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Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) is an annual fiber crop grown mainly in India and China. This crop is becoming a new bio‐based energy source because of its fast growth rate, excellent CO2 absorption ability, and large productivity per unit area. In this study, we evaluated 10 different cultivars of kenaf for their potential as biomass for cellulosic ethanol production. First, kenaf samples were hydrolyzed using dilute sulfuric acid, which is the most simple and cost‐effective pretreatment method. Next, simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of the hydrolysates were performed by wild‐type and engineered xylose‐fermenting yeast strains. The results of compositional analysis of the biomass, the hydrolysates, and the fermented products suggested that ethanol yield and productivity were significantly affected by a type of kenaf cultivars, which was not predictable based on the biomass compositions. Also, the ethanol production was maximized when the xylose fraction was utilized by engineered yeast under the control of pH to avoid acetate inhibition. Considering the sugar compositions and their fermentability, kenaf can be a promising energy‐dedicated crop for cellulosic ethanol production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]