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ABACA

Abaca tree

A baca fiber , known worldwide as Manila hemp, is obtained from the leafsheath of the abaca, Musa textilis Nee and is considered as the strongest among natural fibers. The length of the fiber varies from three to nine feet or more, depending on the height of the plant and the age of the leafsheath. The color of the fiber ranges from ivory white to light and dark brown.
The Abaca plant is indigenous to the Philippines whose warm, wet climate and volcanic soils are particularly suited to its cultivation. It is similar to banana in appearance except that the leaves are upright, pointed, narrower and more tapering. When Magellan and his companions arrived in Cebu in 1521, they noted that the natives were wearing clothes made from the fiber of the abaca plant, noting further that the weaving of the fiber was already widespread in the island.

USES/APPLICATIONS
Abaca is processed into cordage, pulp and specialty paper and fibercrafts including handwoven fabric. Below is a summary table on the uses of abaca:
Cordage, ropes and twines Pulp and specialty paper (S2 Grade-electrolytic condenser paper, high grade decorative paper, Bible paper, dissolving pulp; JK Grade-tea bag, coffee filter, meat and sausage casings, special art paper, cable insulation paper, adhesive tape paper, lens tissue, mimeograph stencil base tissue, carbinizing tissue; Y2 Grade-currency paper, checks, cigarette paper, vacuum cleaner bag, abrasive base paper, weatherproof bristol, map, chart, diploma paper; All Grades-handmade paper; S2, I, G, JK Grades-nonwovens) Fibercrafts Textiles/fabrics

INDUSTRY SECTORS:(2001)
The abaca industry is made up of six major groups of industry players:
Famers Traders (licensed) GBEs/exporters Cordage firms Pulp manufacturers Fibercraft processors (licensed)	68,492 721 7 7 5 124

TOTAL HECTARAGE:(2000)

As of 2000, there were 68,492 abaca farmers cultivating a total abaca area of 117,608 hectares. The abaca farmer has small landholdings of two hectares, on the average.

PRODUCTION:(1991-2000)

Production has been relatively stable during the past ten years, growing at a rate of 2% and averaging 66,332 MT per year.

MAJOR PRODUCING PROVINCES:
Abaca is grown practically all over the Philippines. Top-ten producing provinces in 2000 are:
	Province	Value
	Catanduanes Southern Leyte Leyte Davao Oriental Northern Samar Samar Sorsogon Sulu Davao del Sur Surigao del Sur	14,188.7 12,294.2 7,811.5 5,479.2 4,681.3 4,004.7 3,957.1 3,239.8 3,022.8 2,554.2

EXPORTS:(Average:1996-2000)

Abaca is an export-oriented commodity. Practically all of the processed products like pulp, cordage and fibercrafts are exported to various countries and from which, with raw fiber exports included, an average of US$80 million a year are generated. Below is a summary of the average volume and value of exports from 1996-2000:

Volume (in MT)

Value (in FOB US$)

Raw Fibers
Manufactures
                   Pulp
                    Cordage, ropes and twines
                    Yarns and fabrics
                    Fibercrafts

TOTAL AVERAGE EARNINGS

18,418

14,081
7836

$ 18,955,718

$ 36,054,125
10,786,659
502,605
16,029,835

$ 82,329,941

Major Importing Countries

Opportunities, Prospects and Demands

Problems

Cultural Management Practices

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