MULTAN, Jan 3: Phutti arrivals into ginneries rose by 6.91 per cent at 9.745 million bales in the fortnight ended December 31, 2008 when compared with 9.115 million bales the same period last year.

According to Pakistan Cotton Ginners’ Association (PCGA) figures the Punjab showed an increase of 2.89 per cent with the phutti arrivals of 7.064 million bales as against 6.866 million bales the previous year.

In Sindh, the arrivals increased by 19.19 per cent at 2.680 million bales as compared to 2.249 million bales the previous year.

The Standing Committee on Cotton Crop Assessment had estimated the crop for the year 2008-2009 at 14.11 million bales claiming that the Punjab will produce 11 million bales, Sindh three million bales, Balochistan 100,000 bales and NWFP 10,000 bales.

The latest PCGA report showed that the textile sector had so far procured 7.433 million bales while it had procured 7.126 million bales during the same period last year.

Exporters lifted 254,431 bales as compared to 80,800 bales in the corresponding period last year.

The unsold stock lying with the ginneries stood at 1.960 million bales as compared to 641,069 bales the previous year. The quantity of pressed bales is reported as 9.257 million bales as compared to 8.440 million bales in the corresponding period last year.