As far as the local South African outlook is concerned, the fifth estimate for the 2009/10 production year indicates a total crop of 39,252 lint bales, 13% down from the previous season and the smallest crop since the early sixties.
About 35,742 lint bales are estimated to be produced from RSA produced seed cotton, 15% down from the previous season. The balance of 3,510 lint bales relates to Swaziland produced cotton to be ginned by the Swaziland gin.