Also known as the “golden fiber”, jute is a bio-degradable, natural fiber grown in several countries in Asia. In a recent article by BBC News, they explain the process of cultivation as well as the recent popularity of jute that has rebounded amid environmental concerns. Before the 1980s, jute was a widely-used fiber, until synthetic materials, such as plastic, were introduced. Now, worldwide demand for jute is coming back strong, and production is booming in places like Bangladesh. New uses are continuing to be discovered and there is even talk about blending jute fabric with cotton to produce denim, something that could potentially ease the recent spike in cotton prices. Below is a U.S. import trend of jute, top countries supplying jute, and top importers of the product. Data was collected using Zepol’s powerful Bill of Lading database, TradeIQ™.