Global research trends of natural fibers: A bibliometric review from 2000 to 2023

Fibre crops represent a significant category of economically valuable plants, traditionally cultivated for their fibres but now increasingly recognized for diverse applications, including food, animal feed, cosmetics and medicine. Natural fibres offer a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based synthetics, contributing to their growing prominence in technological and industrial innovations. This bibliometric analysis reviews global research trends on natural fibres from 2000 to 2023, providing insights into author performance, journal impact, institutional contributions and country involvement. The study analyses 2027 publications, revealing a steady annual growth rate of 5.82 % in publications. Across 601 sources, peer-reviewed articles dominate, averaging 22.33 citations per article, with 80535 references indicating a robust scholarly discourse. The analysis highlights the international scope of fibre crop research, with contributions from 78 countries, led by China, India and the USA. China accounts for the highest number of single-country publications, while nations like Pakistan and the Netherlands exhibit strong international collaboration. A detailed keyword analysis reveals dominant themes, including cotton, mechanical properties and the rise of sustainable materials such as hemp and kenaf. These trends mirror the increasing demand for eco-friendly fibres and the industry's shift towards sustainable innovations across diverse sectors. This comprehensive analysis underscores the evolving significance of natural fibres in global research and their potential to contribute to a more sustainable future.