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Cotton output lower by 3.68pc
KARACHI: Despite remarkable increase in phutti (seed cotton)
arrival during the last one month the production recorded up
to Feb 1, 2002, still remained lower by 3.68 per cent at 9.011
million bales over the corresponding period of last year's
arrival at 9.356 million bales.
The phutti arrival figures up to Feb 1, released by the
Pakistan Cotton Ginners' Association, showed overall shortfall
of around 0.344 million bales over last year's corresponding
period.
During the last fortnight 0.587 million bales had reached
ginneries (or 0.235 million bales more) as against 0.352
million bales recorded in the same period last year.
The enhanced phutti arrival during the last two fortnights
helped narrow the production shortfall being recorded since
the start of the new season (2001-2002), but could not
altogether remove it. However, it is highly encouraging that
Sindh, which had been recording a shortfall, has started
receiving higher phutti arrival for the last one month. As a
result, phutti arrival up to Feb 1, has risen by 5.51 per cent
over the corresponding period of last year.
According to the PCGA figures, phutti arrival in Sindh during
the period under review has risen to 2.146 million bales
compared to 2.034 million bales of the same period last year.
Nevertheless, phutti arrival into ginneries up to Feb 1, could
not improve in Punjab and remained below last year's arrival
by 6.23 per cent. In total 6.865 million bales have reached
ginneries as against 7.322 million bales recorded in the same
period last year.
There is a sizeable quantity of 1.939 million bales of unsold
stocks with ginners compared to 1.572 million bales recorded
in the same period last year.
The textile mills up to Feb 1, have purchased around 6.932
million bales as against 7.783 million bales they lifted in
the corresponding period last year.
The TCP has procured around 118,301 bales as against 10,900
bales of last year, while private exporters have somewhat
remained outside the market this season and have so far
purchased 21,323 bales only. Last year they purchased 377,320
bales.
Despite a large number of ginning factories are in operation,
a substantial quantity of phutti is still lying in the fields.
In total 924 ginning units are presently processing phutti as
against 589 units operated last year.
In Punjab 811 ginning units are still processing phutti as
against 477 units of last year. Similarly, in Sindh 113 units
are operating as against 112 units operated last year.
courtesy Dawn
February 7, 2002
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Pakissan.com;
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