Certification of Chief Executive Officer                           Exhibit 32(a)
EastGroup Properties, Inc.

In  connection  with the  quarterly  report of EastGroup  Properties,  Inc. (the
"Company")  on Form 10-Q for the period  ended  March 31, 2004 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"),  I, David
H. Hoster II, Chief Executive  Officer of the Company,  certify,  pursuant to 18
U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that,
to my knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The  information  contained in the Report fairly  presents,  in all material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.


                                 /s/ DAVID H. HOSTER II
                                 -------------------------
                                 David H. Hoster II
                                 Chief Executive Officer
                                 May 6, 2004

A signed  original of this  written  statement  required by Section 906 has been
provided  to  EastGroup  Properties,  Inc.  and will be  retained  by  EastGroup
Properties,  Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its
staff upon request.