Rattan Facts

Rattans are spiny climbing palms in the tropical forests that can attain lengths of over 185 metres. There are 13 rattan genera with 700 known species.

Growing in the tropics and sub-tropics, rattan, or cane as it is commonly known, is a ready source for the cane furniture industry. It is collected from the wild forests throughout Southeast Asia and is the most vital forest produce after timber. Its social significance is no less. It provides sustainable income to some of the most disadvantaged segments of people living in and on the fringes of forests.

Because of its strength and flexibility, the stem of rattan is used extensively in the manufacture of cane furniture and in matting. Other uses of rattan, mostly in the rural areas, are for cordage, in construction, basketry, thatching and matting. Long before the Portuguese discovered the trade route to the East and took back rattan (along with the other wonder, spices) it had been an invaluable part of the life of the rural folk throughout Southeast Asia.

Rattan is increasing in popularity because it is easy to work with, requiring only simple tools and low-cost machines. It lends itself to uncomplicated labor-intensive processing and thus generates diverse employment, and its manufacturing costs are minimal. It is environmentally friendly and biodegradable: it "hugs" the trees and saves them from the logger's axe by providing equal or more benefit than the companion tree, without disturbing the natural habitat.

Rattan has a unique beauty in the finished goods form, reflecting the traditional skills and the unique allure of material fashioned by human hands. Rattan products have come to be cherished throughout the world for their elegance and simplicity.

Ecologically, rattan is very important. It grows in degraded forests and in marginal soil. It can also be introduced artificially in natural forests without disturbing the existing structure and balance.

Trade in rattan has burgeoned into a multimillion-dollar industry. Trade in raw rattan worldwide was in the order of $50 million. By the time the finished product reaches the consumer, its value has increased to $1.2 billion. Overall, the global trade is worth $4 billion and domestic trade $2.5 million.

In the 1970s, Indonesia became the major supplier of rattan, accounting for nearly 70 percent of the entire global trade. Since then, the trade profile had undergone dramatic changes. The value of export has increased a stupendous 250-fold in just 17 years in Indonesia. The rise has been 75-fold in 15 years in the Philippines, 23-fold in 9 years in Thailand and 12-fold in 8 years in Malaysia. Indonesia, the market leader, has now set its target for exports at $700 million (US), while Singapore aims at a target of $60 million.