Cotton arrivals surge by 25.48pc in current season: PCGA
LAHORE: Cotton arrivals across Pakistan have surged by 25.48 percent during the current season, reaching 1,113,513 bales by August 15 compared with 887,401 bales in the corresponding period last year, according to a report issued by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) on August 18. Sajid Mahmood, Head of the Transfer of Technology Department at the Central Cotton Research Institute,…
The cotton arrivals in Pakistan have seen a significant surge of 25.48 percent during the current season, reaching a total of 1,113,513 bales by August 15, as reported by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) on August 18. This increase marks a noticeable improvement compared to the 887,401 bales recorded during the same period last year.
Sajid Mahmood, the Head of the Transfer of Technology Department at the Central Cotton Research Institute in Multan, highlighted that the number of operational ginning factories has also risen by nearly 10 percent to 268, indicating a growing sector activity.
Punjab experienced a modest 2.61 percent rise in cotton arrivals, while Sindh and Balochistan together reported a sharp 41.80 percent increase, with Sanghar district playing a key role in this growth. While Mahmood welcomed this upward trend, he cautioned that the final production would be contingent upon weather and market conditions in the coming days.
He emphasized the need for a coordinated national strategy focusing on research, quality seed, water availability, and ensuring fair prices, stressing that continued investment in cotton by farmers is contingent upon reliable markets and profitable returns.
Naseem Usman, the Chairman of the Karachi Cotton Brokers Forum, noted that fundamental factors in the cotton market are gradually improving due to steady mill demand, limited pressed cotton stocks, and supportive international prices. As of August 15, cotton arrivals across the country stood at 1.114 million bales, with textile mills having purchased approximately 938,000 bales.
The current stock of cotton is 162,696 bales, comprising 94,488 bales of phutti and 68,208 bales of pressed cotton. Usman observed that mills are not retaining heavy stocks and that quality parameters, such as staple length, are improving.
He pointed out that international cotton is currently trading at around 85 cents per pound, making imported cotton relatively costlier for local mills, which consequently supports domestic prices. Usman expressed optimism regarding the weather conditions and improving crop prospects, predicting that the chances of market improvement in the coming days remain higher than the likelihood of any significant decline.
He underscored that favorable weather and enhanced crop conditions further bolster the market outlook, suggesting that the prospects for a positive market trend are currently more promising than the risk of a substantial downturn.
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