Page 564 - PERSIAN 2B 1883_1890_Neat

28 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP TAB PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL

The ordinary description of Persian wool exported is coarse and uncleaned.
A well-informed firm in Busliire calculate that
Wool.
# 3,125,000 pounds of wool arc annually exported
from South and South-Western Persia, of which about a quarter goes to Bombay
and the rest to Busrah, where it is cleaned and mixed with superior sorts from
Baghdad and thence shipped to Prance, England, and America. The quantity
of Persian wool thus exported is considered small for the area, but of iourse
a considerable quantity is taken up in the manufacture of carpets, felts, and
other stuffs.
Steamers and Freights.
The number of steamers employed in the Gulf trade was, owing to the
abundance of grain, large, and freights which were low in the early part of the
year rose to 40s. and upwards to London.

Imports.
The improvement in this trade which was observed at the close of the year
1887 became more marked in the opening months
Cotton Goods.
of 1SS3. Assurance of a good harvest caused a
more hopeful feeling in the bazaars, and stocks of goods which importers,
especially in districts affected by previous failure of crops, had found difficulty
in selling began to move off more quickly, but owing to high rate of exchange
(krans 37 to 37£ to £) profits, if any, were small, and in many instances losses
were sustained. This activity lasted until the hot weather, when the usual
slacliness recurred and demands for goods fell off considerably. In August,
however, improvement set in and sales were made on a larger scale and at
higher prices, but not sufficiently high to compensate the importers for the
increased prices ruling in Manchester, owing to the action of the cotton
ring. Exchange, however, became more favourable, having fallen to krans 34,
so the position of importers became more satisfactory. In evidence of the im­
provement of this trade in 1888, it is noticed that failures were few and insigni­
ficant. No doubt, the alleged scarcity of grain in the present year will un­
favourably affect this import trade. As a rule, Manchester goods hold their
place and the tendency has been to receive more costly goods, but at Bonder
Abbas, Russian red chintz has superseded that formerly imported from India,
the traders alleging that they obtain an equally good stuff at cheaper rates from
Russia.
The Copper Syndicate having succeeded in maintaining prices at Home at
a high level, profitable import was impossible, and
Copper.
the stocks on hand in Persia appear sufficient to
meet present demands. I
Large consignments of 6ugar continued to arrive from Marseilles, Persian
merchants being the principal importers, owing to
Loaf «ugar.
the fact that the scale of duty in force for native
merchants in this article is more favourable for them than foreigners’ rates.
The prices have been low.
An active competition has been going on in the markets of Bushire and
Busrah between the Russian and American oils,
Petroleum.
both descriptions being imported from Bombay and
Karachi by native merchants. The cheapness of the Russian oil enables
it to compete against the superior American qualities. During the past year
a cargo of American oil was run direct from New York and landed at Buahire
and Busrah.