Punjab cotton share falls to 44pc from 70pc

LAHORE: Punjab’s cotton production continues to hit rock bottom, with the province’s share in national output plummeting from the historic 70 per cent to just 44 per cent as growers struggle through historically low prices.

A snapshot of Pakistan Cotton Ginners’ Association (PCGA) data as of November 15, 2025 depicts poor performance of Punjab in the production of silver fibre. According to the consolidated statement on cotton arrivals in factories issued on a fortnightly basis, a significant shift has been witnessed in provincial contributions.

Punjab contributed just 2.167 million bales to the national total of 4.856 million bales, which translates to a 44.64 percent share of the overall output. This figure marks a departure from Punjab’s historical dominance where it traditionally accounted for over 65 per cent of national production. In stark contrast, Sindh emerged as the leading contributor for this period, recording arrivals of 2.688 million bales. The province’s output secured a substantial 55.36 per cent share of the total arrivals.

The data further shows that Balochistan contributed 0.168 million bales of good quality cotton to the national tally, representing approximately 3.46 per cent of the total.

A major point of concern is the vast difference in yield efficiency. It is revealed that cotton is cultivated on an area in Punjab that is approximately double the size of the area used for cotton cultivation in Sindh. Despite this larger land area, Punjab’s output is consistently less than Sindh’s on a per-acre basis. This stark contrast points to underlying agricultural challenges in Punjab, including issues with substandard seed quality, adulterated pesticides, climate change, water shortages and pest attacks.

The breakdown confirms that while Punjab’s share has diminished, and Sindh’s increased efficiency and output have fundamentally altered the landscape of the current cotton season’s production figures. Once the undisputed leader, Punjab’s share of national cotton output has plummeted, ceding ground to Sindh, which is now emerging as the primary producer despite cultivating a smaller area.

Despite low national production, cotton prices failed to increase in the local market, thanks to poor return offered by the ginners to growers. A comparison of recent cotton market data from China, India, and Pakistan reveals a significant disparity in pricing, with Pakistani farmers receiving considerably lower returns for their produce. The data, updated as of November 17, 2025, shows that while global prices are generally stable to slightly declining from the previous year, the price difference for Pakistani cotton remains consistently low.

China reports a current price of 94.32 cents per pound (cents/lb). India’s current price stands at 75 cents/lb. In stark contrast, the domestic price for local farmers stands at just 65.04 cents/lb. This price is the lowest among the three nations compared, falling below both China and India’s current market rates. The price also lags behind Pakistan’s own current month average (65.63 cents/lb) and last year’s figure (78.62 cents/lb). Only Brasilein cotton prices are somewhat comparable to what local farmers get.