Pakistan’s cotton ginners report a substantial increase in cotton bales harvested this year, surpassing last year’s figures by a significant 81 percent.
As of November 30, the total cotton arrival at ginning units stands at 7,753,473 bales compared to 4,280,500 bales during the same period last year.
Sindh emerges as a key contributor to this surge, recording a remarkable 128 percent increase with over 3.7 million bales produced.
Meanwhile, Punjab achieves a 49 percent boost in output, contributing over 4 million bales. However, the province falls short of its allocated target, reaching only 44 percent of the initially set goal of approximately 8.3 million bales.
Textile millers have purchased the majority of the harvested cotton, acquiring 6,755,905 bales. Exporters and traders secured 290,626 bales, while nearly 125,000 bales have been exported.
Despite the positive trend, concerns loom over achieving the annual production target. Sajid Mahmood, representing the Business Club Commodities, asserts that while this year’s cotton figures may surpass last year’s, he is confident that the country will fall short of achieving the annual production target.
He projects a potential production range of 18-20 million bales, emphasizing the need for substantial investments in cotton research and development.
Cotton Ginners forum chairman Ihsanul Haq points to adverse weather conditions and a severe whitefly attack on the crop as factors contributing to reduced yield.
Haq suggests aligning Punjab’s cotton year with Sindh’s coastal areas, starting from February-March, to avoid weather-related challenges during sowing and harvesting, potentially resulting in better-quality cotton appealing to foreign buyers.
