TOP 3 RATTAN-SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

Rattan is among the minor tropical forest products that are steadily finding and increasing use in the furniture industry. It is easy to grow, harvest, transport, store, and market rattan. When compared to other forest industrial raw materials, rattan goods have several advantages since they are generally more affordable, stiff, robust, aesthetically pleasing, comfortable to use, light, and portable. Additionally, rattans are used to make cane furniture. Rattan materials are easily transformed into goods with value-added, such as rattan outdoor furniture and centerpieces, which has a positive impact on the economy and creates jobs for a huge number of people.

Around the world, 700 million people use rattan. Rattan trading has quickly expanded into a multimillion-dollar industry. Around the globe, there are several suppliers of rattan. However, there are only selected areas where you can find an abundant supply of it. Here are the top three countries that have the most supply of rattan and large production of rattan materials:

• Indonesia

Indonesia is the top rattan supplier in the whole world. Although Indonesia is the world's greatest producer of rattan and has over 40 varieties that can be used professionally, only six to seven of these are still used by domestic industries. Thus, Indonesia still has a vast amount of rattan potential that can be used for commercial purposes, particularly to enhance its exports of rattan-based goods. In the past, Indonesia was a significant exporter of raw rattan goods, but it stopped doing so in 2011, urging local businesses to add value to the product domestically before exporting it.

• Malaysia

One of the world's leading manufacturers of rattan is Malaysia, coming in second to Indonesia. Rattan is perhaps the most prevalent non-timber forest product that could be utilized in place of wood in many communities in Malaysia. Since the foundation of the industry, Peninsular Malaysia has processed raw canes mostly using traditional techniques. In Peninsular Malaysia, there were about 120 businesses of various sizes producing rattan furniture and other goods. The predicted total annual sales value was $6 million. The majority of these businesses were small-scale, employing 4–10 people each, whereas medium-scale businesses employed 50–100 people. The annual exports of cane furniture alone were in the range of $3 to M$4 million. The growth of Malaysia's economy is significantly influenced by this commodity.

• Philippines

While the manufacturing industry is mostly concentrated in Cebu, Pampanga, and Metro Manila, the majority of rattan production in the Philippines is produced in the Mindanao region. In comparison to Malaysia's 23,157 ha and Indonesia's 118,802 ha, the nation now possesses 17,395 ha of rattan plantations. The Philippines was one of the top five rattan exporters globally in 2015, mostly for furniture, basketry, and raw materials, according to the UN Comtrade Database.

There are several rattan furniture manufacturers in the Philippines. Among which is Casa Bela, a Davao-based rattan furniture shop. They offer a variety of rattan, as well as solid wood, products that are sure to cater to your needs. You may reach their team for more information.