Sindh Takes Lead in Cotton Arrivals as Punjab Records Decline

KARACHI: Sindh has taken the lead as Pakistan’s largest cotton supplier this season. It captured more than 51% of all arrivals at ginning factories, according to fresh data from the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA).

National Arrivals Show Slight Decline

PCGA reported national cotton arrivals at 5.133 million bales as of November 30. This marks a small 1.1% drop from last year’s 5.19 million bales. The decline mainly reflects Punjab’s falling output, which has continued its downward trend.

Sindh Strengthens Its Position

Sindh boosted national supply with 2.610 million bales, up from 2.575 million bales last year. As a result, Sindh’s share rose to 50.85%, crossing the majority mark for the season.

Districts like Sanghar led the surge with 1.23 million bales. Sukkur and Khairpur followed with strong contributions.

Punjab Continues to Lose Ground

Punjab’s arrivals dropped to 2.349 million bales from last year’s 2.459 million bales. Its share slipped to 45.76%.

Officials said the drop looks even more significant given Punjab’s larger cultivation area. The sharpest slowdowns appeared in Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, and Bahawalnagar.

Balochistan Shows Mild Improvement

Balochistan also performed better. It reached 173,790 bales compared to last year’s 155,800 bales. Although its share remains small, the improvement adds stability to the national cotton supply.

Why the Cotton Landscape Is Shifting

The shift in provincial output signals a broader change in Pakistan’s cotton sector. Sindh and Balochistan have helped cushion the impact of Punjab’s decline.

Experts link Punjab’s lower production to weather disruptions, pest issues, and reduced yield per acre.

Industry Faces Tightening Supply

Industry players now expect tighter stocks, especially because the Trading Corporation of Pakistan has not intervened. With lint prices under pressure and arrivals falling, textile mills may need to consider timely cotton imports to meet demand.

Growers and ginners have been advised to prepare for continued market fluctuations as the season moves forward.