Abaca. the country’s Prime Minister fibre and known worldwide as Manila hemp. has come a long manner from its low beginning as natural stuff for our ancestors’ coarse and stiff vesture every bit good as footwear. While Manila hemp is still being used for these intents. its application has expanded to sophisticated industrial utilizations. It is now a preferable stuff in the production of mush for forte documents like tea bags. meat/sausage shells. coffin nail paper. filter documents. currency notes. stencil documents and a host of non-woven merchandise applications. With the turning concern worldwide for the saving of the natural environment and preservation of forest resources. the importance of Manila hemp in the industrial sector is envisioned to further rise in the following decennaries. Get downing of the Abaca Industry
The Manila hemp works is autochthonal to the Philippines whose warm. wet clime and volcanic dirts are peculiarly suited to its cultivation. It has been grown in the Philippines for centuries. long before the Spanish business. When Magellan and his comrades arrived in Cebu in 1521. they noticed that the indigens were have oning apparels made from the fibre of Manila hemp works. observing farther that the weaving of the fibre was already widespread in the island. Abaca in Cordage Use
It was. nevertheless. merely much later that the commercial or export importance of Manila hemp was discovered. Harmonizing to historical histories. an American lieutenant of the U. S. Navy brought a sample of abaca fibre to the United States in 1820. This gave the initial drift to Philippine Manila hemp trade with the United States that five old ages subsequently. the first exportation of Manila hemp was made. Since so. Manila hemp became good known as one of the strongest stuffs for marine cordage because of its superior tensile strength and proved lastingness under H2O. With the oncoming of the twentieth century. Manila hemp fibre has become the prime export trade good of the Philippines. Because of its importance. the United States Department of Agriculture sent its top agricultural and fiber experts to the Philippines to supply drift to the production of the fibre for their ingestion. Many Americans were encouraged to set up plantations in the Philippines such that in 1909. Davao was chosen as the most suited country for Manila hemp. At the stopping point of the First World War. the Japanese besides took acute involvement in Manila hemp for its naval forces. besides taking Davao as the plantation site. They improved the method of production introduced by the Americans. This put the industry to a higher degree of efficiency. Abaca in the United states
The Philippines has a monopoly in the production of abaca fibre in the 1920s. Since this period. wars were won by states with superior naval forcess and sing that cordage was critical to naval operation. the Filipino monopoly in abaca production alarmed the Americans. In 1921. the U. S. Department of Agriculture decided to cultivate Manila hemp in Central America. peculiarly in Panama. Costa Rica. Guatemala and Honduras utilizing the most outstanding Filipino Manila hemp assortments. This was to be the beginning of the terminal of our Manila hemp monopoly. It was after World War II that a Nipponese national. Furukawa. one of the pre-war Manila hemp plantation proprietors in Davao. started field-testing and successfully cultivating Manila hemp in Ecuador. Today. Ecuador is the merely other state commercially bring forthing Manila hemp in the universe.
Incursion of Synthetics in Cordage UseThe coming of oil-based man-made fibres in the mid-1950s. which quickly replaced the traditional use of natural fibres. displaced Manila hemp as premier cordage stuff and precipitated its about entire prostration. Therefore. the Filipino Manila hemp industry suffered a slack as monetary values hit stone underside that several husbandmans finally phased out their plantations.
