Page 126 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (II)_Neat

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The foregoing indicates a marked improvement in receipts, notably in
collections from steamers’ cargoes, but a marked drop in the collections from cargoes
transhipped oversides within the port which are destined for mainland Arabian ports.
(a) Steamers* Cargoes. Apart from the largo quantity of cargo which is
admitted duty-free, there has boon a groat increase in the quantities of
general merchandise imported by local competing merchants. The
optimism which created this boom is based upon the prosperity created
by the local expenditure of the Bahrain Petroleum Coy., Ltd., and its
staff; but it is exaggerated and unlikely to bo maintained, since this
Company’s staff, on re-roganisatiou, is being reduced, and its spending
power is less. Already it is noticed that importers are slower in taking
up clearances, and the bazaar trading is duller than iu 1355. If existing
conditions continue, I do not think it likely that the year 1357 will show
so marked an increase as the present one.
(b) Native Craft. This improvement in receipts is due to a revival in the
traffic in fish oil from Africa, and in flour from Iraq, and to a preference
by native nakhudhas to selling their goods in Bahrain, where the bazaar
prices have been steadily better than in other Gulf ports. Thus the
Native Craft manifests issued at Karachi do not ensure that the commodi­
ties are actually discharged at the ports declared therein.
(c) Postal Parcel Duty. Here the increase is mainly due to imports of personal
requirements by the personnel of the Bahrain Petroleum Coy., Ltd.
(d) Passengers Baggage Duty. This increase is due to greater activity among
itinerant traders travelling with ‘deck cargo’ between India, Iran, and
Bahrain, chiefly carpets and giliras.
(c) Export Duty. This increase is mainly due to activity in the export to
Europe of ‘Lingah’ shells; although there has been noticeable drop in the
quantity of Qatif dates exported to India.
(f) Direct Transhipment Duty. This marked decrease (by’about one-third) is
due partly to the California Arabia Standard Oil Company having for the
time being completed their imports of necessary machinery, and partly
to the cessation of traffic between Bahrain and D’bai, which is also a
port of call for the B. I. S. N. Coy’s steamers.
(g.h.) The increase in Miscellaneous and Import Yard receipts normally follow
an increase in the quantities of packages brought here as steamers’
cargoes, notably case cargo.
Comparative Values. It is of interest to consider the values and quanti­
ties of the principal commodities imported:—

Year 1355 Year 1356
Commodity. Average Average
Quantity Quantity
value value

Rs. Rs.
Rice 3,63,284 cwts 19,98,320 3,83,832 cwts 21,57,220
Wheat 26,353 1,09,490 13,468 72,360
Flour 39,187 „ 1,90,670 54,231 3,13,820
Coffee 4,479 bags 2,14,440 11,103 bags 4,75,270
Sugar (loaf) 7,216 „ 47,720 7,850 „ 58,330
Sugar (soft) 77,282 cwts 3,08,810 15,240 cwts 65,190
Sugar (crystal) 5,200 „ 26,330 3,150 i} 18,930
Tea 2,646 c/s 2,01,400 5,657 C/8 3,77,520
Cottons 15,84,680 23,60,380
Silks 3,22,080 5,95,700