KARACHI: Cotton production in the country stood at 2.197 million bales during the current season (up to Sept 15) as compared to 2.751m bales in the same period last season, a shortfall of 552,762 bales (20.13 per cent), mainly due to heavy rains and floods in Punjab and Sindh.

The fortnightly (Sept 1-15) phutti arrivals remained short by 130,470 bales to 857,811 as compared to 988,281 bales in the same period last season.

Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) officials estimated current season’s cotton crop at 12.223m bales as against the expected bumper crop of about 15m.

Recent rain in Sindh has damaged over 50,000 hectares which was more than 75pc of cotton cultivating area of the province.

As a result, cotton production in the province recorded a shortfall of 276,398 bales (17.70pc) to 1.283m as compared to 1.559m bales in the same period last season, according to a PCGA report.

Similarly, rains in Punjab have resulted in shedding of flowers on an area of about 12,000 hectares. Thus, the province produced 914,316 bales as compared to 1.19m in the same period last season, a shortfall of 276,364 bales (23.21pc).

The ginners are holding 339,256 bales which stood close to last season’s level at 338,111 bales.

According to the report, the exporters have purchased larger stocks at 193,976 bales as against 97,615 bales in the same period last season.

However, spinners have lifted lesser cotton this season at 1.664m bales as compared to 2.412m in the same period last season.

Due to short crop, fewer ginning units are currently operating in both provinces. In total 585 ginning units are operating, 375 in Punjab and 210 in Sindh.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2015

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