Pakistan’s seed cotton (phutti) arrivals have increased by more than 32% year-on-year, providing an encouraging start to the 2026-27 cotton season and offering hope for the country’s struggling textile industry.
The sharp rise has been driven by strong production in Sindh, although concerns remain over declining cotton acreage in Punjab.
The latest figures are significant because cotton is one of Pakistan’s most important cash crops, supplying raw material to the textile sector—the country’s largest export industry. A stronger cotton crop could reduce reliance on costly imports and support export-led economic growth.
Key Details
According to the latest fortnightly report released by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association, total seed cotton arrivals reached 785,822 bales by July 31, compared with 593,821 bales during the same period last year.
This represents a 32.33% increase in national arrivals.
Key Facts
- Total cotton arrivals: 785,822 bales
- Year-on-year growth: 32.33%
- Last year’s arrivals: 593,821 bales
- Sindh production: 487,672 bales (+66.82%)
- Punjab production: 298,150 bales (-1.1%)
- Balochistan production: 22,900 bales (+52.67%)
- Operational ginning factories: 231
Sindh Drives Production Growth
Sindh remained the main contributor to the increase, with arrivals climbing 66.82% to 487,672 bales.
The report showed that Sanghar district alone produced approximately 398,000 bales, accounting for 82% of Sindh’s output and more than half of Pakistan’s total cotton arrivals.
Agriculture experts attributed the strong performance to earlier sowing and harvesting across Sindh’s coastal belt, where favorable growing conditions helped accelerate crop maturity.
Punjab Faces Fresh Challenges
While Sindh posted strong gains, Punjab recorded a 1.1% decline, with arrivals totaling 298,150 bales.
Ihsanul Haq, Chairman of the Cotton Ginners Forum, highlighted discrepancies between PCGA figures and estimates released by Punjab’s Crop Reporting Service, urging the relevant authorities to clarify the differences.
He also warned that the continued expansion of sugarcane cultivation, particularly in Bahawalpur Division, is reducing land available for cotton farming.
According to Haq, shrinking cotton acreage could increase Pakistan’s dependence on imported cotton and edible oil, placing additional pressure on the country’s import bill.
Cotton Buying Activity
The PCGA report showed that:
- Textile mills purchased 704,000 bales
- Exporters bought 3,400 bales
- 78,044 bales remained unsold at ginning factories
A total of 231 ginning factories were operational nationwide, including:
- 108 in Punjab
- 123 in Sindh
Background
Pakistan’s cotton industry has faced multiple challenges over the past several years, including climate-related losses, pest attacks, rising production costs, and declining cultivation area.
The country’s textile sector has increasingly relied on imported cotton to meet demand, increasing production costs for exporters.
The encouraging early-season figures suggest some improvement, particularly in Sindh, although experts caution that the overall crop outlook remains dependent on weather conditions over the coming months.
What This Means
A stronger domestic cotton crop would benefit Pakistan’s textile industry by improving raw material availability and potentially reducing import dependence.
However, agriculture specialists caution that the crop is still in its early stages. Excessive monsoon rainfall and prolonged humidity during August and September could increase the risk of whitefly, pink bollworm, and other crop diseases, affecting both yields and cotton quality.
Sajid Mahmood, head of the Transfer of Technology Department at the Central Cotton Research Institute, said the current data points to a promising start, but a clearer assessment of the season will emerge over the next two months.
What’s Next
Industry stakeholders will closely monitor crop conditions through August and September, which are considered critical months for cotton development.
Weather patterns, pest pressure, and harvesting progress will determine whether Pakistan can sustain the current production momentum and improve overall cotton output this season.
FAQs
How much has Pakistan’s cotton production increased?
Seed cotton arrivals have risen 32.33% year-on-year, reaching 785,822 bales by July 31.
Which province produced the most cotton?
Sindh led production with 487,672 bales, recording nearly 67% growth over last year.
Why are experts concerned about Punjab’s cotton crop?
Experts say expanding sugarcane cultivation is reducing cotton acreage, which could increase Pakistan’s reliance on imported cotton.
