Kenaf fibre mattresses make inroads into South Korea

GEORGE TOWN: The National Kenaf and Tobacco Board (NKTB) has launched the export of kenaf fibre mattresses to South Korea in the quest to expand the commodity industry into the global market.

Director-General Samsudin Noor said a consignment of 180 mattresses worth over RM110,000 would be shipped to South Korea to meet customer orders.

He said the kenaf fibre mattress, which was produced in collaboration with Coco Industry Sdn Bhd, was a green product favoured by South Koreans and Japanese.

“There is a high demand and interest for kenaf fibre mattress as it has better benefits than other fibre mattresses as it supports posture, has better ventilation, free of chemicals, lighter and lasts longer.

“Kenaf fibre mattress wards off insects like bugs besides producing negative ions that are very good for health,” he told reporters after the launch of the mattress for the export markets yesterday.

Samsudin said the next shipment of kenaf mattresses to South Korea is expected to be in April, after which it would be exported to Japan, Australia and China.

The launch of the kenaf fibre mattresses for export markets could increase the sales of kenaf products up to RM10 million this year, he added.

So far, NKTB has 3,000 hectares under kenaf cultivation involving about 1,000 farmers, he said, adding that it has targeted to expand the areas under kenaf to 10,000 hectares by 2020.

“Kenaf is very easy to cultivate and it takes only four months to mature, and a hectare can produce 10 to 12 tonnes of kenaf,” he said. — Bernama