Abaca in Pulp and PaperSignificant discoveries in engineering and procedures took topographic point in the ‘60s that brought about development of new utilizations for Manila hemp. peculiarly in the usage of mush for the production of forte paper merchandises. In 1968. the Canlubang Pulp Manufacturing Company. the first local company to ship on the development of the engineering for bring forthing mush utilizing Manila hemp. made its first exportation. As demand for Manila hemp for mush usage increased. Filipino investors became interested in domestically bring forthing abaca mush. Other investors followed suit with most of them tied-up with foreign companies. which. due to strict anti-pollution Torahs in their several states. transferred their mush operations in the Philippines. Demand for these sorts of paper increased from twelvemonth to twelvemonth. and in clip. stimulated a resurgence in the demand for the fibre. By the center of the ’70s. Manila hemp mush had become a tried stuff for doing assorted sorts of forte documents and other non-woven disposables. |
Abaca in FibercraftAt the clip when demand for Manila hemp was worsening. the Filipino authorities encouraged the development of the fibercraft industry. Fibercraft merchandises like Manila hemp carpets. weaklings. chapeaus. coasters. hot tablets. linen and handbags became really much in demand abroad. By mid-70s. the fibercraft industry became the 2nd biggest foreign exchange earner for the Manila hemp industry. following to raw fiber exports. |
Importance of Abaca in the Filipino EconomyAbaca is one fibre that has made the Philippines known all over the universe. Abaca has. for centuries. been practically synonymous to the Philippines because it is known the universe over as Manila hemp. Before the coming of synthetics in the ‘60s. Manila hemp was the chief natural stuff for the industry of the world-renowned Manila rope. In fact. since the bend of the century. Manila hemp was the top export earner of the state. As of 2010. the Philippines supplies about 85. 0 per centum of the entire universe Manila hemp demand and the remainder. by Ecuador. The Manila hemp industry continues to be one of the country’s major pillars in footings of employment coevals and foreign exchange net incomes. The industry sustains more than 1. 5 million Filipinos who. straight or indirectly. depend on it for a life. Direct dependants include abaca husbandmans. classifiers/sorters. makers. bargainers. exporters and 100s of fibercraft processors who provide employment to 1000s of Filipinos. From 2001 to 2010. the Manila hemp industry generated some US $ 82. 1million per twelvemonth from the exports of natural fibre and industries. Classs and Uses of Abaca Fiber
The Manila hemp fibre is extracted from the chaff of the works scientifically known as Musa textilis Nee. specifically from the outer covering of the leaf sheath. It is considered the strongest of natural fibres being three times stronger than cotton and two times stronger than sisal fibres. Abaca is far more immune to salt H2O decomposition than most of the vegetable fibres. doing it suited for rope and cordage industry. Sing its premier qualities. Manila hemp is besides an first-class pick over other natural fibres for bring forthing thin documents of high porousness and high strength. Abaca can besides replace for wood mush in the industry of a general line of paper merchandises. a use that could lend vastly to the preservation of the world’s decreasing forest resources. Like most trade goods. official criterions of quality have been set and are being purely enforced for Manila hemp. The official standard classs of abaca fibre are divided into three ( 3 ) categories depending on the mode of extraction. viz. : hand-stripping. spindle-stripping and decortication. Quality is determined by strength. cleansing. colour. texture and length of the fibre. In footings of cleansing ( which is a direct consequence of the depriving setup or stab used ) . the standard classs for hand- and spindle-stripped are: Excellent – S2. S3
Spindle-stripped Manila hemp fibres are indicated by the missive “S” before the official class. i. e. . S-S2. S-I. and so on. For decorticated Manila hemp. the official classs are AD-1. AD-2 and AD-3. Abaca is processed into cordage. mush and forte paper and fibercrafts including hand-loomed cloth. Below is a drumhead tabular array on the utilizations of Manila hemp and their corresponding class demands:
USES| GRADES/TYPES|Cordage merchandises – ropes. strings. marine cordage. binders. cord| S2. S3. I. G. JK. M1. Y| Pulp and paper industries – tea bags. filter paper. Roneo stencil. base tissue. sausage tegument. basal paper Cigarette paper. currency paper. chart file booklets. envelopes. clip cards. book binders and parchment paper Microglass air filters media. x-ray negative. optical lens wiper. vacuity filter. oil filter Nonwovens – medical gas masks and gowns. nappies. infirmary linens. bed sheets Handmade paper – paper sheets. letter papers. general-purpose cards. lamp sunglassess. balls. splitters. placemats. bags. exposure frames and albums. flowers. table clock| S2. I. G
G. JK. M1. Y. OT
S2. I. G. JKS2. I. G. JKAll classsicluding wastes|Fibercrafts – pocketbooks. knolls. placemats. carpets. rugs. bags and billfolds. fishing nets. door mats. table clock| S2. G| Handwoven cloths – sinamay. pinukpok. tinalak. dagmaySacks. hotpads. hemp. coastersBasketsWallpaper| High classsS3. Hlupis and bacbac*S2. G. KJ. Y|
Furniture| S2. bacbac|Others – wire dielectric and overseas telegram. car. car components/composites| JK. M1. Y. OT| POTENTIAL USES OF ABACA| GRADES/TYPES|Fiberboards – roofing tiles. floor tiles. hollow blocks. boards. reenforcing fiber concrete and asphalt| OT and other waste| Fuels – musafel| Abaca plant|Assorted applications – wigs. grass skirts| All grades| *Lupis is the dried strip of abaca leaf sheath about 5 millimeter. or 1/8 of an inch in breadth or a small larger in size. is thin and normally follows the length of abaca chaff ; bacbac is the outermost covering or leaf sheath of the Manila hemp chaff.normally really light brown in colour.
