Related Keywords: cotton imports to remain near record-high levels, crop failure, import requirement rising, local consumption rising, Pakistan, production stagnant, supply crunch in Pakistan, trim area under the cotton crop, worlds fourth-biggest producer
As erratic weather forces farmers in Pakistan, the world's fourth-biggest producer to trim area under the cotton crop, cotton imports are expected to remain near record-high levels in the year to July 2017, industry officials said. A supply crunch in Pakistan, at a time when back-to-back droughts have taken a toll on output at top producer India, could boost global cotton prices from their current near 11-month highs. The two countries have already taken turns this year to buy from each other to fill shortages at home.
