Page 488 - 6 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE 2_Neat

II
Colombo,. Calcutta and Batavia , inolor oars, trucks and accessories
almost exclusively from the United Stales. Sugar is imported from
Antwerp, Marseilles, Tort. Said and Hamburg. Belgian K.T. loaf-
sugar is the most popular, on jlccount of its hardness, which appeals
to the Persians who an* accustomed to suck sugar with their tea.
Considerable (juanlilies of building material including cement,
roofing, irons joists, paint, etc., are imported in reply to a steady
demand Jrom up country. The United*Kiiigdom continues to export
such material but there is keen competition from .Japan ahd Italy
in the cement market iiitd from Belgium for the supply of iron and
steelwork.
Exports.—Dates grow abundantly in the region round Moham-
merah and are exported on a big Scale, to Europe, the United States,
South Africa and India during the season, which extends from the
middle of August to the middle of November. In 1933 the total
amount exjiorted was estimated at ]5,000 tons. Wheat and barley
lire also grown in the district but not in sufficient quantity for
export.
Haw cotton Ik exported to Antwerp and Hamburg and latterly in
large consignments—over 10,000 hales since November, 1933—
by Japanese steamers to Japan.
Carpets, skins and giiiii are exported in small quantities to the
United Kingdom, the United States, India and (Jermany and nuts
and dried fruits to (Jerninnv and Belgium.

IV.—BANDAR ABBAS.
General.—Six or seven years ago Bandar Abbas was a busy dis­
tributing centre for Kerman: Yezd, Lar and other towns in the
interior and the total volume of its trade amounted to over a million
pounds per annum. This has gradually dwindled until in recent
years it amounts to less than half that total, 'flic latest figures show
that the decline is continuing and this must be attributed to the
difficult economic conditions prevailing in the country and also to
the tendency, which has been mentioned elsewhere, for trade to
move towards Mphiiinmerah, Bandar Shahpur and Ahwaz.
Landing facilities, etc.—The landing arrangements at Bandar
Abbas remain primitive and inadequate. Steamers anchor some
2 miles out and goods arc unloaded into dhows which convey them
to the customs' pier. Some improvement lias recently been effected
in the accommodation at the custom* i>\ the building of additional
warehouses.
Transport.—A motor road now ••onnects Bandar Abbas with
Kerman and the hulk of the goods is transported up country by lorry,
though in some cases: where time is not a factor, animal transport