Pak share in world cotton output falls: The News

By By Mansoor Ahmad
LAHORE: Pakistan’s share in world cotton production has dropped by 10 per cent since 2004, making it an importer while India has boosted its cotton output by 25 per cent to become a leading exporter of the commodity.

Data received from the United States Development Agency reveal Pakistan continued to boost its share in world cotton production for three decades, increasing it from 4.8 per cent during 1970-74 to 8.8 per cent in 2000-03. Its growth in cotton crop was much higher than that of India during these three decades as Delhi, which produced 8.5 per cent of global cotton, could enhance its share to only 11.6 per cent.

Agricultural planners in Pakistan then lost the way as after achieving a share of 9.1 per cent in global cotton production the decline started which they could not stop. That took the country’s cotton production share to 8.2 per cent.

Indian agricultural planners, in contrast, gave their country a giant leap and the country now produces 19.6 per cent of the total cotton produced globally. Availability of local cotton has provided the Indian textile industry with a huge price advantage as their share in world exports has increased from 0.6 per cent during 1970-74 to 12.2 per cent now.

Pakistan’s share in global cotton exports has fallen from 2.9 per cent during 1970-74 to merely 0.6 per cent. Even this cotton is exported to keep its rates high in Pakistan.

Pakistan, in fact, remained self-sufficient in cotton till the period from 1985 to 1989 and then cotton imports started increasing and currently 5.8 per cent of world cotton exports are destined for Pakistan.

Cotton imports in India are only 1 per cent of total global cotton trade. India consumed 11 per cent of the cotton produced in the world during 1990-94 against 8 per cent by Pakistan. Currently, cotton use in India accounts for 15 per cent of total global consumption against 10 per cent in Pakistan.

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