Cotton arrivals at ginneries across Pakistan rose 27% to 1.696 million bales as of Aug. 31, compared with 1.336 million bales a year earlier, according to data released by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA).
The PCGA said the latest figures were compiled jointly with the Karachi Cotton Association. It said Punjab accounted for 557,097 bales of arrivals, up 19.66% from 465,570 bales a year earlier, while Sindh recorded 1.139 million bales, an increase of 30.95% from 870,062 bales.
Overall, Sindh accounted for roughly two thirds of total national cotton arrivals, with Sanghar emerging as the largest producing district at 757,845 bales. Among other major districts in Sindh, Hyderabad recorded 75,085 bales, Mirpur Khas 39,135 bales, Nawabshah 47,300 bales and Nausharo Feroze 39,400 bales. Khairpur recorded a sharp 139.32% increase to 28,000 bales.
In Punjab, Bahawalpur recorded 64,326 bales, up 161.13% from a year earlier, while Bahawalnagar posted 65,331 bales, an increase of 85.28%. Dera Ghazi Khan recorded 110,102 bales, up 60.93%, according to the PCGA data.
Of the total arrivals, ginners pressed 1.583 million bales, while 73,000 bales were sold to exporters and traders. Textile mills purchased 1.465 million bales, the data showed.
Total unsold stock stood at 158,569 bales as of Aug. 31, comprising 45,112 pressed bales and 113,457 unpressed cotton bales. The unsold stock was down from 200,700 bales recorded a year earlier, indicating stronger offtake despite higher arrivals.
The PCGA said 332 factories were operational across the country as of Aug. 31.
Cotton arrivals during the latest fortnight stood at 582,938 bales, compared with 448,231 bales in the corresponding period last year, reflecting a substantial increase in the flow of the crop to ginning factories.
The latest data indicate that Pakistan’s cotton crop is entering the ginning chain at a considerably faster pace than last year, with Sindh accounting for most of the increase. The PCGA publishes consolidated cotton arrival data based on information collected from ginning factories across Pakistan.