Production and Market ScenarioA. SupplyLocalFrom 2001 through 2010. production of abaca fibre averaged 65. 701 meitnerium per twelvemonth and had been diminishing at a minimum rate of 0. 8 % per annum caused by the annihilating typhoons in 2006 coupled with abaca viral diseases that continued to impact the plantations every bit good as the dampened foreign demand brought about by the planetary economic recession get downing in the latter portion of 2008. considered as the most terrible downswing since the Great Depression in the 1930s. Production reached its extremum in 2008 at 77. 387 meitnerium as end products of all bring forthing parts. peculiarly Bicol. Davao Region and Caraga. well increased during the period. This was chiefly the consequence of the incremental production from the Manila hemp plantations established in 2005 and 2006 under FIDA’s plan Goal I “Development of New Agri-Business Lands” and the continued strong demand and attractive monetary values offered for the fibre by local bargainers. processors/manufacturers and exporters.
The Manila hemp industry. nevertheless. suffered a reverse in 2009 when fiber output slumped to its lowest degree of 54. 584 meitneriums due to the weakened market demand and falling monetary values as a effect of the world-wide fiscal crisis. During the decennary. Eastern Visayas remained as the top abaca-producing part. lending an norm of 23. 564 meitnerium or 35. 9 % to the one-year mean production. Bicol followed with an one-year norm of 19. 670 meitnerium or 29. 9 % portion while Davao Region. which supplied 13. 4 % or 8. 783 meitnerium. graded 3rd during the ten-year period under reappraisal. Get downing 2009. Bicol emerged as the biggest manufacturer of Manila hemp. outranking Eastern Visayas which abaca countries were severely affected by viral diseases such as bunchy top. mosaic and bract mosaic. From among the abaca-producing states. Catanduanes remained as the biggest manufacturer followed by Leyte. The top 10 manufacturers with the corresponding end product and portion to entire production in 2010 were as follows:
PROVINCE| VOLUME ( meitnerium ) | % SHARE|Catanduanes| 18. 971| 33. 2|Leyte| 7. 089| 12. 4|Northern Samar| 3. 959| 6. 9|Davao Oriental| 3. 300| 5. 8|Surigao del Sur| 3. 105| 5. 4|Davao del Sur| 2. 994| 5. 2|Sulu| 2. 364| 4. 1|Bukidnon| 1. 993| 3. 5|Lanao del Sur| 1. 665| 2. 9|Southern Leyte| 1. 647| 2. 9|
Of the ten-year mean one-year production of 65. 701 meitnerium. 54. 741 meitnerium or 83. 3 % were baled while the remainder was traded in loose signifier. The major classs such as G. JK. S2 and I comprised 76. 0 % or 41. 608 meitnerium of the annual mean baling. Baling of G averaged 12. 993 meitnerium per annum sharing 23. 7 % to entire end product followed by JK with an mean baling of 10. 577 meitnerium or 19. 3 % part. Annual baling of S2 and I averaged 10. 208 meitnerium and 7. 830 meitnerium. severally. with corresponding portions of 18. 6 % and 14. 3 % . Abaca baling during the decennary exhibited an increasing rate of 0. 7 % . despite the downtrend in the end product of the bulk of the classs. except S2 and I.
ForeignSince 1991. local mush makers had been importing abaca fibre from Ecuador except in 2005. The mush processors resorted to fiber importing to make full up the lack in local supply of specific classs and run into mush buyers’ specifications. During the ten-year period stoping 2010. importing of Ecuadorian Manila hemp averaged 307 meitneriums per twelvemonth. B. Demand
Local ConsumptionDomestic processors consumed an norm of 50. 592 meitnerium or 77. 0 % of the country’s mean annual production of abaca fibre during the past decennary. The sector’s fibre ingestion degree was observed to be diminishing reasonably at a rate of 1. 1 % per twelvemonth. Abaca fibre is being processed locally into mush. cordage and assorted fibercraft points including furnitures.
The mush sector systematically remained as the growing country of the Manila hemp industry using an norm of 36. 019 meitnerium or 71. 2 % of the one-year mean local ingestion and increasing at a minimum rate of 0. 8 % per annum. The mush millers’ use degree is extremely dependent on the demand for mush by the forte paper makers abroad as abaca mush is the chief natural stuff used in the industry of meat and sausage shells. tea bags. coffin nail paper. currency paper and other forte documents. Processing of Manila hemp mush into forte documents is done in Europe. the United States and Japan alternatively of in the Philippines as there is no available processing installation in the state.
