Kenya is a world producer of this valuable fiber which uses include: ropes, twines, and general cordage, specialty paper, dartboards, buffing cloth, filters, geotextiles, mattresses, carpets, handicrafts, wire rope cores, and Macramé. Sisal has been utilized as an environmentally friendly strengthening agent to replace asbestos and fiberglass in composite materials in various uses including the automobile industry.
The leaves are crushed and beaten by a rotating wheel set with blunt knives, so that only fibers remain. In East Africa, where production is typically on large estates, the leaves are transported to a central decortication plant, where water is used to wash away the waste parts of the leaf.
The fiber is then dried, brushed and baled for export.
Proper drying is important as fiber quality depends largely on moisture content. (Here is a picture of sisal fiber drying.)
Artificial drying has been found to result in generally better grades of fiber than sun drying, but is not feasible in the developing countries where sisal is produced.
Fiber is subsequently cleaned by brushing. Dry fibers are machine combed, sorted into various grades and packed for export.
Sisal products available in Kenya include rope, handwoven bags and purses, and mats.