> In 2024 South Africa produced 48,712 t of seed cotton, the 37th largest in the world (0.07% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 106%.

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

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Seed cotton](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/)›South AfricaFAOSTAT · 1961–2024

# Seed cotton production in South Africa

In 2024 South Africa produced 48,712 t of seed cotton, the 37th largest in the world (0.07% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 106%. The record was 196,051 t in 1988. Area harvested: 18,385 ha, yield 2.6 t/ha.

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

Production, 202448,712 t
World rank37 of 83
10-year change+106%
Record196,051 t1988

## Seed cotton in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)

## South Africa compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.07%0.03% in 2014
Yield, t/ha2.6world 2.4 (+12%)
kg per person0.76world 8.92
10-year change+106%world −4.3%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 35 | [Central African Republic](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/central-african-republic/) | 51,117 | 0.07% |
| 36 | [Spain](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/spain/) | 49,099 | 0.07% |
| 37 | **South Africa** | 48,712 | 0.07% |
| 38 | [Kyrgyzstan](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/kyrgyzstan/) | 46,338 | 0.06% |
| 39 | [Guinea](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/guinea/) | 44,808 | 0.06% |

[Full ranking of 83 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/)

### Map of world production of seed cotton

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 | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 48,712 | +13% | 18,385 | 2.65 |
| 2023 | 43,265 | +4.4% | 17,664 | 2.45 |
| 2022 | 41,437 | +0.9% | 18,018 | 2.30 |
| 2021 | 41,086 | −43% | 16,313 | 2.52 |
| 2020 | 72,557 | −44% | 27,675 | 2.62 |
| 2019 | 128,770 | +27% | 43,000 | 2.99 |
| 2018 | 101,741 | +143% | 37,000 | 2.75 |
| 2017 | 41,945 | +54% | 17,841 | 2.35 |
| 2016 | 27,274 | −46% | 7,039 | 3.87 |
| 2015 | 50,769 | +115% | 15,428 | 3.29 |
| 2014 | 23,635 | +68% | 7,458 | 3.17 |
| 2013 | 14,069 | −57% | 6,827 | 2.06 |
| 2012 | 32,605 | −30% | 9,397 | 3.47 |
| 2011 | 46,349 | +123% | 13,145 | 3.53 |
| 2010 | 20,795 | −8.5% | 5,111 | 4.07 |
| 2009 | 22,716 | −14% | 6,814 | 3.33 |
| 2008 | 26,476 | −9.5% | 9,221 | 2.87 |
| 2007 | 29,270 | −25% | 10,563 | 2.77 |
| 2006 | 39,239 | −27% | 18,114 | 2.17 |
| 2005 | 54,110 | −25% | 21,763 | 2.49 |
| 2004 | 71,701 | +74% | 35,719 | 2.01 |
| 2003 | 41,127 | −12% | 22,574 | 1.82 |
| 2002 | 46,984 | −49% | 38,688 | 1.21 |
| 2001 | 91,603 | +32% | 56,692 | 1.62 |
| 2000 | 69,614 | −46% | 51,000 | 1.36 |
| 1999 | 128,360 | +30% | 99,000 | 1.30 |
| 1998 | 98,591 | +40% | 90,000 | 1.10 |
| 1997 | 70,629 | −38% | 83,000 | 0.85 |
| 1996 | 113,377 | +79% | 90,000 | 1.26 |
| 1995 | 63,451 | −6.3% | 54,000 | 1.18 |
| 1994 | 67,737 | +124% | 67,052 | 1.01 |
| 1993 | 30,186 | −40% | 35,000 | 0.86 |
| 1992 | 50,545 | −54% | 48,000 | 1.05 |
| 1991 | 110,749 | −26% | 91,000 | 1.22 |
| 1990 | 149,480 | −20% | 123,000 | 1.22 |
| 1989 | 187,803 | −4.2% | 174,000 | 1.08 |
| 1988 | 196,051 | +34% | 182,000 | 1.08 |
| 1987 | 146,551 | +26% | 160,000 | 0.92 |
| 1986 | 116,109 | +0.6% | 126,000 | 0.92 |
| 1985 | 115,394 | +36% | 107,000 | 1.08 |
| 1984 | 84,554 | +22% | 99,000 | 0.85 |
| 1983 | 69,411 | −26% | 105,000 | 0.66 |
| 1982 | 94,209 | −36% | 107,000 | 0.88 |
| 1981 | 146,511 | −13% | 115,000 | 1.27 |
| 1980 | 167,994 | +16% | 120,000 | 1.40 |
| 1979 | 144,646 | +10% | 100,000 | 1.45 |
| 1978 | 130,903 | +47% | 81,000 | 1.62 |
| 1977 | 89,083 | +136% | 63,000 | 1.41 |
| 1976 | 37,817 | −63% | 26,000 | 1.45 |
| 1975 | 103,423 | +3.2% | 46,000 | 2.25 |
| 1974 | 100,234 | +132% | 87,000 | 1.15 |
| 1973 | 43,260 | +16% | 81,000 | 0.53 |
| 1972 | 37,429 | −0.5% | 81,000 | 0.46 |
| 1971 | 37,623 | −13% | 24,000 | 1.57 |
| 1970 | 43,306 | −30% | 81,000 | 0.53 |
| 1969 | 61,946 | +54% | 81,000 | 0.76 |
| 1968 | 40,217 | +23% | 71,000 | 0.57 |
| 1967 | 32,763 | −27% | 71,000 | 0.46 |
| 1966 | 44,907 | −20% | 71,000 | 0.63 |
| 1965 | 56,472 | +66% | 42,000 | 1.34 |
| 1964 | 34,020 | −17% | 51,000 | 0.67 |
| 1963 | 40,824 | +85% | 32,000 | 1.28 |
| 1962 | 22,113 | +41% | 20,000 | 1.11 |
| 1961 | 15,648 | — | 15,000 | 1.04 |

## Questions and answers

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

South Africa produced 48,712 t in 2024, 0.07% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

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

South Africa ranked 37th of 83 countries in 2024. The largest producer was China with 25.7% of the world total.

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

It rose by 106% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −4.3% for the world. The record was 196,051 t in 1988.

### What is the yield of seed cotton in South Africa?

2.6 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (48,712 t from 18,385 ha), against a world average of 2.4 t/ha.

### Where does this data come from?

From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.

## Other large producers

[China](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/china/)[India](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/india/)[United States](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/united-states/)[Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/brazil/)[Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/pakistan/)[Uzbekistan](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/uzbekistan/)[Australia](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/australia/)[Turkey](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/turkey/)[Argentina](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/argentina/)[Burkina Faso](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/burkina-faso/)[Mali](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/mali/)[Benin](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/benin/)
[All countries producing seed cotton](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/)

## 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