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CHAPTER 2
COIR INDUSTRY
2.1. ABOUT COIR IN GENERAL
Coir is is a multicultural hard fiber obtained from the husk of the coconut (Cocos
nuciferae), a plant of the tropics belongs to the palmae. Coir is an interesting natural vegetable
fiber possessing certain inherent physical & chemical characteristics, making it suitable for
manufacture of coir yarn, floor coverings, mats, and ropes. It is having comparatively very large
lignin content in its composition (40-45%)resembling to the woody tissue & is very hard
weaving, bio-degradable environment friendly enabling its use in different conventional & non
commercial applications.
2.2. GLOBAL COIR TRADE
Currently, the global annual production of coir fiber is about 350,000 metric tons (MT).
Yet, even in the world¶s top two producers, India and Sri Lanka, which account for about 90% of
global coir fiber production, combined, this renewable resource is underutilized; local coir mills
process only a fraction of the available husks, which accrue more or less year round as a waste
during coconut processing.
Traditional uses for the resilient and durable coir fiber include rope and twine, brooms
and brushes, doormats, rugs, mattresses and other upholstery, often in the form of rubberized coir
pads. In the 1980s and 90s, global exports of coir fiber fell by almost half, as Western consumers
shifted to synthetic foam and fibers. Then, since 1990, rapidly growing domestic demand in
India more than doubled global production benefiting exclusively the Indian coir industry.
Finally, since 2001, a rising Chinese demand for coir, an expanding market for coir-based
erosion control products, and the spread of coir pith as a peat moss substitute in horticulture has
further pushed up global production and prices. In turn, other coconut growing countries,
including Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam are now expanding their production and export of
coir fiber. These changes are also reflected in the international trade in coir. Historically, Sri
Lanka had been the world¶s largest exporter of various fiber grades, whereas India exports
largely value added products ± yarn, mats, and rugs. While in 1990 about 80% of global
production was exported, growth of the Indian domestic market dropped that rate to below 40%.
