description Sisal Overview
Sisal is a natural fiber obtained from the leaves of Agave sisalana, a species of agave native to Mexico. The fiber is coarse, strong, and suited to products such as rope, twine, cordage, mats, and other woven materials. Commercial sisal cultivation expanded beyond Mexico, with Brazil and Tanzania becoming important producers for the global industrial and textile markets.
help Sisal FAQ
What plant produces sisal fiber?
Sisal comes from the leaves of Agave sisalana, a succulent agave whose native range is the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. It is a hard natural fiber, unlike cotton, which comes from seed hairs. [Kew Plants of the World Online](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn%3Alsid%3Aipni.org%3Anames%3A6701-2)
How is sisal fiber extracted from Agave sisalana?
Harvested leaves are fed into a decorticator that removes the soft pulp and leaves the fibers. The fibers are then washed, dried, cleaned, and baled for use in products such as rope and twine. [International Natural Fiber Organization](https://naturalfibersinfo.org/?page_id=86)
What is sisal used for?
Sisal is widely used for rope, twine, cordage, mats, carpets, and handicrafts. It is also used in paper, geotextiles, and some composite materials. [FAO fiber guide](https://www.fao.org/4/t0122e/t0122e0d.htm)
Where is sisal grown commercially today?
Important growing regions include Brazil, Tanzania, and Kenya, as well as Mexico and several other tropical countries. Embrapa reports that Brazil's Bahia state produces about 90 percent of the country's sisal fiber, with commercial expansion beginning there in the 20th century. [Embrapa sisal profile](https://www.embrapa.br/en/web/agencia-de-informacao-tecnologica/territorios/territorio-sisal/atividades-economicas/cultivos/sisal)
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