The cordage sector. on the other manus. consumed an norm of 10. 369 meitnerium of abaca fibre per annum or about 20. 5 % of the annual mean fiber use of the domestic makers but diminishing at a rate of 2. 6 % per twelvemonth. Cordage and allied merchandises have continuously been confronting stiff competition from those made of synthetics and other cheaper natural stuffs. Fiber use of the fibercraft processors who are largely cottage-based. exhibited a diminishing one-year rate of 11. 0 % and devouring an norm of 4. 204 meitnerium or 8. 3 % of the one-year mean domestic ingestion. These figures. nevertheless. may non hold reflected the existent state of affairs in the fibercraft industry. as purchases of other fibercraft shapers were in loose signifier and hence hard to supervise. Unlike the other sectors. the fibercraft processors are legion. non as well-organized and are scattered throughout the state.
ExportsFor the past 10 old ages. the Philippines generated an norm of US $ 82. 1 million per twelvemonth from the exports of Manila hemp fibre and industries. 84. 4 % or an norm of US $ 69. 3 million of which came from abaca industries such as mush. cordage. narrations and cloths and fibercrafts. The remainder ( 15. 6 % ) was contributed by natural fibre exports with mean net incomes of US $ 12. 8 million annually. From among the Manila hemp industries. mush continued to take as the growing country in export with cargos worth an one-year norm of US $ 45. 8 million or a 55. 8 % portion to the mean income per twelvemonth. Meanwhile. export net incomes from fibercrafts and cordage/allied merchandises averaged US $ 10. 6 million ( 12. 9 % ) and US $ 12. 3 million ( 15. 0 % ) per annum. severally. while those from narrations and cloths accounted for US $ 0. 6 million ( 0. 7 % ) of the annual norm.
Abaca FiberExports of Manila hemp fibre averaged 13. 434 meitnerium per annum. diminishing at a moderate rate 1. 0 % per annum during the old ages under survey. The demand of the country’s major merchandising spouses – the United Kingdom and Japan. contracted well. peculiarly in 2009 when fiscal crisis hit the planetary economic system. Some forte papermakers abroad similarly shifted to the importing of abaca mush alternatively of the usual natural fibre due to the rigorous anti-pollution Torahs in their several states. In 2010. nevertheless. there was a significant addition in the Manila hemp imports of the major purchasers including emerging market China following their gradual recovery from the planetary economic recession. Europe. specifically the United Kingdom. is the prime finish of abaca fibre. absorbing an norm of 6. 663 meitnerium or 49. 6 % of the ten-year mean exports. In 2003 and 2004. UK imported more abaca fibres as a US-based Manila hemp mush factory concentrated its mush operation in the state that finally led to an addition in its fiber demand.
However. in 2005. there was a displacement in the penchant from abaca fibre to mush that cargo drastically went down and leveled away at 6. 650 meitnerium and continued to be at about the same degree in the succeeding old ages until 2008 and farther slumped to 3. 329 in 2009 due to planetary economic downswing. In 2010. abaca exports to UK made an upturn with shipment making 4. 216 meitnerium. The Asiatic market was the 2nd most of import finish of abaca fibre with Japan as the taking purchaser. Japan continued to act upon abaca trade in the part accounting for the biggest market portion averaging 4. 914 meitnerium or 80. 5 % of the 6. 105 mt one-year mean Asiatic imports. Therefore. when the Nipponese market weakened in 2001 and 2002. the tendency in the overall Asiatic demand exhibited the same form. Since 2003 through 2008. imports of Japan rebounded due to the printing of the Nipponese hankering that has new designs and sophisticated security characteristics as protection from forging.
Furthermore. concerns in Japan have picked up supported by its strong exports to the United States and Asiatic states. particularly China. In 2009. nevertheless. the Nipponese market slowed down following the onslaught of the planetary economic recession thereby badly undertaking its fibre imports to a really low degree of merely 1. 502 meitnerium but merely to bounce in 2010 when its demand picked up to 4. 680 meitnerium. On the other manus. India and Indonesia have systematically been purchasing abaca fibre although the measures were really minimum with combined aggregative portion of 2. 3 % to the one-year mean foreign trade. Abaca fibre is used as natural stuff in the industry of cordage and fibercrafts in these states. China showed great promise that its imports accelerated. averaging 1. 712 meitnerium in the last four old ages and is soon the 2nd biggest Asiatic market for Philippine Manila hemp fibre. It is now utilizing the fibre in the industry of tea bag. capacitance paper and fibercrafts.
