Pakistan Cotton Exports Up 50% over Last Year

Posted by |20 July 2012

Pakistan exported a record number of 1.5 million cotton bales in July 2011 to June 2012, an amount 50% than the 1 million bales exported in 2011, according to a story published in The Daily Times.

The exports generated more than $425 million in revenue.

China and Southeast Asian countries – including Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Indonesia – were the top purchasers of Pakistani cotton, accounting for about two thirds of the total amount exported. The exported cotton was mostly sold in the 82-92 cents per pound range. India bought around 200,000 bales of light grade, which they are using in blends and exporting the material to Europe.

Of the country’s record production of 15.6 million bales (early projections were set for 14.5 million bales), Punjab was the top producer, generating 11.8 million bales. In spite of reaching an all-time high in 2011/12, the industry hopes that record won’t stand for long, with realistic projections topping 16 million bales for next year.

Source: The Daily Times, edited by Mike McCue, Cotton International Editor