> In 2023 South Africa produced 16,045 t of cotton lint, the 39th largest in the world (0.06% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 208%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/south-africa/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Cotton lint](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/)›South AfricaFAOSTAT · 1961–2023

# Cotton lint production in South Africa

In 2023 South Africa produced 16,045 t of cotton lint, the 39th largest in the world (0.06% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 208%. The record was 68,618 t in 1988.
The 2023 figure is imputed by FAO.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/cotton/)[Market prices in South Africa](https://husfarm.com/country/south-africa/)

Production, 202316,045 t
World rank39 of 84
10-year change+208%
Record68,618 t1988

## Cotton lint in South Africa, 1961–2023 (tonnes)

## South Africa compared with the world, 2023

Share of world total0.06%0.02% in 2013
10-year change+208%world +0.2%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 37 | [Togo](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/togo/) | 19,322 | 0.08% |
| 38 | [Zambia](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/zambia/) | 18,400 | 0.07% |
| 39 | **South Africa** | 16,045 | 0.06% |
| 40 | [Guinea](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/guinea/) | 15,959 | 0.06% |
| 41 | [Israel](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/israel/) | 14,040 | 0.06% |

[Full ranking of 84 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/)

### Map of world production of cotton lint

under 0.1%0.1–1%1–5%5–15%15% or moreno data
Share of the world total; South Africa is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.

## By year

| Year | Tonnes | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2023 | 16,045 | +15% |
| 2022 | 13,987 | −8.0% |
| 2021 | 15,202 | −43% |
| 2020 | 26,846 | +12% |
| 2019 | 24,000 | −17% |
| 2018 | 28,799 | +86% |
| 2017 | 15,520 | +54% |
| 2016 | 10,091 | −46% |
| 2015 | 18,784 | +115% |
| 2014 | 8,741 | +68% |
| 2013 | 5,205 | −57% |
| 2012 | 12,064 | −30% |
| 2011 | 17,149 | +123% |
| 2010 | 7,694 | −8.9% |
| 2009 | 8,450 | −14% |
| 2008 | 9,820 | −9.3% |
| 2007 | 10,830 | −25% |
| 2006 | 14,483 | −16% |
| 2005 | 17,150 | −39% |
| 2004 | 28,021 | +71% |
| 2003 | 16,348 | −10% |
| 2002 | 18,166 | −49% |
| 2001 | 35,903 | +32% |
| 2000 | 27,133 | −39% |
| 1999 | 44,341 | +22% |
| 1998 | 36,422 | +44% |
| 1997 | 25,348 | −36% |
| 1996 | 39,682 | +78% |
| 1995 | 22,288 | −6.0% |
| 1994 | 23,708 | +113% |
| 1993 | 11,122 | −40% |
| 1992 | 18,489 | −55% |
| 1991 | 40,641 | −22% |
| 1990 | 52,318 | −20% |
| 1989 | 65,731 | −4.2% |
| 1988 | 68,618 | +34% |
| 1987 | 51,293 | +26% |
| 1986 | 40,638 | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 40,388 | +36% |
| 1984 | 29,594 | +22% |
| 1983 | 24,294 | −26% |
| 1982 | 32,973 | −36% |
| 1981 | 51,279 | −13% |
| 1980 | 58,798 | +16% |
| 1979 | 50,626 | +10% |
| 1978 | 45,816 | +47% |
| 1977 | 31,179 | +136% |
| 1976 | 13,236 | −63% |
| 1975 | 36,199 | +3.2% |
| 1974 | 35,082 | +132% |
| 1973 | 15,141 | +16% |
| 1972 | 13,100 | −0.3% |
| 1971 | 13,133 | −13% |
| 1970 | 15,167 | −30% |
| 1969 | 21,681 | +54% |
| 1968 | 14,076 | +23% |
| 1967 | 11,467 | −23% |
| 1966 | 14,969 | −20% |
| 1965 | 18,824 | +66% |
| 1964 | 11,340 | −17% |
| 1963 | 13,608 | +85% |
| 1962 | 7,371 | +41% |
| 1961 | 5,216 | — |

## Trade, 2024

Exports11,139 t USD 18.4 m
Exporter rank27 of 105
Imports463 t USD 920,000
Importer rank61 of 148
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. [World exporters and importers](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/)

## Questions and answers

### What is the production of cotton lint in South Africa?

South Africa produced 16,045 t in 2023, 0.06% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of cotton lint?

South Africa ranked 39th of 84 countries in 2023. The largest producer was China with 22.7% of the world total.

### How has the production of cotton lint in South Africa changed?

It rose by 208% between 2013 and 2023, compared with +0.2% for the world. The record was 68,618 t in 1988.

### Does South Africa export or import cotton lint, ginned?

In 2024 South Africa reported exports of 11,139 t (USD 18.4 m) and imports of 463 t (USD 920,000), according to FAOSTAT trade data.

### Where does this data come from?

From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2023 figure for South Africa is imputed by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.

## Other large producers

[China](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/china/)[India](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/india/)[Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/brazil/)[United States](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/united-states/)[Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/pakistan/)[Australia](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/australia/)[Uzbekistan](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/uzbekistan/)[Turkey](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/turkey/)[Kazakhstan](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/kazakhstan/)[Greece](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/greece/)[Argentina](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/argentina/)[Mali](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/mali/)
[All countries producing cotton lint](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/)

## Other products of South Africa

[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/south-africa/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/south-africa/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/south-africa/)[Beer](https://husfarm.com/production/beer/south-africa/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/south-africa/)[Raw sugar](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/south-africa/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/south-africa/)[Chicken meat](https://husfarm.com/production/chicken-meat/south-africa/)[Grapes](https://husfarm.com/production/grapes/south-africa/)[Soybeans](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/south-africa/)[Oranges](https://husfarm.com/production/oranges/south-africa/)[Apples](https://husfarm.com/production/apples/south-africa/)
[Agricultural production in South Africa](https://husfarm.com/production/country/south-africa/)

Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. [fao.org/faostat](https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL). Licence: [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.

---
Husfarm: https://husfarm.com/ · Site guide for agents: https://husfarm.com/llms.txt