Kenaf Hibiscus cannabinus L. is a fiber plant native to eastcentral Africa where it has been grown for several thousand years for food and fiber. It is a common wild plant of tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia. It has been a source of textile fiber for such products as rope, twine, bagging and rugs. Kenaf is a promising source of raw material fiber for pulp, paper and other fiber products, and has been introduced since WWII in China, USSR, Thailand, South Africa, Egypt, Mexico and Cuba. Kenaf has a unique combination of long bast and short core fibers which makes it suitable for a range of paper and cardboard products. Scientists at the ARS have tested several kenaf pulping techniques, with the pulps being used to make several grades of paper including newsprint, bond, coating raw stock and surfaced sized. Results have been positive, particularly in terms of paper quality, durability, print quality and ink absorption.

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