While the world’s production of Kenaf fibres (H. cannabinus) has reached 272,000 tons in 2008, Hs fibres have not gained the same economic importance (http://www.naturalfibersinfo.org/natural-fibers/kenaf/, accessed 09/11/13).
However, Hs fibres are subject to ongoing research showing promising technical properties when used as a substitute for synthetic or mineral fibres in composite materials, as well as a source material for high quality paper production (Dutt et al., 2010, Kumar et al., 2013 and Singha and Kumar, 2008).