The importing of North America averaged 417 meitnerium from 2001 to 2010 with the United States as the exclusive market finish. Imports of the United States drastically declined in 2003 to merely 29 meitneriums from 1. 168 meitnerium in 2002 and so stopped in 2004 but resumed in 2005 with merely 20 meitneriums because its biggest Manila hemp mush factory ceased its mush operation in the state to concentrate in the United Kingdom. The same low tendency was recorded in the following three ( 3 ) old ages ( 2006 – 2008 ) . with matching fibre imports of 26 meitnerium. 50 meitnerium and 23 meitnerium. In 2009 and 2010. the US market was earnestly hit by recession which led to its non-importation of Manila hemp from the Philippines. From among the four major classs of Manila hemp. JK and G were the top exports averaging 4. 357 meitnerium and 4. 033 meitnerium per twelvemonth severally. or matching one-year portions of 32. 4 % and 30. 0 % . Cargo of I averaged 1. 547 meitnerium or 11. 5 % while S2 posted an mean one-year cargo of 1. 824 meitnerium or 13. 6 % of the norm during the last 10 old ages. Foreign demand for these major classs except S2 slowed down with I entering the highest rate of lessening of 18. 6 % per twelvemonth. Overall. exports of minor class H recorded the maximal decreased rate of 19. 7 % during the 10-year period under reappraisal.
Abaca PulpPractically all the Manila hemp mush manufactured in the Philippines were shipped outside the state. particularly when its usage as natural stuff for coffin nail paper by a local coffin nail fabricating company ceased in the latter portion of 2002. An norm of 18. 593 meitnerium of abaca mush were exported every twelvemonth over the ten-year period get downing 2001 with exports turning reasonably at an one-year rate of 3. 6 % . Some forte paper makers prefer utilizing abaca mush alternatively of natural fibre because of the rigorous anti-pollution control Torahs in their states require them to set up anti-pollution control mechanisms which they consider dearly-won. Europe was the most of import finish for Philippine Manila hemp mush as five forte paper makers utilizing abaca mush are situated in this continent. Exports to Europe averaged 12. 833 meitnerium per twelvemonth or 69. 0 % of the mean one-year with 7. 014 meitnerium or 37. 7 % being absorbed by Germany. Pulp exports to this state had been on the rise at a growing rate of 3. 1 % per twelvemonth during the past 10 old ages.
While Germany had the biggest market portion. the United Kingdom was the 2nd biggest and the fastest European market for abaca mush with an one-year growing rate of 6. 4 % as a consequence of the transportation of the mush operation of a US-based Manila hemp mush factory to the United Kingdom. France has similarly been an of import export market for abaca mush with imports averaging 1. 756 meitnerium per twelvemonth or a 9. 4 % portion to the entire one-year mean exports. Foreign cargos to Asiatic states averaged 4. 621 meitnerium per annum with Japan as the taking finish. Japan’s purchases averaged 4. 034 meitnerium yearly or 21. 7 % of the mean one-year during the period under reappraisal. Aside from the Nipponese hankering. Manila hemp is processed into capacitor paper. insulation paper. tea bag. dissembling tape. stencil paper. filter oil absorptive paper shells and other speciaIty paper merchandises.
China and Taiwan had systematically purchased abaca mush from the Philippines during the last 10 old ages. Their portions though. were reasonably minimum at 2. 1 % for China and 0. 9 % for Taiwan. Imports of China were perceptibly turning at a important rate of 24. 9 % per twelvemonth. South Korea besides imported the mush but on irregular footing. The imports of the United States. the 3rd biggest market for Philippine Manila hemp mush. averaged 686 meitnerium lending 3. 7 % to the one-year norm during the ten-year period. Abaca is presently utilized in the industry of coffin nail filter of the Winston and Marlboro Lights coffin nails. among others.
Abaca Cordage and Allied MerchandisesFrom 2001 to 2010. foreign trade of abaca cordage and allied merchandises such as ropes. overseas telegrams and strings averaged 7. 474 meitnerium per twelvemonth and decreasing. although at a minimum rate. of 0. 8 % yearly. The stiff competition posed by cordage made of synthetics and other cheaper natural stuffs continued to do reverse to the country’s abaca cordage industry. The United States absorbed the majority of the exports lending 65. 5 % or 4. 897 meitnerium to the one-year norm. Singapore. Canada. the United Arab Emirates. the United Kingdom. Germany. Malaysia and Australia systematically remained as the other major markets for Filipino cordage.
