LAHORE: The national cotton sector has entered a new phase with the new ginning season beginning in the second week of May for the first time in history. Cotton arrivals have started in Punjab and Sindh, and prices of phutti and lint are witnessing an unusual surge at the very outset of the season.

Four ginning factories in Khanewal and one in Burewala started cotton ginning over the past two days after partial cotton picking began in Sindh’s coastal areas.

Punjab-based ginners started purchasing cotton from those areas where early sowing was carried out in February on a larger scale than in previous years.

One ginning factory each in Sanghar and Tando Adam also started purchasing cotton, and these factories were expected to become fully operational within the next few days.

According to Cotton Ginners Forum chairman Ihsanul Haq, the beginning of the new season has already triggered sharp increases in cotton and lint prices. Advance deals for phutti initially ranged between Rs10,000 and Rs10,500 per 40 kilograms, while advance deals for lint were settled at around Rs21,700 per maund.

However, current reports suggest that phutti deals are now being finalised at up to Rs11,600 per 40 kilograms, while lint prices have climbed to Rs22,500 per maund. Some market sources said lint deals were even being struck at Rs23,000 per maund.

He said reports of lint deals reaching as high as Rs23,500 per maund had further strengthened expectations of a continued bullish trend in cotton and lint prices.

Mr Haq said the early start of the cotton ginning season would help textile mills overcome the problem of limited lint availability as fresh supplies begin reaching the market ahead of schedule.

Traditionally, Pakistan’s cotton ginning season used to start in June. During cotton year 2025-26, the season started in the third week of May, which itself was considered historic.

However, this year the season has begun even earlier, marking the first-ever start in the second week of May.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2026