Over 6.044 mn bales of cotton have arrived in 2018- 19 season at various ginneries in Pakistan, as on October 15, 2018, up 1 per cent over arrival of 5.984 mn bales during the corresponding period of last season, according to the latest fortnightly report on cotton arrivals, released by Pakistan Cotton Ginners’ Association (PCGA).
In the major cotton producing province of Punjab, total cotton arrivals increased by 3 per cent year-on-year to 3.123 mn bales, according to the report prepared by PCGA, in joint cooperation with All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) and the Karachi Cotton Association (KCA). While in Sindh province, cotton arrivals decreased 1.06 per cent to 2.920 mn bales as on October 15 during the ongoing cotton season 2018-19. Of the total arrival of 6.044 mn bales at various ginneries in Pakistan, 4.903 mn bales were pressed by ginners, of which 4.407 mn bales were sold, leaving an unsold stock of 495,658 bales with the ginners, as on October 15, according to the data. The textile mills in Pakistan consumed 4.331 mn bales, while another 75,797 bales of cotton were sold to exporters, according to the data. The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has not procured any bale of cotton so far this season.
As of October 15, a total of 622 ginning factories were operational in Punjab compared to 685 ginneries that were operational during the same time last season. Similarly, 287 ginning units were operational in the Sindh region, compared to 294 operating units during the corresponding period last year.In the previous cotton season 2017-18, Pakistan had produced nearly 12 mn bales of cotton. However, cotton production is estimated to fall below 11 mn bales in this season due to water shortage and attacks by cotton leaf curl virus (CLCV) and other pests.
