In an unexpected turn of events, cotton arrivals in Pakistan increased by 9% year-on-year as of August 31, despite extensive flooding that has severely impacted major farming areas, based on data published Wednesday by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA).
Cotton arrivals totaled 1.336 million bales by the close of August, an increase from 1.226 million bales in the corresponding period last year. The rise is linked to more robust inflows from the provinces of Punjab and Sindh.
In Punjab, cotton arrivals increased by 3% to 466,000 bales, up from 453,000 bales in 2024. Sindh experienced a significant increase of 13%, with arrivals reaching 870,000 bales compared to 773,000 bales the previous year.
Although the figures are promising, specialists caution that the improvements might not last. Intense monsoon flooding has caused devastation in critical agricultural areas, especially in central and southern Punjab, harming extensive amounts of arable land and wiping out significant crops such as rice, sugarcane, maize, vegetables, and cotton.
“The increase in cotton arrivals significant, but it probably won’t last,” stated an agricultural expert. “Initial evaluations indicate that cotton production might still be 35% below its yearly goal because of losses caused by floods.”
The unpredictable prospects of the cotton harvest represent a major threat to Pakistan’s textile sector, contributing over 50% to the nation’s overall exports. The sector is currently facing external obstacles, such as a 19% tariff on Pakistani textile exports imposed by the U.S., which experts believe may exacerbate supply chain issues and negatively impact export earnings.
The floods have destroyed roughly 60% of Punjab’s rice production and 30% of its sugarcane, intensifying worries
about food security and economic recovery in the upcoming months.
