Page 253 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

residency AND MA8KAT POLITICAL AGENCY POR TEB YEAR 1801-95. 28
that a largo and profitable business is, despite this fact, carried on, there can
bo very little doubt
r£ca%_There lias boon a strong demand throughout the year for Indian
nd Batavian teas, which seem to be steadily supplanting the China teas in
favour with the Persian consumer. Heavy consignments, chiefly from India,
irere received by native merchants, who found no difficulty in disposing of
them at a good profit. It was, however, at the port of Bunder Abbas that this
trade received its most vigorous impulse, the imports being more than double
that of the previous year. This largely increased import was probably, to a
great extent, due to an effort to take advantage of a favourable opportunity
for supplying the demands of regions beyond the north-east frontier of
Persia*
Gold Lace and Gold Thread.—'There was but a slight demand for these
articles, and business in them was slack.
Indigo.—Indigo appears to continue in strong demand in Persia, for,
although the imports of 1893 were above the average of former years, they
have been exceeded by those of 1894, an increase of £5,916 in the value of
the indigo brought into the country being reported.
China-tcare.—There was an advance in the demand for these articles, and
it was imported in large quantities.
Glass and Glass-icare.—An average market was found for these articles.
Kerosine Oil.—The year opened with a strong demand for kerosine oil,
and imports were very heavy; the demaud subsequently declining, this result­
ed in the market being overstocked to such an extent that importers have
found it necessary to re-export cases of this oil in large numbers to Basreh for
sale in Turkish Arabia.
Loaf-Sugar.—The heavy importation of 1S93 proved to be in excess of
the demand and large stocks of loaf-sugar remained on the importers’ hands
at the close of the year. This circumstance, together with an augmented
importation from Russia and the abnormal rise in mule hire, had the effect of
seriously diminishing the volume of trade in this produce oid the Gulf ports.
Mauritius Sugar.—The results of the year have been far from satisfac­
tory for the Mauritius sugar importers, the same combination of circumstances
which so adversely affected the loaf-sugar trade rendering a large importation
impossible.
Exports.
TFool.—The good prices realised in 1893 gave an impetus to the wool
trade, and shipments from Persia were accordingly heavy during 1894. The
demand had, however, the effect of raisiug prices in Persia, and prices on the
London market having iu the meantime receded, wool exporters did not obtain
the satisfactory results anticipated.
Opium.—Owing to the strong demand for this drug in the China markets
and the good prices ruling, a brisk and profitable business was carried on with
hina throughout 1894. On the other hand, the opium trade with London la
reported to have languished until the close of the year when an improvement
"as noticeable. The results of the trade with China would have been still
niore satisfactory had it not been for the fact that opium growers having lost
eavily ia 1393 owing to the low prices which the drug commanded, had, in
e f.°U°WinS p0wino seaso°> materially curtailed their sowings with the result
a in 1894 the supply of opium was not equal to the demand. The price of
of*P«eh»nt^n ^ *1 p«nc* at the present rate °Pium Per8ia ™ried fr0m kfan»*
gc. m., knm 57 is to the £. 3,200—3,300 per chest at the beginning of
0 year to krans 4,100 at its close.