LAHORE: Unprecedented 1.429 million bales of cotton arrived in the ginning factories by July 31 as no significant pest threat to the crop from any cotton-growing belt was reported.

Due to a record production during the first two months (June-July) of the cotton season this year, the total domestic output may exceed 10m bales after a break of 12 years.

According to the data released by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), a total of 389,000 bales arrived in the factories of Punjab, 41,000 in Balochistan, and 999,000 bales in the ginning factories of Sindh by July 31.

Cotton Ginners Forum Chairman Ihsan-ul-Haq says that most cotton has arrived in the ginning factories of Sanghar, which is equal to 671,000 bales, because of a lack of ginning factories in the coastal belt of Sindh, lint produced there is hauled to Sanghar.

The data shows that textile mills have bought 1.285m bales from the ginning factories, and 7,500 bales have so far been exported against 4,900 last year, while 136,000 bales are still lying with the ginning factories.

Mr Haq says that currently a total of 368 ginning factories, 182 in Punjab and 186 in Sindh, are operational due to the increase in cotton cultivation and favourable weather conditions in the country.

It is expected that due to insignificant pest attacks, the country will reap at least 10 million bales of white gold this year saving billions of dollars on the import of cotton and edible oil. Pakistan imported cotton worth around $2bn last year.

Lint arrival, however, has witnessed a decline in the last fortnight, perhaps, because of the Muharram holidays and rains, which make picking and transportation of cotton difficult. However, no considerable damage to cotton has been reported because of precipitation.

Naseem Usman, chief of the Cotton Brokers Association, says that due to the rainy season, there is the issue of moisture in the cotton being brought to ginning factories as well as ginned bales. According to him, up to 13pc moisture is being reported against the normal range of 9pc.

He says that the textile millers will have to compromise on the issue because it’s a natural factor which will be over during the coming days while other parameters are satisfactory.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2023