MULTAN,Dec 18th : Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) has issued the figures of cotton arrival upto Dec 15,2017. Seed cotton (Phutti) equivalent to over 1,06,85,981 bales of cotton have reached ginneries across Pakistan as of December 15th,2017,showing an increase of 5.30 per cent compared to corresponding period last year when ginneries received 1,01,47,941 bales. According to the 7th fortnightly report of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) issued here today,Chairman of PCGA Haji Muhammad Akram,Ex- Chairman Shehzad Ali Khan and Vice Chairman Mian Javed Tariq and Malik Talat Suhail briefed the media men about cotton production and said that out of the total arrivals, 10.68 million bales of cotton have been converted into bales so far. Ginneries in Punjab recorded arrival of 65,49,612 bales against the last year arrival of 64,44,847 bales showing an increase of merely 1.63 per cent. Sindh ginneries recorded arrival of 41,36,369 bales while last year Sindh received 37,03,094 bales 11.70% more . Ginneries in Sindh recorded an increase of 11.70 % as compared to corresponding period last year.Textile mills have bought 88,49,011 bales while exporters bought 2,13,630 bales. The total bales sold out so far were calculated at 90,62,641 bales. While 16,23,340 bales are lying unsold because some ginners are waiting higher prices of cotton.Multan received 2,62,491 bales 9.15 % decrease than last year, Lodhran 1,43,065 bales 21.07 % decrease, Khanewal 6,52,712 bales an increase of 17.08 %, Muzaffargarh 3,20,565 bales an increase of 5.12 %, Dera Ghazi Khan 4,01,457 an increase of 22.80 %, Rajanpur 4,33,873 bales, 31.48 % increase,Layyah 2,76,057 bales 5.86.% increase, Vehari 5,49,734 bales 50.17 % increase, Sahiwal 2,48,994 bales 22.15 % more than last year, Pakpattan 38,259 bales 7.92% decrease, Okara 15,775 bales- 17.35 % short, Toba Tek Singh 1,56,203 bales, 2.85 % increase , Faisalabad 34,749 bales 3.02 % less than last year, Jhang 20,800 showing a decrease of 30.90 %, Mianwali 1,84,169 a decrease of 27.07 % , Bhakkar 80,455 (30.96 % more) Sargodha 7,293 (25.28 % decrease), Rahimyar Khan 9,71,260 bales (10.27 % decrease), Bahawalpur 9,31,773 an increase of 1,81 %,and Bahawalnagar 8,22,228 bales ,a decrease of 19.97 %. In Sindh province: Hyderabad 2,48,125 bales 9.47 % more than last year,Mirpur Khas (Thar) 2,20,257 bales 18.25 % less, Sangarh ,13,73,389 bales 12.43 % increase, Nawabshah 3,44,146 bales (7.5 % increase), Naushero Feroze 3,64,073 bales (10.06% increase), Khairpur 3,28,618 (16.49 % increase) Ghotki 3,61,540 (22.72 % increase),Sukkur 5,70,377 (13.04 % increase), Dadu 62,300-(51.78 % increase, Jamshoro 1,29,909 bales (17.85 % more) ,Badeen 17,335 bales 35.86 % less) and Baluchistan 1,16,300 bales (an increase of 52.45%). Total 960 ginning factories are operational in the country.Of them 666 in Punjab and 294 in Sindh.Total 18,57,827 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 10.13 million cotton bales as the production recorded up to Dec Ist,it is four lakh bales more than last year, which makes the 2017-18 target of 12.6m bales achievable.The last fortnightly reports by the ginners’ body recorded the year-on-year growth in cotton production at 6.32 per cent . The latest report shows the annual increase of 3.62 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,
