Page 25 - PERSIAN 9 1931_1940

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Prices obtained during the year have varied between £100 to £200 per case.
In the autumn Haji Amin-ut-Tujjar was endeavouring to find purchasers at
$ 800 (American) f. o. b. Bushirc or about £105 (gold). At this rate it is calculated
that an aggregate profit (including an estimated figure of Tomans 340 a case as
the amount realised on sale of the export certificate acquired) of about Tomans
650 per case is obtainable.
What will be the future of the monopoly it is difficult to foresee. It is certainly
very unpopular with most of the larger merchants in the opium growing district
and Behbehani in Bushire, who handles all shipments for Amin, is never anything
but pessimistic.
The crop for 1931 was about 50% bigger than that of the previous year (the
official figure given is 300,000 batmans or close on 900 tons). Writing in the press
on January 3rd, 1932 the concessionaire stated that the monopoly had already
bought up 600 tons of this and would buy the remainder before the new crop.
The fact remains however that the monopoly had at the end of the year some 4,000
cases (about 300 tons) still on their hands, rather more than they were able to ship
in the previous twelve months. They w-ould hardly appear likely to be in a position
therefore, to buy up much of the 1932 crop when it comes into the market, and
failure to do so is sure to cause loud outcry and opposition to the monopoly gene­
rally.
The Government of course have it in their power to make matters very much
easier for the monopoly, either by reducing the excessive tax, or sanctioning the
issue of export certificates to the full value of the amount exported, instead of
only 20% as at present. Hitherto, however, they seem to have been bent on a
policy which if pursued much further can hardly, on the face of it, fail to end in the
monopoly's early dissolution.

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