The initial weight loss attributed to evaporation of water and volatile substances was found to be lowest (6.8%) for chemically retted fibres due to removal of some easily hydrolyzed substances (waxes and fats) during chemical treatment. The comparatively higher weight loss (8.5%) for evaporation of water observed in backwater retted fibres than raw (7.4%) fibre possibly due to the extra moisture adsorbed by the salty layer present on fibre surface (as constituent analysis reports similar content of fats and waxes). Chemically treated fibre showed markedly lower weight loss of 21.8% and 21.5% under the transition temperature range of 150–330 ◦C and 590–700 ◦C respectively, as compared to raw and backwater retted fibre. The comparatively lower weight loss occurred in chemically treated fibre for the temperature range, is indicating the reduction in hemicelluloses and overall lignin content than the other two fibres. Chemically retted fibre showed