October boosts Pakistan's cotton output but yearly decline persists

According to data released by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), 4.291 million bales have arrived at various ginneries across the country up to October 31 in the current 2024-25 marketing season (August to July). This decline stands in stark contrast to the robust crop seen in the 2023-24 season.

High temperatures during the early months (June and July) damaged crops in Punjab and Sindh, the main cotton-producing provinces in the country. The subsequent heavy and unusual rains caused crop diseases such as whitefly and pink bollworm, resulting in significant losses. However, relatively better weather in October 2024 boosted cotton production.

Cotton arrivals began in July 2024, as they did in the previous year. However, the pace of arrivals was notably slower during the initial months of the current season.

According to the PCGA, a provincial breakdown shows that Sindh recorded cotton arrivals of 2.448 million bales up to October 31, 2024, which is 35.51 per cent lower than the 3.797 million bales reported by October 31, 2023. Meanwhile, Punjab saw arrivals of 1,842,257 bales, compared to 2,996,921 bales as of October 31, 2023, representing a 38.53 per cent decline in the current season.

The country reported total cotton arrivals of 8.396 million bales during the last marketing year (2023-24), which was 70.94 per cent higher than the 4.912 million bales recorded in 2022-23, according to the final data from the PCGA. In the 2022-23 season, Pakistan's cotton production saw a sharp decline due to heavy rains that severely damaged the crop.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (KUL)