Cotton costs in Pakistan pushed to an 11-year excessive

Cotton traded at Rs12,000/maund, whereas its spot fee moved as much as Rs11,700/maund, Karachi Cotton Brokers Discussion board Chairperson Naseem Usman was quoted as saying by The Information.

That is the very best worth within the historical past of cotton commerce in Pakistan.

A rise of Rs400 was recorded within the spot fee. Usman cited manufacturing shortfalls as a cause for the worth enhance.

Costs additionally remained larger within the worldwide market. New York Cotton Futures recorded a rise of 10 cents to 94 cents per pound, which was additionally the next degree in a number of years.

Cotton manufacturing in Pakistan has been recorded at 5.6 million bales solely, which was the bottom degree in 30 years, in opposition to mill consumption of round 15 million bales.

Pakistan must import round 8 million bales that may value round $4 billion to the nation when cottonseed, oil and different by-products are included. This is able to add to the nation’s import invoice.

The federal government doesn’t have a concrete technique to extend cotton manufacturing in Pakistan, Usman stated.

Sugarcane and different money crops had changed cotton in a number of cotton rising areas of Sindh and Punjab, as substandard seed and pesticides had compelled farmers to maneuver to different crops.

One stakeholder stated that cotton manufacturing had elevated in 2008-9 as a consequence of cultivation of BT cotton, which was introduced into the nation via casual channels.

BT cotton seed wanted to be improved yearly to supply the most effective outcomes, he stated. Because it was not imported via official methods, the seed misplaced its resistance in opposition to the pest.

Cotton stockpiling in factories was recorded at 5.61 million bales, down 34.29% from 8.54 million bales stocked in the identical interval final yr, stated a report by Pakistan Cotton Ginners Affiliation final week.