U.S. cotton-exporting agencies have requested Pakistani authorities to eliminate the mandatory fumigation requirement for American cotton at Karachi Port—an effort aimed at boosting U.S. cotton exports, which have declined this year due to significantly cheaper Brazilian cotton.
According to informed sources, for decades Pakistan has required imported cotton to be fumigated both in the exporting country and again for 48 hours at Karachi Port to eliminate insects, pests, and pathogens.
However, a few months ago, the relevant federal ministry permitted fumigation to be carried out in either the exporting country or at the Pakistani port—reducing delays and ensuring faster delivery to textile mills.
Sources said two major U.S. cotton-exporting organizations — National Cotton Council and Cotton Council International — have approached Pakistan’s federal ministry through APTMA, urging that the fumigation requirement for U.S. cotton be entirely removed. The goal behind this demand is to increase the share of U.S. cotton in Pakistan’s import market.
Experts have cautioned that Pakistan should avoid accepting this request, warning of potential risks from American pests. Previously, dangerous pests such as the American and pink bollworms in cotton, and the red flour beetle in wheat, entered Pakistan due to insufficient fumigation of imported commodities.
Sources further noted that Pakistan’s cotton industry is already under immense pressure due to heavy taxation, high electricity and gas tariffs, and elevated interest rates, which have sharply increased production costs. As a result, many ginning factories, oil mills, and textile mills are becoming non-operational.
