Pakistan’s Cotton Production to Cross 10m Bales in a Decade

Pakistan’s cotton production is expected to cross 10 million bales for the first time during the last decade.

Cotton industry officials say that the cotton production target had been set at 12.7 million bales but actual production could cross 10 million bales this year.

For the first time in the country’s history, collective cotton production statistics have been released in the month of July, with a record cotton yield expected this year in Pakistan.

According to the data released by the Cotton Ginners Association, as of July 15, a total of 858,000 bales have reached ginning factories across the country. Out of this, 659,134 bales arrived in Sindh while 198,873 bales arrived in Punjab’s ginning factories.

The report indicates that textile mills have purchased 691,731 bales as of July 15, while 1,000 bales have been exported.

The report further details that currently there are 165,276 saleable bales in the ginning factories, and 298 factories are operational across the country.

The Chairman of the Cotton Ginners Forum, Ihsan-ul-Haq, told that due to favorable weather conditions and government initiatives, a record cotton yield was expected in Pakistan this year. Pakistan Starts Cotton Exports During Current Season

Cotton picking started in May in the coastal areas of Sindh, and in June in other districts of Sindh and Punjab, which led to a record yield of 858,000 bales by July 15 for the first time in national history, with 300 ginning factories in operation.

These statistics were released on July 18, whereas previously, these were released in September.

He mentioned that the highest cotton yield till July 15 came from the district of Sanghar in Sindh, which accounted for 488,000 bales.

A significant reason for this was the lack of ginning factories in coastal towns of Sindh such as Badin, Thatta, Mirpur Sakro, Jhudo, etc., causing all the cotton from these areas to be sent to the ginning factories in Sanghar.

He further shared that this year’s collective national cotton production target has been set at 12.70 million bales (170 kilograms each), and it is expected that if weather conditions remain favorable, Pakistan’s total cotton production could exceed 10 million bales for the first time in nearly twelve years.

It should be noted that last year, Pakistan’s total cotton production was at its lowest in history, with just 4.9 million bales being produced.