As on January 1, 2016, ginneries in Pakistan received 9.279 million bales of cotton, compared to arrival of 13.958 million bales during the corresponding period of last season, according to the data.

In Punjab province, the total cotton arrivals decreased by 44.75 per cent year-on-year to 5.574 million bales, according to the data. In Sindh province, cotton arrivals dropped 4.23 per cent to 3.704 million bales as on January 1 during the ongoing cotton season 2015-16.

Of the total arrival of 9.279 million bales, 8.996 million bales were pressed by ginners, of which 7.626 million bales were sold, leaving an unsold stock of 1.369 million bales with the ginners, as on January 1.

The textile mills in Pakistan consumed 7.271 million bales, while another 344,426 bales of cotton were sold to exporters, according to the data. The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has not procured any bale of cotton so far this season.

As of January 1, a total of 280 ginning factories were operational in Punjab compared to 700 ginneries that were operational during the same time last season. Similarly, 136 ginning units were operational in the Sindh region, compared to 156 operating units during the corresponding period last year.

Last month, the Cotton Crop Assessment Committee (CCAC) revised downward the cotton crop estimate for the ongoing season to 10.85 million bales for the current season against the initial estimates of 15.49 million bales.

In 2014-15 cotton season, Pakistan's cotton output increased by 11.03 per cent to 14.871 million bales, compared to the previous season's production of 13.488 million bales. (RKS)