Pakistan: recent lower crop estimates maintained

The cotton harvest has continued in a few areas. Growers are keen to pick as much seed cotton as possible from fields but are eager also to plant winter wheat, against which they are guaranteed a high support price from the government.

Despite efforts to obtain maximum seed cotton receipts, pessimism regarding the final output has continued. Most private production estimates remain between 11.00 and 11.50 million bales of local weight.

As harvesting slows with every passing week, seed cotton arrivals to cotton stations continue to slacken. The pace is still sufficient, however, for many ginning factories to operate on a partial basis. Seed cotton balances, particularly better quality lots, are in very tight hands and growers foresee a further increase in prices. The current range is between Rs. 2,900 and Rs. 3,500 per 40 kilos, depending on the quality.

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