According to a report issued by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) the cotton arrivals have registered an increase of about 24 per cent nationwide with a total of 4.142 million bales having reached the ginning factories across Punjab and Sindh.

The report said till November 01, 2003, a total of 4,142,229 bales of Phutti had reached the ginning factories in the provinces of Sindh and Punjab - 23.57 per cent higher compared to the last year''s 3,352,226 bales.

When analysed, it transpired that due to early maturity of the crop this year, the Punjab has shown an increase of 37.36 per cent with a production of 3,259,531 bales compared to the last year''s 2,372,923 bales.

As for Sindh, the figures show a downward trend with an output of 882,698 bales compared to last year''s 979,303 bales. The loss has been computed at 9.86 per cent.

Textile mill-owners have bought so far 2,822,589 bales and exporters 113,178 bales. The unsold stock amounting to 1,206,462 bales includes un-ginned Phutti weighing 760,745 bales.

A spokesman for the PCGA said that the rate of phutti as on Nov 4, 2003 was recorded at Rs1,450-1,550 per 40 kg while that of lint at Rs3,400-3,500 per maund.