Abaca

Abaca fiber, known worldwide as Manila hemp, is obtained from the leafsheath of the abaca, Musa Textilis Nee. Abaca is indigenous to the Philippines and is similar to banana in appearance except that the leaves are upright, pointed, narrower and more tapering than the leaves of the banana.

Abaca fiber 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.

USES / APPLICATIONS

a. Cordage, ropes and twines

b. 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, carbonizing 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)

c. Fibercrafts

d. Textiles / fabrics

e. Handmade paper sheets and converted items

f. Furniture


INDUSTRY SECTORS   TOTAL HECTARAGE: (2006)

141,711 hectares
  • Farmers                                            89,071
  • Traders (licensed)                              617
  • Trader-Exporters (licensed)                 31
  • GBEs (licensed)                                  20
  • Cordage firms (licensed)                     6
  • Pulp Manufacturers (licensed)              6
  • Fibercraft processors (licensed)           105
   
  AVERAGE PRODUCTION: (1997-2006)

68,819 m.t.
     
  TOTAL PRODUCTION: (2006)

66,471 m.t.

MAJOR PRODUCING PROVINCES:
Abaca is grown in 48 provinces
with the following as the top ten producers:
  

METHODS OF EXTRACTION:
Hand-stripping, Spindle-stripping and Decortication
  • Catanduanes
  • Leyte
  • Southern Leyte
  • Northern Samar
  • Davao Oriental
  • Surigao del Sur
  • Davao del Sur
  • Sulu
  • Sorsogon
  • Western Samar
 

GRADES OF FIBER:

Hand and Spindle-Stripped:
Excellent - EF, S2, S3
Good - I, G, H
Fair - JK, M1
Residual - Y, OT, WS
Decorticated - AD-1, AD-2, AD-3


AVERAGE EXPORTS: (1997-2006)

VOLUME
(in m.t.)

VALUE
(in FOB US$)
   
RAW FIBERS

12,887

14,049,398
MANUFACTURERS    
     Pulp

17,384

38,391,313
     Cordage, ropes and twines

7,725

11,379,481
     Yarns and fabrics  

396,910
     Fibercrafts  

15,046,555
AVERAGE TOTAL EXPORT EARNINGS  

$79,263,657


MAJOR IMPORTING COUNTRIES
RAW FIBERS United Kingdom, Japan, Indonesia
MANUFACTURERS
     Pulp Germany, Japan, UK, France, USA
     Cordage, ropes and twines USA, Singapore, Canada, Germany, Malaysia, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates
     Fibercrafts USA, Japan, Spain, Italy, UK, Hongkong, France, France, Australia

CULTURAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
OPPORTUNITIES, PROSPECTS AND DEVELOPMENTS
PROBLEMS