Abaca FabricsForeign cargos of abaca cloths had been on the uptrend entering an one-year norm of 334. 875 sq. m. and a high growing rate of 44. 6 % during the 10-year period under survey. The highest volume of exports was made in 2008 at 698. 335 sq. m with the rush in the demand of Hong Kong. Italy. Japan and the United Kingdom and the recommencement of importing of Spain and France during the period. Hong Kong was the biggest market for Philippine Manila hemp cloths. importing an norm of 165. 465 sq. m. per twelvemonth or 49. 4 % of the one-year norm. It was followed by Italy with mean purchases of 106. 438 sq. m. or 31. 8 % of the entire one-year norm.
China. which began its cloth importing merely in 2002 but on irregular footing. out of the blue emerged as the 3rd biggest market during the past four ( 4 ) old ages ( 2007-2010 ) with an one-year norm of 28. 927 sq. m. or 8. 6 % portion during the ten-year period. Other regular purchasers were the United Kingdom and Japan. with matching imports averaging 6. 143 sq. m. and 3. 978 sq. m. per twelvemonth. Nigeria’s importing had been perceptibly regular in the past six old ages. with a annual norm of 9. 266 sq. m. while purchases of other merchandising spouses were intermittent during the last 10 old ages. By and large. the demand for abaca cloths and other fiber-based merchandises is mostly dictated by crazes and manner although other consumers patronize natural-based stuffs non merely due to its alone entreaty but besides due to environmental considerations.
ImportsThe Philippines. specifically the Manila hemp mush sector. imported an norm of 307 meitnerium of abaca fibre from Ecuador during the last 10 old ages except in 2005. when the sector was able to absorb the biggest majority ( 44. 470 meitnerium or 60. 2 % ) of the country’s entire fibre end product of 73. 875 meitnerium during the said period.
Problems Confronting the Abaca IndustryThe followers are the identified problems/gaps in the Manila hemp industry by sector:
Farm Sector* Low farm productiveness* Presence of viral diseases ( mosaic. bunchy top. bract mosaic ) * Insufficient postharvest installations like driers. depriving machines and depriving sheds * Insufficient disease-free planting stuffs
* Stringent demand of funding Windowss* Production of low quality fibre* Limitation of land ownership imposed by Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program ( CARP ) besides limits enlargement of countries by large land proprietors Processing Sector
* Insufficient supply of the needed classs* Lack of enterprise in advancing contract turningSelling Sector* Several grades of selling channels* Lack of corporate selling system by husbandmans* Lack of financess for the publicity of merchandises particularly in the international market * Difficulty of transporting fibres ensuing to high conveyance cost Opportunities/Prospects and Developments
With the present trade government traveling towards an unfastened market and swerving off from protectionism. FIDA believes that the Philippine Manila hemp industry will go on to run into and get the better of new challenges like the current world-wide fiscal crisis and will vie internationally and keep the country’s strong bridgehead in the planetary market for Manila hemp. This footing is anchored on the followers: “Go natural. Travel Green” is the Order of the Day
* The protagonism on “going natural. traveling green” is going more intense with turning consciousness and concern to care for and protect the environment. * From a host of industrial merchandises to place trappingss and housewares. manner and its accoutrements tp packaging of nutrient. dresss and other points. eco-friendly stuffs like Manila hemp are in greater demand and importance. * The Montreal Protocol and Kyoto Protocol were signed which practically imposed on take parting states the usage of biodegradable stuffs to protect ozone bed and undertake the issue of planetary heating and nursery gas emanation. * Abaca as a renewable resource can be an first-class portion of the overall solution to climate alteration as the works absorbs more C dioxide than its emanation and is hundred per centum biodegradable that can non harm the environment. Abaca for Composite
* The development of new end-use for abaca fibre in composite applications for the automotive industry in Germany contributed to hike the demand for the fibre. The auto maker. Chrysler-Daimler. cited the really good ecological balance of Manila hemp combined with its first-class proficient belongingss similar to those of glass fibre. the stuff antecedently used in the underbelly protection of the auto. The usage of abaca fibre. alternatively of glass fibre. brought about primary energy nest eggs of 60 % . therefore significantly cut downing C dioxide emanation. * Other auto fabrication companies particularly in the European Union are expectd to utilize natural fibres as stuff for their auto parts in conformity with the End-of-Life-Vehicle Regulation of the European Parliament. The said Regulation requires them to dispose of at the terminal of life of their vehicle. * As composite stuff. Manila hemp fibre has potencies in boat/ship edifice industries. astronauticss every bit good as in building concern particularly for high-rise edifice. Abaca Cordage
