Cotton Arrival in Pakistan Rises 9% Amid Flood Concerns

Cotton arrival in Pakistan has recorded a 9% increase as of August 31, 2025, compared to the same period last year, according to data released by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners’ Association (PCGA) on Wednesday. The total cotton arrival stood at 1.336 million bales, up from 1.226 million bales recorded on August 31, 2024, reflecting an increase of 0.11 million bales. While the improvement offers a glimmer of hope for the struggling agricultural sector, experts have raised alarms over the potential impact of recent floods that have inundated vast stretches of fertile land, particularly in Punjab. The floods have caused significant damage to key crops, including rice, sugarcane, maize, vegetables, and cotton, posing a serious threat to the country’s agricultural output. The cotton losses are particularly concerning for Pakistan’s textile industry, which accounts for more than half of the country’s exports. The sector is already grappling with challenges, including a 19% US tariff in its largest export market. Any further disruption in cotton supply could exacerbate the situation, impacting both export revenues and the economy. Ghasharib Shoukat, co-founder of the commodities platform Zarai Mandi, warned that shortages of wheat, vegetables, and cotton could ripple through supply chains, driving up costs for households and hurting export competitiveness. “The floods have created a precarious situation for Pakistan’s agriculture and textile sectors, which are already under pressure,” he said. The PCGA data revealed that both Punjab and Sindh contributed to the overall improvement in cotton arrival. In Punjab, cotton arrival reached 0.466 million bales as of August 31, 2025, compared to 0.453 million bales during the same period last year, marking a modest 3% increase. Sindh, however, showed a more significant improvement, with cotton arrival rising by 13% to 0.870 million bales, up from 0.773 million bales recorded in the same period last year.