MANILA, Philippines–Abaca farmers produced a total of 427,727 tons of the fiber from January to November of 2014, an increase of 21 percent year on year from 354,401 tons.
According to the Fiber Industry Development Authority (Fida), abaca farmers in the Bicol Region accounted for 40 percent of the 11-month output.
Fida data show that production in Bicol surged 19 percent to some 173,269 tons from about 145,140 tons in the same period of 2013.
Eastern Visayas was the second-most productive region with 16 percent of total volume while the Davao region was third with 13 percent.
Output from Davao ballooned by 59 percent to about 55,850 tons while production growth in Eastern Visayas shrank by 0.2 percent to some 68,736 tons.
In the eight months to August last year, exports of abaca-based products rose by 57 percent to $79.6 million.
These include pulp, cordage, fabrics, fibercraft and raw fiber. For fiber alone, the United Kingdom was the biggest buyer, cornering 41 percent of total exports pegged at 5,943 tons.
According to the Bureau of Agricultural Research, the country ships out abaca products valued at some $100 million yearly.
The BAR has been pushing for the adoption of integrated abaca farming in Leyte and Samar to help maintain the Philippines’ standing as the world’s biggest supplier of abaca products.