Fortnightly cotton output falls 37.6pc

LAHORE: As many as 4.648 million cotton bales reached ginning factories across the country between November 16 and December 1, as compared to 7.448 million bales that reached the industries during the same period last year.

According to figures shared by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners’ Association (PCGA), a shortfall of 2.799 million cotton bales was recorded during the period under review, which was equivalent to a decrease of 37.59pc.

In Punjab, 2.634 million bales had reached ginning factories as of December 1, which was 36.38pc less than last year’s 4.141 million bales.

Similarly, during the period under review, as many as 2.014 million bales reached ginning factories of Sindh against 3.364 million bales last year, registering a decline of 39.10pc.

A total of 4.290 million knots of cotton reached factories across the country as of Dec 1, PCGA data showed.

Out of 4.290 million cotton knots, the textile sector purchased 3.794 million, while exporters bought 0.045 million.

It was further revealed that around 302 ginning factories remained operational in Punjab during the period under review, producing 2.418 million cotton knots, whereas 0.893 million cotton knots are still lying with ginners as unsold stock.

District-wise Breakup 

As of Dec 1, ginners belonging to Multan district received 0.049 million cotton bales. Similarly, Lodhran received 0.027 million bales, Khanewal 0.291 million bales, Muzaffargarh 0.076 million, Dera Ghazi Khan 0.245 million, Rajanpur 0.077 million, Layyah 0.081 million, Vehari 0.1603 million, Sahiwal 0.147 million, Rahim Yar Khan 0.544 million, Bahawalpur 0.320 million and Bahawalnagar 0.670 million. 

In Sindh, Sanghar ginners received 0.776 million bales, Mirpur Khas 0.029 million, Nawab Shah 0.06 million, Noshero Feroze 0.181 million, Khairpur 0.198 million, Sukkur 0.326 million, Jamshoro 0.048 million and Hyderabad 0.147 million bales.