Pakistan cotton arrivals remain steady in Dec 2025

January 13, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan's cotton arrivals at factories reached 5.43 million bales by December 31, 2025, marked a 0.33% year-on-year decline compared to 5.45m bales recorded during the same period last year, according to data from the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) and  Pakistan Cotton Corporation (PCC).

The latest figures reveal contrasting regional performance, with Sindh province demonstrating robust growth while Punjab experienced a significant contraction, showing divergent agricultural outcomes across the country's primary cotton-producing regions.

Punjab province recorded 2.54m bales as of December 31, down 4.44% from 2.66m bales in the corresponding period last year, highlighting continued challenges in the region's cotton sector.

In contrast, Sindh province posted 2.89m bales, up 3.58% year-on-year from 2.79m bales in December 2024, maintaining its position as the country's leading cotton-producing region and offsetting some of Punjab's decline.

SOURCE: PCGA (figures in thousand bales)

Historical data emphasizes the challenging context for this season's performance, with cotton arrivals showing considerable volatility over recent years.

Peak arrivals of 8.17m bales were recorded in December 2023, highlighting the significant gap between historical performance and current output levels.

The sector continues to struggle with persistent structural challenges including water shortages, pest attacks, competition from alternative crops, and inadequate support prices, all of which have contributed to the ongoing decline in Pakistan's cotton production capacity.

Copyright Mettis Link News