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| | Jute, kenaf and allied fibres |
 | | The fibre is processed mainly in the producing countries themselves and is used for the manufacturing of traditional products such as hessian cloth, food grade bags, carpet backing and other floor covering. |
 | | During the past decade, world jute consumption contracted as the market continued to be shaped by two important factors, namely the intensity of competition with, and the displacement by, synthetic fibres, and the extension of commodity bulk-handling facilities. |
 | | Increased capacity in the synthetic fibre industry, especially in East Asia, is expected to increase polypropylene's competitiveness vis-à-vis jute fibre, and further erode the demand for the major jute products, such as sacking and carpet backing, thus exerting downward pressure on jute prices. |
| www.fao.org /docrep/006/y5143e/y5143e1g.htm (2481 words) |
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