Seed cotton (Phutti) equivalent to 9.475 million tonnes or 9,475,729 bales have reached ginneries across Pakistan as of January 15 registering a shortfall of 33.51 per cent compared to the corresponding period of last year.
According to a fortnightly report of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) issued on Monday, out of total arrivals, Phutti equivalent to 9,313,086 tonnes or 9.31 million bales has undergone the ginning process.
The arrival at Punjab ginneries was recorded at over 5.74 million tonnes or 5,742,486 bales recording a percentage decrease of 44.46 per cent compared to corresponding period of last year.
Arrivals at ginneries in Sindh were recorded at 3.73 million tonnes or 3,733,243 bales showing a decrease of 4.54 per cent.
Textile Mills have purchased 7.6 million tonnes or 7,679,236 bales while exporters have bought 357,878 bales. Total sold out bales were calculated at 8.037 million tonnes or 8,037,114 bales.
As many as 1,438,615 bales are still lying with the ginneries as unsold stock, the report said.
The statistics show that all the 21 cotton producing districts of Punjab and seven from Sindh suffered reduction in production.
In Punjab districts, cottion production showed reduction from 24.51 to 73.66 per cent and in Sindh, it remained between 0.09 to 42.15 per cent.
The districts in Sindh where cotton shortfall was observed included Hyderabad, Mirpur Khas, Sanghar, Dadu, Nawab Shah, Badin and Jamshoro. Remaining four districts of Sindh including Naushero Feroze, Khairpur, Ghotki, and Sukkur showed increase in production from 6.09 to 43.67 per cent.
Despite overall production downfall and registering lower production by 10.62 per cent, the district Sanghar maintained its top position as over 1.33 million tonnes or 1,333,692 bales have reached ginneries in the district as of Jan 15.
Rahimyar Khan district of Punjab stood second by recording arrival of over one million bales.