KARACHI, Oct 18: Phutti arrivals into ginneries registered an increase of 28.94 per cent during the last fortnight, thereby keeping the hope of harvesting higher crop this season.

The Pakistan Cotton Ginners’ Association (PCGA) on Saturday announced that around 3.499 million bales reached ginneries during Oct 1 to 15 as against 2.713 million bales the same period last year.

Phutti arrivals in Sindh were much higher totaling 1.548 million bales during the fortnight as against 1.161 million bales last year, showing an increase of 33.32 per cent.

In Punjab, phutti arrivals totalled 1.950 million bales or 25.67 per cent higher over the same period of last year when it stood at 1.522 million bales.

Total phutti arrivals during the period stood higher by 785,411 bales of which 345,052 bales reached Sindh and 398,427 bales Punjab ginneries.

The off-take was also on the higher side as spinners purchased around 2.466 million bales as against 2.110 million bales the same period last year. Exporters also lifted higher quantity of around 125,100 bales compared to 37,700 bales the same period last year.

The unsold stocks lying with ginneries also stood higher at 907,710 bales as against 566,762 bales last year.

Presently 597 ginneries are operating in Punjab and 178 in Sindh.