Pakistan’s cotton arrival is badly hit by floods and heavy rains. Industry data shows that the arrival fell 14.04 per cent in August 2022, the first month of marketing year 2022-23. There are indications that the arrival will be lower in the next month too, and the industry estimates that it may face shortage of 40 lakh bales of 170 kg each this season.
According to the first report on the cotton arrival during the new marketing year released by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), the cotton arrival was 15,39,710 bales in August 2022. Last year, the arrival was 17,91,125 bales in the same month. Thus, the arrival during August 2022 was 2,51,415 bales (14.04 per cent) lower than last year.
The state-wise arrival report shows the impact of floods and heavy rains in August and previous months. Cotton arrival in the Sindh province—where floods affected the most—was noted at 8,35,717 bales during August 2022, while 12,45,782 bales of cotton had arrived in the corresponding period of last season. It shows, the arrival sharply declined 4,10,065 bales (32.92 per cent).
On the other hand, cotton arrival was 29.09 per cent higher in Punjab which had witnessed limited impact of floods and rains. Cotton arrival was 7,03,993 bales in August 2022, which was higher than 5,45,343 bales in the same period of last season.
But the overall situation of cotton arrival is very grim in Pakistan because the crop was submerged under many feet of rainwater which stayed not for days but for weeks. Therefore, possibility of survival of the crop is very little. Floods had hit the country when cotton crop was matured and ready for harvesting.