MULTAN,Jan 3rd : Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) has issued the figures of cotton arrival upto Dec 31st,2017. Seed cotton (Phutti) equivalent to over 1,11,08,719 bales of cotton have reached ginneries across Pakistan as of December 31s,2017,showing an increase of 7.16 per cent compared to corresponding period last year when ginneries received 1,03,66,703 bales. According to the 8th fortnightly report of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) issued here today,Chairman of PCGA Haji Muhammad Akram,Ex- Chairman Shehzad Ali Khan former Vice Chairmen Rao Sadaruddin,Sheikh Aasim Saeed and Malik Talat Suhail briefed the media men about cotton production and said that out of the total arrivals, 11.10 million bales of cotton have been converted into bales so far. Ginneries in Punjab recorded arrival of 68,95,457 bales against the last year arrival of 66,17,646 bales showing an increase of merely 4.20 per cent. Sindh ginneries recorded arrival of 42,13,262 bales while last year Sindh received 37,49,,057 bales 12.38% more . Ginneries in Sindh recorded an increase of 12.38 % as compared to corresponding period last year.Textile mills have bought 95,58,190 bales while exporters bought 2,14,710 bales. The total bales sold out so far were calculated at 97,72,900 bales. While 13,35,819 bales are lying unsold because some ginners are waiting for higher prices of cotton in Market.Multan received 2,75,308 bales 5.16 % decrease than last year, Lodhran 1,55,238 bales 16.43 % decrease, Khanewal 6,77,867 bales an increase of 19.16 %, Muzaffargarh 3,37,733 bales an increase of 5.12 %, Dera Ghazi Khan 4,21,475 an increase of 26.83 %, Rajanpur 4,44,079 bales, 34 % increase,Layyah 2,88,895 bales 5.86.% increase, Vehari 5,69,117 bales 52.38 % increase, Sahiwal 2,64,329 bales 27.38 % more than last year, Pakpattan 39,050 bales 6.52 % decrease, Okara 15,775 bales- 17.35 % short, Toba Tek Singh 1,69,466 bales, 9.22 % increase , Faisalabad 36,549 bales 0.33 % less than last year, Jhang 21,123 showing a decrease of 29.83 %, Mianwali 1,94,577 a decrease of 24.94 % , Bhakkar 83,755 (35.88 % more) Sargodha 7,293 (25.94 % decrease), Rahimyar Khan 10,28,840 bales (7.38 % decrease), Bahawalpur 9,74,773 an increase of 3.90 %,and Bahawalnagar 8,90,215 bales ,a decrease of 17.96 %. In Sindh province: Hyderabad 2,51,134 bales 10.64 % more than last year,Mirpur Khas (Thar) 2,20,717 bales 18.20 % less, Sangarh ,13,80,106 bales 12.56 % increase, Nawabshah 3,45,318 bales (5.92 % increase), Naushero Feroze 3,69,253 bales (9.92% increase), Khairpur 3,33,729 (16.49 % increase) Ghotki 3,80,938 (28.29 % increase),Sukkur 6, 02,205,(16.31 % increase), Dadu 65,918 -(54.77 % increase), Jamshoro 1,29,909 bales (17.85 % more) ,Badeen 17,335 bales 35.86 % less) and Baluchistan 1,16,700 bales (an increase of 52.45%). Total 609 ginning factories are operational in the country.Of them 446 in Punjab and 163 in Sindh.Total 13,35,819 bales are lying in unsold stock.They told that the data was collected with joint cooperation of PCGA, APTMA and KCA. Haji Akram said that the country has so far produced 11.10 million cotton bales as the production recorded up to Dec 31st ,it is 7 lakh,42 thousand bales more than last year, which makes the 2017-18 target of 12.6 m bales achievable.The last fortnightly reports by the ginners’ body recorded the year-on-year growth in cotton production at 5.06 per cent . The latest report shows the annual increase of 7.16 pc only.This raises questions about the size of the crop. The early maturity of cotton plants due to excessive heat in Punjab may possibly have increased phutti (seed cotton) arrivals for a short period, directly impacting the production of cotton.Reports about poor cotton quality are already doing the rounds. Cotton bolls opened up earlier than usual due to the heat wave, thereby adversely impacting the growth and quality of lint,
