Page 127 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (II)_Neat

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The doorcase in tho quantity of wheat is offset by the increase in the quantity
of wheat flour, and is tho natural result of tho closing down of the local flour milling
industry which was started with Government encouragement but was not properly
worked by those coucornod. While tho Government has suffered no loss by this
neglect, purchase money which might have come into Bahrain has been diverted to
Iraq.

The increase in the quantity of coffee is interesting because in 1355 a large
quantity of Yemen coffee was imported here; but this commodity has lost ground in
favour of Singapuri coffee, the cost of the latter having fallen by about 40% below the
previous year.

Also, the decrease in Java soft sugar is due partly to the local market being
over-stocked, and partly to an increase in its cost by about 25%. Imports of crystal
sugar have decreased, also on account of over-stocking.

The cost of cotton having increased by about 40%, the value of imports, also
of silk, would naturally be greater. Here it may be remarked that although large
quantities of Japanese piece goods are imported, there is a tendency among the
better class to buy the better and more lasting English piecegoods.

UNIT VALUES.
UNIT VALUES OF SOME PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES.

Commodity Unit Year 1355 Year 135G

Hs. Rs.

Rice Ballam Bag 11 0 0 10 8 0
»> Karachi n 8 8 0 8 8 0
„ Rangoon »> 9 0 0 8 12 0
Coffee Yemeny Maund 18 0 0 18 0 0
,. Singapuri 13 0 0 9 0 0
Sugar Java Bag 9 0 0 11 0 0
Crystal 1$ cwt. 10 0 0 10 0 0
n
„ Loaf Bag 8 0 0 8 0 0
Flour Indian Bag 13 0 0 12 8 0
„ Iraqi Bag 9 0 0 10 0 0
Tea Black Case 85 0 0 70 0 0
Cottons, Japan Bale 140 0 0 150 0 0
„ Indian Bale 135 0 0 150 0 0
Cement European Bag 2 8 0 2 8 0
» Indian Bag 2 0 0 2 4 0
Japanese Bag 16 0 16 0
i)

With the exception of coffee and tea, the tendency is towards an increase in
values. It is not to be expected that European cement will compete in the local
market, but Indian cement is preferred to Japanese as being both better and better
packed.