Pakistan’s cotton arrivals surge 27pc to 1.7m bales

Lahore: Pakistan’s cotton arrivals increased by 27% year-on-year to 1,696,451 bales by August 31, according to data released by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association. Arrivals stood at 1,335,632 bales during the corresponding period last year. Sindh led the recovery with 1,139,374 bales, reflecting a 31% increase, while Punjab recorded 557,097 bales, nearly 20% higher than last year. Industry officials attributed the improvement to dry weather, lower night-time temperatures and favourable winds, which supported per-acre yields and reduced moisture and trash content. Textile mills reportedly purchased a record 975,000 bales, while exporters acquired 70,600 bales. However, industry representatives warned that mixing cotton waste with pure cotton could damage lint quality and Pakistan’s market reputation. Dawn