Cotton production in Punjab and Sindh has plummeted by 60 percent as of August 31, 2024, placing significant strain on Pakistan’s textile industry, which now faces the challenge of importing lint from international markets.
According to the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), only 1.226 million bales reached ginning factories by the end of August, a stark decrease from the 3.04 million bales produced during the same period last year.
The industry is also grappling with a discrepancy of over 0.3 million bales between the crop figures reported by Punjab’s Crop Reporting Service (CRS) and the PCGA, complicating future procurement strategies. Sindh reported a 61% decrease in production, while Punjab experienced a 58% decline.
Several factors have contributed to this shortfall, including delayed sowing, a prolonged heatwave, heavy August rains, pest infestations, reduced crop acreage, market manipulation, and insufficient government support for research and development.
As the quality and quantity of domestic cotton have been severely affected, textile mills are increasingly turning to imports. Spinners have already secured deals for 1.6 million bales, with further negotiations underway to meet the industry’s needs. This shift to imports underscores the urgent need for strategic planning and support to stabilize the sector and ensure its sustainability.
