South African cotton crop up 130%

As far as the local outlook is concerned, the fourth estimate for the 2010/11 production year indicates a total crop of 97,714 lint bales, down 1% from last month’s estimate but 130% up from the previous season and the first increase in local cotton production in seven years.

About 93,714 lint bales are estimated to be produced from RSA grown seed cotton, 144% up from the previous season. The balance of 4,000 lint bales relates to expected Swaziland produced cotton to be ginned by the Swaziland gin.