The Xinjiang Development and Reform Commission reports that as of December 10, total 2007 crop procurement had reached 1.6123 million tons, which was up 1.92 percent from the previous year. Procurement declined 4.35 percent to 613,300 tons at supply/marketing co-ops and 1.56 percent to 654,700 tons at Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps farms, while soaring 24.89 percent to 344,200 tons at other independent gins and merchants. Of the total cotton procured, 997,400 tons have been classed through 414 gins under the new large-bale HVI classing scheme. Rail shipments have been slow, reaching 658,000 tons, down 50,000 tons from year-ago levels.
