Pakistan's cotton arrivals remain steady YoY

January 29, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan's cotton arrivals at factories reached 5.50m bales by January 15, 2026, remaining virtually flat with a negligible YoY change compared to 5.49m bales recorded during the same period last year, according to data from the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), Pakistan Cotton Corporation (PCC), and Arif Habib Limited.

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

Punjab province recorded 2.59m bales as of January 15, down 4% from 2.69m bales in the corresponding period last year.

In contrast, Sindh province posted 2.91m bales, up 4% YoY from 2.80m bales in January 2025, strengthening its position as the leading cotton-producing region.

SOURCE: AHL Research

The current cotton season reveals a persistent gap between projected targets and actual sowing achievements, with Pakistan's total FY26 sowing reaching 2m hectares against a target of 2.26m hectares, representing 88.6% achievement.

Historical data emphasizes the challenging context for this season's performance, with cotton arrivals showing considerable volatility over recent years. Peak arrivals of 11.334m bales were recorded in January 2018, followed by a sharp decline to 8.338m bales by January 2020.

The sector has struggled to regain momentum since then, with arrivals fluctuating between 8.259m bales in January 2024 and the current 5.497m bales, highlighting persistent structural challenges facing Pakistan's cotton sector and its inability to return to historical production levels.

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