Along with an unprecedented increase in exports of raw cotton, Pakistani cotton has been able to command one of the highest prices in the international markets, due to its qualities like, fineness, strength, uniformity and maturity.
Beginning from July, Pakistan exported around 860,000 cotton bales till February, 2010, which means a growth of 144 percent, when compared with the same period of last year and was shipped mainly to Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Central Asian republics.
Pakistani cotton was able to command a rate of 87.22 cents per pound, ahead of India at 82 cents per pound and New York Cotton at 82.20 cents, but behind China which fetched rates of 99.52 cents per pound.
Cotton production in the country is expected to touch between 12.6-12.8 million bales in the current season. The highest production was achieved in 2005, when cotton output stood at 14.3 million cotton bales.