Overview
- PCGA data show 2,004,384 bales arrived by September 15, up about 40% year on year, with Punjab at 690,254 bales (+28%), Sindh at 1,314,130 (+47%) and Balochistan at 75,100.
- CCRI and PCGA warn recent rains, floods and Cotton Leaf Curl Virus could shave 0.6 to 1.0 million bales off expected output, with severe losses in southern Punjab and about 40% damage in parts of Bahawalnagar.
- National production is feared to hover near 5 million bales, which would require importing more than 6 million bales and would strain foreign exchange and the trade deficit.
- Textile mills have procured 1,652,204 bales to date, with 325,780 bales in stock nationwide and 428 ginning factories currently operational.
- Sindh is outperforming Punjab on yield and quality, while analysts flag paralysed cotton R&D due to unpaid cess and warn of seed availability risks for the next season.