Page 671 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

RE8IDENCY AND MA8KAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 19OM905. 129

PART IV.—TRADE REPORT FOR MA8KAT, 19J&4-06.

Tho total value of trade for the year according to the figures furnished by
the Superintendent of the Sultan’s Customs is returned at $6,098,849 as against
$6,390,420 of the preceding year, shewing a decrease of $291,671, which
is due to the great falling of in the art icles of export especially in dates;
though there is an increase of $1G3,969 over the last year’s figures on the
import side.
The total value of imports amounts to $4,044,649 and that of the exports
to $2,064,300, thus shewing the import trade is nearly double the export, and
consequently it would appear that the balance of trade is against the country
to that extent. However this is uot the case, as arms and ammunition
imported from Europe, and piece-goods from the United States are again
exported. Moreover the exports probably exceed the estimate returned by
the Customs Superintendent, who keeps no record of the merchandise leaving
the country, as it is not compulsory on the exporters to take out manifests
from the Customs Office as is usually done in other countries for statistical
purposes. The export figures as given by the Customs Office are therefore
only approximate.
The last year’s return showed an increase of $675,145 on the import
side, and this year’s again gives an increase of $163,969. The chief items
which contribute for increase are arms and ammunition, piece-goods, coffee
and rice. There is a falling off in the imports of sugar, silks, silk goods,
cereals, and specie.
In the preceding two years the exports showed slight decreases, but the
year under review shows a decrease of $455,540 over the last year’s figures.
This is due to the great falling of in dates which form the principal item of
this country’s produce for export: there was no break in the drought men­
tioned in the last year’s report, and consequently the date produce was scanty
and the lowest of the last 15 years. Almost all articles of export show a
decrease with the exception of pearls and salt.
The precentages of the total trade of Maskat as regards the various nations
are as follows:—
India 63*0 per cent.
United Kingdom 11*8 99
France 8-0 a
Persia 6*1 t>
America . 4*1 it
Asiatw Turkey 1*3 it
Zanzibar . 0-5 a
Other countries 5* a
The exchange of dollars thronghout the year varied from R128 to R138 per
$100.
Shipping—The number of vessels that entered and cleared from the Maskat
harbour is 732, representing a tonnage of 398,556 as against 542 with tonnage
of 266,934 of the preceding year, thus giving an increase of 190 vessels for
the year under review.
The percentages of the total tonnage of the vessels of different nation­
alities that entered the Maskat harbour are as follow:—
British * • • 91*84
Maskat 2*40
Russian 2*34
Turkish • 1*41
French • • 0*43
Persian 0*33
Other countries .' 1*25
W. G. GREY,
Officiating Political Agent and IT. B. Jf. Comult
Maekat.