Pakistan's cotton crisis deepens as imports from US, Brazil surge: Report
New Delhi, July 23
Pakistan has ordered around 2,06,000 bales of cotton from the United States and is stepping up purchases from Brazil as domestic output falls, a new report has said, highlighting a growing dependence on imports ahead of the local harvest.
The report from Bangladesh-based Daily Sun said Pakistan's cotton and textile industry has moved "from decline to dependence".
The import dependency increased after a sharp decline in production, with recent estimates placing output at roughly 5 million bales, well below levels that once made Pakistan self‑sufficient.
Shrinking cultivation area, poor seed quality, climate stress, pest pressure and farmers prioritising crops such as sugarcane, maize and rice led to the sharp fall in cotton production.
Textile manufacturers, who relied on domestic cotton for much of their raw material needs, have started replacing it with imported lint and consequently urged the government for tax relief.
"Producers have pressed for tax relief, lower energy tariffs and reduced levies, arguing that the sector cannot absorb the cost of import dependence and weak domestic output at the same time," the report said.
The report highlighted the scale and timing of imports, saying Pakistan's huge bale import from the United States was almost the entire quantity sold in the country within a week and that too before the local harvest.
"That is not a normal seasonal adjustment; it is evidence that the country's cotton supply chain is now structurally tied to foreign markets," the media house said.
It warned that growing dependence on cotton imports risks widening the current account deficit and undermining the competitiveness of Pakistan's export‑oriented textile industry.
"As the cotton area contracts, mills lose domestic supply, imports increase, and the foreign exchange burden rises - a cycle that now defines the sector," the report noted, blaming poor seed regulation, uneven institutional support, weak extension services and inconsistent pricing signals for the fall in domestic production.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is a classic case of poor agricultural planning. Farmers shifting to sugarcane and maize because they get better returns - the government should have seen this coming. Now their textile mills are at the mercy of foreign suppliers. Reminds me of our own pulse imports situation. Let's hope we learn from their mistakes.
As someone who works in global trade, I can tell you this pattern is worrying for the entire region. When a major textile exporter like Pakistan becomes dependent on imports, it affects global cotton prices and supply chains. India might actually benefit short-term as an alternative sourcing destination for textile buyers.
Yaar, this is sad to see. Cotton farming is in our DNA in this region - both India and Pakistan have centuries of experience. But poor seed quality and climate stress are hitting everyone. We in Punjab and Gujarat also face these issues but at least our government provides better support. Pakistan needs to fix its extension services urgently. 🌾
This is what happens when you don't invest in agricultural R&D. Pakistan's cotton seed technology is decades behind India's Bt cotton revolution. Their farmers are stuck with low-yield varieties while ours are producing 25-30 million bales annually. They need to wake up and modernize.
Must say, this report from Bangladesh's Daily Sun is quite detailed. It highlights how poor policy decisions can cripple an entire industry. Pakistan's textile sector employs millions - this import dependence will hit them hard. On the bright side, this could be an opportunity for Indian cotton exporters if we maintain quality and competitive pricing. 🇮🇳
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