Page 345 - 6 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE 2_Neat

3
The figures for raw cotton and tobacco are evi- in tbc fact that Bombay Check cloth. Coarse linen,
rjcncc of the considerable progress which has been and Prints have alr-iost supplanted Manchester
-nude of late years Ln the cultivation o» these com- goods, and that the Bombay mills have been supply-
nioditics. It is too early perhaps to foreshadow ing almost everything in the textile line that is
tieir rivalry or possible replacement of Opium in needed by the lower ciasscs in Persia,
jjic export trade, of Persia.
Exports.
It is interesting to observe that in spite of a Largo
£j,ll in the value of Indigo (natural) and a still larger ’ In the comparative statement of exports in Table
increase in the value of I indigo (synthetic) noted No. 1 “ B ” below, a few starting changes will be
under imports above, the figures for exports show observed.
4 marked increase in the value of non-aniline_carpets The value of exports to Hong Kong shows a fall
exported. The inference is cne that readers of this of £313,019 when compared with 1922-23, and the
report may draw for theimelwes. percentage has dropped from 30-55% to 0-82%.
'The fait fa the vain- of UlT-bakina is probably due Similarly the percentage of exports to Rusal* has
to the embargo on that commodity. The further )umPcd from l2 04% 41I3%-
decline in the value of Gum Tragacanth is due to The Opium trade is clearly responsible for this;
3 dullness in the Indian and Trench markets, but a but that trade to the value of £346,293, ever reaches
recovery Ln the demand for this commodity in the Yladivostock, tLe main port of Russia from the
London Produce market is worthy of note. Persian Gulf, is extremely problematical Shippers
(For full details of exports, «c Tables Xos. 1 “ B”. of ?Piu;" [r°ra, BuBhlrc doubtless find it more con-
2 ** B ” and 3 “ B ” below). venient to declare cargoes for Vladivostock where
’,, . . .. , , . they are less subject to scrutiny than at Hong Kong.
A table showing tne values of imports and exports It be nicILtioncd here that Bushire Customs
of Bushire since 1910-11 is Lere given . Statistics show that the export of Opium to India,
Import. Export. winch m 1922-23 reached a value of £37,000, entire­
ly ceased during the year 1923-24.
£ £
1910- 11 -075,614 345.950 Though the United Kingdom and India still
1911- 12 £32,531 669.020 retain the second place in the export trade, their
1912- 13 5*51,720 637.091 percentage has fallen from 28% in 1922-23 to 25%
1913- 14 £25,767 601,765 in 1923-24. This may be due to several reason*,
1914- 15 •U-9,339 719.171 the more noteworthy being decreases in the export
1915- 16 777.317 583.056
1916- 17 1J£»,502 413.434 of Opium to India and the U :ted Kingdom, Al­
1917- 18 2,439,179 820.951 monds to the United Kingdom, Gam Tragacanth,
1918- 19 2.1W 6,450 395.150 Aniline Carpets, Lambskins and Tobacco to India.
1919- 20 2.723,357 917.655
1920- 21 *» x»U 797 898,571 Rainfall and Harvest.
1921- 22 12T-26!s94 : 680.097
1922- 23 121*2,997 1.079.780 The total rainfall for 1923-24 was well above the
1923- 24 2,1)11,772 2,057,078 average, 17-47 inches being recorded from April
1923 to March 1&24 inclusive. The beneficial effect
Distribution of Trade. of the rain was however somewhat spoiled by the
ImDorts. fact that in March 1924, when it was most needed
to strengthen and develop the crops, only a few
The percentage of imports from the British!Empire fell, recording 003 inches. This, after a
India) has fallen frocn 74% to 68% (ade <jeiUge of 8 inches in January, was disappointing;
• a •** ^ bdow); but no marked increase but on the whole a fair crop for 1924 has been secured.
10 unports from any other ore country appears _ ... ... . , ,» ., , .
vhc-lly to account for thin. ".-i* only other notice- d'rtr.but.on of the ramfaU throughout the
*ble- increase is that o*f Germany from 3-31% to 7*** *** aa *oUoWB :*“ Inches.
5-53<%. This increase is likely to be continued in 1923—
1924 owing to the conumencemtent (in April 1924) . April *78
of direct sailings by Hansa Line Steamers from October -25
Bremen to the Persian Gulf. November . 3-00
December .
It i. noteworthy that the percentage of importa 1924— 3-33
from the British Empire (excluding India) has fallen January 80
bora 30-05% to 29-6WJ*. while the percentage from February 1-50
India has remained stea dy in the neighbourhood of March 03
The cause of this may probably be found 17-47