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Pakistan cotton arrivals ease as early-season momentum fades

07 Jan '26
2 min read
Pakistan cotton arrivals ease as early-season momentum fades
Pic: Shutterstock.com

Insights

  • Pakistan's cotton arrivals edged down 0.33 per cent year on year to 54.34 lakh bales as of December 31, after strong early-season inflows slowed from October.
  • Early harvesting had driven a sharp September surge, but staggered picking, weather issues and pest pressure later curbed momentum.
  • Punjab arrivals declined, while Sindh improved on better field management.
Pakistan’s cotton arrivals eased 0.33 per cent year on year (YoY) to 54.34 lakh bales (170 kg each) as of December 31, 2025, compared with 54.52 lakh bales in the same period last year. The moderation followed a steep rise in arrivals during the initial months of the current marketing season, when early harvesting and faster deliveries boosted supply.

The strong arrival momentum seen earlier in the season slowed by the end of October. By contrast, arrivals had surged nearly 49 per cent YoY by the end of September 2025, reflecting accelerated picking and market deliveries at the start of the season. The subsequent slowdown points to staggered harvesting, lower late-season yields in some regions, and logistical constraints.

According to data released by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), of the 48.84 lakh bales sold by the end of December, the textile industry purchased 47.08 lakh bales, while exporters accounted for 1.76 lakh bales, highlighting strong domestic mill demand amid tight raw material availability.

Punjab reported arrivals of 25.40 lakh bales in the first six months of the current season, down 4.44 per cent from the same period in 2024, mainly due to reduced acreage, pest pressure, and uneven weather conditions. In contrast, arrivals in Sindh rose 3.58 per cent year on year to 28.93 lakh bales, supported by timely agronomic interventions, better water availability, and more efficient picking cycles.

Total cotton production in Pakistan during the 2024–25 marketing year stood at 5.524 million bales, down sharply by 34.18 per cent from 8.303 million bales in 2023–24, according to PCGA figures. The previous season’s output had rebounded from a low base after production fell to 4.912 million bales in 2022–23 due to widespread flooding, heat stress, and severe pest infestations.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (KUL)

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