken by the government to boost cotton yield so Unemployment of thousands of cotton pickers,
that the country can start to recover from the loses majority of whom consist of women, is also a direct
of billions and secure the livelihoods. result of this cotton catastrophe that has hit the
country. 60 percent of ginning factories out of a total
“The country was facing a direct loss of $2 billion 1,200 were closed.
annually and $8 billion indirectly due to the drop in
cotton production”, says Dr Jassu Mal, PCGA Textile sector was provided the right incentives,
Chairman. Going from 15 million bales to 5.5 million reduced power rates and duty fee on cotton yarn ICAC anticipates boost in cotton
bales, this is the lowest production rate in three import. Therefore, the ginning sector should also be
decades. Moreover, 700$ million worth of Cotton provided with such reliefs such as incentives and
seed, animal feed (khal) of $1.5 and cotton and reduced power rates among other reliefs to face the
wood used as fuel is an addition loss. This problem. trade for 2020/21

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) tion to feed their mills; global trade is projected to
rebound in 2020/21 to 9.3 million tonnes. Two of the
expects a boost in the cotton trade published in The
Sustainable textile production is Cotton Update on 1 February 2021. The Cotton world’s top exporters, the USA and Brazil, are
Update, which is included in the Cotton This Month
estimated to see 45% and 17% increases in the
subscription, is a mid-month report with updated
coming season, respectively.
the focus of Taiwan's industries information on supply/demand estimates and The ending stocks for the 2020/21 season are now
prices.
estimated at 21.1 million tonnes, potentially easing
The executive summary and highlights include: pressure on prices. The Secretariat’s current price
With its innovative products, the Taiwanese textile represented by the Taiwan Textile Federation, is now - Double-digit production decreases in major projection for the year-end 2020/21 average of the A
industry is an essential pillar of the global sports- on the forward-looking topic of sustainability. The cotton-producing countries Index is 73.5 cents per pound.
wear industry. In terms of export value, Taiwan's aim is to establish itself worldwide as the pivotal - Production declines in consuming countries to
textile industry is among the top seven in the world. sourcing hub for innovative, sustainable, and drive an increase in trade in 2020/21 The ICAC is an association of members of cotton
In 2019, the value of the country's textile exports was intelligent textiles. The country is already a leader in - This season, US exports will jump by 45%, and producing, consuming, and trading countries. The
US$9.18 billion. While the government used to rely recycled polymers and polymer blends and is Brazil’s exports will increase by 17% Committee was formed in 1939, and the Secretariat
mainly on cheap mass production, after more than actively searching for new sustainable textile - Ending stocks for the 2020/21 season are now was established in 1946. The annual budget is
60 years of development, Taiwan's textile industry solutions that combine high-tech, ecology, function- estimated at 21.1 million tonnes, potentially US$1.8 million, of which about 85% comes from
has become an innovator with an integrated value ality, and life aesthetics. Successful examples members assessments and 15% from the sale of
chain, focusing on high-quality materials for sports include the production of recycled polyester and According to ICAC, the global cotton production is subscriptions and participant fees at meetings and
and outdoor apparel. This success's foundation is a nylon from marine waste and water-free dyeing. expected to decline by 8% to 24 million tonnes in the seminars. There are 10 members of the Secretariat
high and consistent level of quality, on-time delivery, Many manufacturers also produce according to the coming season, with double-digit decreases in crop originating from seven countries, primarily working
and excellent communication skills. requirements of numerous textile sustainability size projected in the United States, Brazil, Pakistan, from one office in Washington, DC. Documents are
standards such as bluesign, GRS, ZDHC, Standard West Africa, Turkey and Uzbekistan. Due to those published in English, French, and Spanish, monthly
The Taiwanese textile industry's focus, which is 100 by Oeko-Tex and Restricted Substance Lists. decreases, the decline is expected to be in cotton summaries are available in Russian, and annual
consuming countries that rely on domestic produc- summaries are available in both Arabic and Russian.

January/February 2021 January/February 2021