Bamboo Market Demand and Export Potential

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Bamboo products Bamboo raw materials Bamboo is a non-durable resource. Its use in exposed conditions requires prior treatment (Liese and Kumar, 2003), while its use can be further enhanced through the application of modern engineering techniques. Bamboo can be processed into modern products (engineered bamboo) that may successfully compete with wood products in price and performance. Use of bamboo in composite panels and boards overcomes differences in quality related to the culms and allows the production of homogeneous products. Engineered bamboo may well replace wood, steel and concrete in many uses. Bamboo charcoal Bamboo charcoal is traditionally used as a substitute for wood charcoal or mineral coal. It can serve as a fuel, absorbent and conductor. The calorific value of bamboo charcoal is almost half that of oil of the same weight. Activated bamboo charcoal can be used for cleaning the environment, absorbing excess moisture and producing medicines. The absorption capacity of bamboo charcoal is six times that of wood charcoal of the same weight. China is a leader in its production. At present, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan Province of China are the main consumers, but its importation is rapidly expanding in Europe and North America. There are three main reasons contributing to the success of bamboo charcoal in international trade: 1. bamboo grows faster and has a shorter rotation compared with tree species; 2. the calorific value and absorption properties of bamboo charcoal are similar to or better than those of wood charcoal; and 3. it is cheaper and easier to produce. Bamboo housing There are three main types of bamboo housing: 1. traditional houses, which use bamboo culms as a primary building material; 2. traditional bahareque bamboo houses, in which a bamboo frame is plastered with cement or clay; and 3. modern prefabricated houses made

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