Punjab province in Pakistan has beaten all previous records and produced 32.35 per cent more cotton than preceding years. However Sindh produced 1.60 per cent less cotton this year.

A total of 763 ginning factories are operational in these two provinces.

Cotton trading has remained firm amid strong physical price and higher cotton prices. Since the textile mills have increased the buying of cotton to meet the demand of the European market after attaining the status of GSP Plus, the rates are stable.

Ginneries received 1,384,533 bales during the fortnight of September 16 to October 1. Unsold stock is 663,966 bales which is more than last year when it reached 587,883 bales. Ginners were expecting better prices for their lint but prices have fallen way beyond their expectations.

The country has also been losing some 10 to 15 per cent of the value of its cotton due to poor quality. Improper picking, adulteration of cotton, missed grades and seed varieties and improper packing, storage and means of transportation are responsible for the poor quality of the fiber.

The option of increasing area under cultivation cannot be exercised because of the lack of irrigation water. The two major cotton growing provinces, Punjab and Sindh, are already at their maximum level.