As far as the local South African outlook is concerned, the eight estimates for the 2009/10 production year, indicates a total crop of 40,222 lint bales.
This is up 4% from last month's estimate but 10% down from the previous season and the smallest crop since the early sixties.
About 36,712 lint bales are estimated to be produced from RSA produced seed cotton, 13% down from the previous season. The balance of 3,510 lint bales relates to Swaziland produced cotton to be ginned by the Swaziland gin.