Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) has demanded the federal government to impose ban on the import of raw-cotton when the cotton season has begun in Pakistan.If the cotton import was not stopped immediately then farmers as well as ginners would face severe setback, it noted.
It may be noted that Raw cotton imports during August 2007 recorded a substantial increase of 101.25 per cent in terms of value and 101.96 per cent in quantity as compared to the same period of last year. Latest import figures showed that the spinning mills and commercial importers brought in 49,912 tonnes of raw cotton worth $75.256 million on fears of low production and high prices of local cotton.
In August 2006, the spinning mills had imported 26,962 tonnes of raw cotton worth $37.295 million. However, as compared to July 2007 imports of raw cotton posted a decline of 14.84 per cent in quantity and 14.06 per cent in value. In July, the importers secured deals for 58,611 tonnes from the international market by paying $87.338 million.
During July-August 2007, the spinners and commercial importers imported around 108,523 tonnes of raw cotton worth $162.394 million as compared to imports of 50,179 tonnes valued at $76.702 million last year, registering a 35.81 per cent increase in quantity and 35.40 per cent in value.
On the other hand, during July-August 2007 total textile group imports including synthetic fibre, raw cotton, synthetic and artificial silk yarn, worn clothing and other textile items stood around $306.227 million as compared to $226.171 million in the same period the previous year.
This showed that overall imports of the textile group increased by 35.40 per cent in value and 35.81 per cent in quantity. In July-August 2007,around 18,486 tonnes of synthetic fibre worth $35.926 million was brought into the country compared to imports of 26,211 tonnes valued at $45.837 million during the same period of 2006.
In addition, a significant decline of 21.62 per cent in value and 21.39 per cent in quantity was recorded in the import of synthetic and artificial silk yarn during the period under review.
The imports of worn clothing increased by 13.14 per cent in terms of value and 13.72 per cent in terms of quantity during July-August 2007. The country imported around 28,012 tonnes of worn clothes valuing $10.007 million against imports of $8.845 million during the same period last year.