Booming season for Pakistan’s cotton exports as 125,000 bales shipped

Pakistan has successfully exported a minimum of 125,000 cotton bales, with prospects indicating further improvement in export volumes.

All export deals have been secured by a singular cotton ginner from Sindh, Dr. Jasso Mal, with destinations including China, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

It is anticipated that a comparable quantity of cotton bales will be exported in the remaining duration of the season. The current season marks a potential record, considering that cotton exports have not surpassed six digits since 2017-18 when the figure reached 207,424 bales.

In contrast, the country exported only 4,900 bales in 2022-23, 16,000 bales in 2021-22, and 70,200 bales in 2020-21.

Ginners attribute this upswing in exports to the superior quality of lint and favorable international markets, drawing foreign buyers to Pakistani cotton.

According to Cotton Ginners Forum Chairman Ihsanul Haq, the absence of typical rains in most cotton-growing areas has positively influenced crop quality. Additionally, a significant factor has been the record devaluation of the rupee, making local cotton more competitive on the global stage.

Haq acknowledges that the potential record in cotton exports might have been higher if not for a decline in lint yield in Punjab due to a severe whitefly attack. Environmental pollution has also negatively impacted the industry.