Abaca Fiber Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Pulp & Paper, Fiber Craft, Cordage, Textile), By Region (North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Central & South America, MEA), And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

Report Overview 

The global abaca fiber market size was estimated at USD 420.9 million in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.1% from 2021 to 2028. Rapidly rising usage of abaca fiber in the growing pulp and paper industry for applications such as cigarette filter papers, tea, and coffee bags, and disposable medical and food papers is expected to drive the market.

The production of abaca fiber is dominated by three countries including Costa Rica, the Philippines, and Ecuador. The lockdown regulations imposed in the abaca fiber-producing economies due to subsequent waves of COVID-19 impacted the production activities for a brief period, thus restricting the overall market growth in 2020 - 2021.

European and North American countries such as the U.K., Germany, the U.S., Canada, and France are among the largest importers of abaca fibers for applications across various industries such as currency notes, tea/coffee bags, automotive, and textile. The lockdown regulations in these countries also led to transport restrictions thus disrupting the supply chain of the market.

High demand for the product in the manufacture of clothing, curtains, paper making, and screen and furnishings, over the past few years owing to the properties such as superior high mechanical strength, long fiber length resistance to salt-water damage is expected to drive the industry growth. In addition, the market is also expected to grow on account of increasing product adoption across the globe.

The usage of abaca fibers is also rising in the automotive industry with the growing adoption of natural fibers in car manufacturing. These fibers are utilized in several applications in the automotive industry such as filling material for bolster and interior trip parts and exterior semi-structure components as a substitute for glass fiber in reinforced plastic components.

The demand for abaca fibers has grown internationally over the past few years owing to its growing adoption within several industries including paper, automotive, medical fabric, and handicraft. However, the market has witnessed low productivity, which has not been enough to fulfill the demand. For instance, the demand-supply gap was about 25,000 metric tons in 2019.

Product Insights

The pulp and paper product segment led the market and accounted for the largest revenue share of more than 82.0% in 2020. This is attributed to the rising demand for non-wood fibers as raw materials for specialty paper applications. Specialty paper made using abaca fiber exhibits superior strength to weight ratio thus offers high functionality in the manufacturing of tea bags, currency, and security papers.

Active research and development activities are in progress for the proper understanding of pulping characteristics, pulp yield, and quality of abaca fibers. The outcomes of the studies can offer a good idea of the possibilities and potential use of abaca fibers for pulp and paper production.

The textile product segment is also expected to witness a notable revenue-based CAGR of 12.2% over the forecast period on account of the rising demand for advanced biomaterials in fashion textiles. In addition, the latest trend in interior designing practices for both residential and commercial spaces is also expected to drive the demand for abaca fiber for textile manufacturing.

In the past few years, environmental concerns have compelled various industry leaders to focus on the development of ‘green’ products. In order to attain their sustainability goals, manufacturers have started employing biomaterials in their production technologies. Increasing demand for sustainable fibers having advanced properties is anticipated to offer expansion opportunities for abaca fibers in the textile industry.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific dominated the market and accounted for the largest revenue share of about 64.0% in 2020, owing to the growth in adoption of these fibers in several end-use industries including healthcare, specialty paper, handicraft, automotive, and textile, due to their high mechanical strength, durability, long length, and sustainability.

The region is the largest manufacturer of abaca fibers in the world, with the Philippines accounting for more than 85.0% of the global market share. In addition, public investments in the Philippines and Japan to promote abaca cultivation practices and increase the production capacity of the fibers are expected to positively influence market growth in the future.

In Europe, the market is expected to witness a notable revenue-based CAGR of 14.8% from 2021 to 2028, owing to the growing adoption of the fibers in several application industries including food and beverages, automotive, and specialty papers owing to their high mechanical strength, durability, flexibility, and long length.

In addition, favorable trade policies by the European countries for the import of abaca and other natural fibers are expected to benefit fiber market growth. Key German automotive manufacturing companies are adopting abaca fibers for automotive parts such as headliners, rear cargo shelves, trunk components, and thermal insulation, to reduce the overall vehicle weight and increase their fuel efficiency.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The market is composed of small and medium enterprises operating with a limited geographical reach. Thus, these players witness various challenges such as a lack of investment from global players for strategic expansion. In addition, they exhibit an insufficient financial backup to conduct research and development activities for advancements in the material.

Top players have a strong foothold in the Philippines, and they export products to the U.S., Japan, and European countries. Producers located in the Philippines strive to meet the demand from both domestic and international markets. However, the need for high investments, plant setup, and high manufacturing costs, widen the supply-demand gap in the market. Some of the prominent players in the abaca fiber market include:

• M.A.P. Enterprises

• Yzen Handicraft Export Trading

• Specialty Pulp Manufacturing, Inc. (SPMI)

• Ching Bee Trading Corporation

• Peral Enterprises

• Sellinrail International Trading Company

• DGL Global Ventures LLC

• Terranova Papers

Abaca Fiber Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2028. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global abaca fiber market report on the basis of product and region:

• Product Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

  • Pulp & paper

  • Fiber Craft

  • Cordage

  • Textile

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • France

    • U.K.

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • Philippines

  • Central & South America

  • Middle East & Africa