Page 191 - 3 Persian Trade rep KUWAIT 1_Neat

REPORT

OX TIIB

TRADE OF KUWAIT

for the Year 1914-15 (April 1 to March 31) by Lieutenant-Colonel W. G.
Grey. I.A., Political Agent.

Introduction.—In common with other ports imports and exports of the port for the last
and localities Kuwait has suffered severely during three rears:—
1911- 15 in confcqaence of the sacral dislocation
of trade resalting from the various wars and the
prohibitions and restrictions which have been lu ports. Exports.
placed on certain 20ods. The misfortunes which Country.
I
have followed on these events are in addition to I 1912- 1913-1 1911- 1912- 1913- 1914-
those mentioned in the report for 1913-11 which ! 13- 14. IS. 13. 14. 13.
still exist and in fact Lave been aggravated by
the wars. In regard to the pearl industry upon ludis 6>9 Si-3 03*6 75-4 G5G 767
which local prosperity so hrgely depeuds, almost •I
the whole of the pearls taken last year are hither­ United Kingdom. j 3 5 4G 3-5
to unsold and also a large portion of those 75-4 767
obtained in the season of 1913. The war is Gl-4 ; C1D 67-1 GS6
naturally responsible for this to a great extent. Turkish Arabia . j 0 3 9-2 SG 31 5*1 15*8
Money is consequently scarce among the pearling America • -4 -7 IO
community who Lave had to reduce the number
of their boats fitted out for this year’s visit to the Persia 70 125 12*3 109 97 35
banks : in fact less than half the usual yearly
number have left the port. The general unrest Fmnc« 2-2 40 5*2
has extended to the interior of Arabia, and the Germany . 3*3 2-2 05
caravan routes have throughout the greater part
of the year been so unsafe as to interfere largely Arab c«ut . G*5 07 03 9*6 14*7 •3
with inland traffic. Austria re 4*1 1*4
The rainfall in the desert was an improvement
upon that of the previous year but was still not Other Countries . 1*7 17 3*1 10 4*9 31
quite up to the average. General improvement loot) 1000 100-0 1000 1000 1000
in the condition of animals is however reported.
Total trade—The total trade of the port
It will be seen from the above table that
during the year amounted to £334,423 as against Germany, Austria, United Kingdom and America
£435,23S, a decrease of 31 percent, as compared
with 1913-14 and 4l*3S per cent, with that for have each suffered to the extent of 1*7, 2*7, 1*1
and 1 '7 per cent, respectively in the imports and
1912- 13. This large falling-off is due to the the Arab Coast and Persia to the extent of 13 8
facta stated in the introductory remarks above.
and 6'2 per cent, respectively in the export*.
Imports—Exports These amounted to Reasons for the decline in the trade of the first
£291,6S3 and £42,740 giving decreases of 21*34 two countries are obvious, and in regard to the
and 6264 percent, respectively. The table given others it may be attributed to the general disloca­
below shows the share of each country in the tion of trade.
212 S. k P. D