* With the stricter policies against dumping of man-made fishing nets and cordage stuffs in unfastened sea as enforced by most European states. utilizations are returning to the usage of natural biodegradable stuffs like abaca fibre. * Although man-made ropes have some proficient advantages over abaca ropes. Manila hemp has qualities that meet the demands for particular intents specifically for oil drilling/exploration. naval forcess. merchandiser transportation and building. * Compared to sisal. its closest rival among natural fibres. Manila hemp has superior tensile strength. One of the rope shapers noted that the strength of sisal rope is 20 % less than abaca rope. hence. abaca ropes is much preferred in concern where the strength of the stuff to be used is of premier consideration. * The movie-making industry in the United States is reportedly utilizing abaca rope which. unlike synthetics. does non reflect when exposed to klieg visible radiations. Abaca Pulp
* The spread outing demand for forte documents for tea bag. meat and sausage shells. currency documents. metallized documents. coffin nail documents. filters. high-tech capacitance documents and other non-wovens and disposables besides mean high demand for abaca mush. Most forte documents require high porousness and first-class tear. bursting and tensile strength which characterize abaca fibre. * Compared to synthetics. Manila hemp is preferred particularly in the production of meat and sausage shells and tea bags because they do non fade out when in contact with boiling H2O and present no danger to wellness when pieces of fibres are erroneously eaten. It is for these grounds every bit good as the really rigorous specifications on strength. elongation and formation required to guarantee right public presentation on automatic filling machines that these shells are made wholly of Manila hemp. Meat/sausage shells and tea bags are the two major markets for abaca mush. * In the production of tea bags. viscose mush is a possible replacement for Manila hemp but the stuff is more expensive than abaca-based documents.
Furthermore. tea bag fabrication companies. merely like other forte paper makers. are loath to exchange to other alternate stuffs because any alteration would necessitate readjustment of their machinery and preparations which would be excessively expensive. * As the environmental protection motion heightens. many states are going more protective of their ecology. peculiarly the lumber wood. the beginning of wood mush which is the traditional stuff for mush and paper production. This provides an entry point for replacements such as Manila hemp. Although abaca mush is priced higher than wood mush. its higher permutation ratio ( 4:1 ) and better qualities in the production of forte documents make it more attractive. Quality considerations play a prevailing function in the pick of fibre for the major forte end-uses. and proficient belongingss provided by abaca outweigh monetary value advantages of abaca replacements like wood mush or sisal. * Japan continues to import abaca mush from the Philippines for the industry of its currency notes ( hankering ) . The Nipponese measures of Y10. 000. Y500 and Y1. 000 denominations have 60 % abaca constituents. Other applications of Manila hemp mush in Japan include capacitance and insularity documents. tea bag. dissembling tape. paper fabric. stencil paper. filter oil absorptive paper. shells and other forte paper merchandises. China as New Market for Abaca Pulp
* China has been continuously spread outing its imports of abaca mush from the Philippines for the industry of tea bags. With the gap of the Chinese economic system following China’s rank to the World Trade Organization ( WTO ) in 2001. the influence of the western universe to the community has become evident. * The Chinese particularly the younger coevals are now altering their life style. one of which is the usage of tea bags alternatively of the traditional manner of fixing tea motivating concern constitutions in China to function tea in tea bags. China has one of the biggest tea-drinking populations in the universe. Reports besides indicated that it may necessitate 20. 000 meitnerium of abaca mush per twelvemonth to back up the demand of its waste paper recycling workss and for other utilizations. Abaca in Fibercrafts
* Innovative and functional fibercrafts from Manila hemp have continued to germinate and introduced in both the local and international markets with the Filipino intrinsic prowess. inventiveness and world-class workmanship coupled with the versatility of abaca fibre. * The Gifts. Toys and Housewares ( GTH ) sector has made wider usage for Manila hemp particularly for place trappingss. house decors and accoutrements and manner every bit good. With the current protagonism of lifestyle market publicity wherein several merchandise lines are packaged as one to advance a specific subject. demand for abaca trades is expected to beef up farther. * Demand for fibercrafts is dictated by craze and manner but with the Filipino’s intrinsic prowess. inventiveness and world-class workmanship coupled with versatility of abaca fibre. the huge potencies of our fibercrafts will stay through their continued regular characteristic in dress shops and forte shops and in mass retailing abroad. * For the local fibercraft and weaving industries. high classs abaca fibre and “tinagak” or knotted Manila hemps are the most extremely valued trade goods as demand for such stuffs has been on the rise non merely in the local market but besides in China. now considered as the biggest rival for the supply of semi-processed fibre. Abaca as Wellness Product
