In 1820, John White, an American Lieutenant of the U.S. Navy, brought abaca fibers to the United States. Five years later, the first exportation of abaca fibers was made to the U.S. Soon thereafter, abaca became well-known as one of the strongest materials for ropes.

Where did abaca came from?

Mainly used for the production of speciality papers. Also called manila hemp, abaca is extracted from the leaf sheath around the trunk of the abaca plant (Musa textilis), a close relative of the banana, native to the Philippines and widely distributed in the humid tropics.

Who introduced abaca in the Philippines?

The plant, native to the Philippines, achieved importance as a source of cordage fibre in the 19th century. In 1925 the Dutch began cultivating it in Sumatra, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture established plantings in Central America.