* The decorative industry besides makes usage of Manila hemp enzymes in the production of natural. organic. handmade tegument attention merchandises like Manila hemp soap and lotion which reportedly have anti-aging and curative belongingss and are now exported abroad. Abaca for Fashion
* The usage of Manila hemp. in pure or in blends with other natural fibres like pina fibre and pineapple silk. for fabric is another chance. * Contemporary and wearable aggregation can be fashioned from Manila hemp and other fibres. swerving off from the traditional “cultural” ensemble. appealing and acceptable to both the immature and old coevalss. Other New Uses
* Researches on merchandise development could farther open up more chances for abaca fibre particularly for the undermentioned applications: * As composite stuff for:* aerospace* packaging* other industrial applications* building industry: light structural walls. insularity stuffs. floor and wall coverings and roofing * As natural stuff constituent for dresss like “organic” denims FIDA’s Programs/Projects
* On the production side. FIDA has been continuously implementing programs/projects geared towards increased production of quality abaca fiber such as: * Goal I or Abaca Expansion Program is aimed at set uping new agriculture lands and bring forthing employment which started in 2005. By the terminal of 2010. a sum of 48. 931 hectares new abaca plantations have been established conveying the overall hectarage to 167. 144. 9 hectares *
Abaca Rehabilitation involves the rehabilitation of morbid and typhoon-damaged Manila hemp plantations aimed at increasing abaca farm productiveness. 1. Disease Eradication is aimed at eliminating abaca mosaic. bract mosaic and bunchy top. the three viral diseases which affect the abaca plantations in Bicol and Eastern Visayas. It is besides aimed to forestall and command the spread of the diseases in the healthy next plantations. 2. Abaca Planting Materials Production is being implemented to back up the planting stuff demands of husbandmans for the enlargement and rehabilitation of abaca plantations.
This is carried out through the undermentioned activities: * In vitro ( tissue civilization ) production and distribution of high-yielding. disease-free abaca cultivars at the FIDA tissue civilization research labs in Legaspi City. Sorsogon City. Abuyog ( Leyte ) . Virac ( Catanduanes ) and Bago Oshiro ( Davao City ) * Disease diagnosing at the FIDA Diagnostic research labs in Legaspi City. Abuyog ( Leyte ) and Bago Oshiro ( Davao City ) to guarantee that the beginnings of stuffs for tissue civilization and for distribution to husbandmans are disease-free * Establishment/maintenance of abaca baby’s rooms for seting stuff production and distribution * Development/maintenance of seedbanks in Camarines Sur. Sorsogon. Leyte. Zamboanga del Sur and Davao City 3. Mechanization of Abaca Fiber Extraction
4. Roentgen and D on harvest protection. harvest production and harvest betterment and fibre processing * On the selling side. FIDA is committed at prolonging and heightening the demand for abaca and fiber-based merchandises in both the domestic and international communities. The major pushs that are continuously being undertaken by the Authority are the undermentioned: * Trade Promotion is aimed to spread out the market base for the Philippine Manila hemp industry through engagement in local and international trade fairs/exhibits. multi-media publicities. manner shows. etc. * Market Information Exchange and Dissemination is aimed to maintain FIDA and other concerned authorities and private entities/individuals abreast of industry developments. issues and concerns. including trade possibilities in the planetary market. These are carried out through the distribution of prepared information stuffs ; usage of multi-media to make out greater figure of clients. concern contacts and prospective investors ; dialogues/meetings between and among industry participants and representatives of concerned bureaus ; and entree to Internet and electronic inter-agency networking toward planetary hunt for market chances.
* Market/Institutional Linkages are done through the behavior of the followers: 1 ) facilitating/establishing direct market linkages among fiber manufacturers. processors and end-users to guarantee stable and more regular markets and better monetary values for manufacturers and more stable supplies for manufacturers/processors and end-users. and 2 ) initiating and beef uping direct linkages with other concerned/relevant establishments to spread out trade for Philippine Manila hemp fibre and industries. In support of the above. FIDA undertakes the undermentioned activities: * Networking with Philippine embassies based in foreign states. peculiarly with agricultural and commercial attaches to place prospective purchasers and/or interested investors on Manila hemp and industries * Coordination with foreign embassies and other relevant international organisations for pertinent information on market chances every bit good as enquiries * Coordination with trade publicity bureaus like DTI-CITEM. . concern organisations and other similar entities for the wider publicity of the Manila hemp industry
* Market referrals or responses to enquiries of industry patronages for market aid particularly on suppliers/prospective purchasers of abaca fibre and industries for possible market tie-ups * Arrangement of meetings between and among prospective purchasers and providers and makers for possible trade negotiations/tie-ups * Continuing activities in developing/strengthening entrepreneurial capablenesss of Manila hemp husbandmans
