Page 225 - 3 Persian Trade rep KUWAIT 1_Neat

REPORT

OX THE

TRADE OF KUWAIT

for the year 1915-16 (1st April to 31st March)*

Introduction.—The dislocation of business Ex POUT*.
and inhibitions and restrictions against certain Ivroais.
goods, referred to in the rej-Ort for 101 *-15, still Country.
exist and continue to hamper trade and commerce 1913- 19l V- 1915- 1913- 191 W 1915-
generally. But the statistics show a slight n. 13. 16. i I V. 15. 1C.
increase in the trade of the port as compared with
that for 3011-15. Thi* i* due mainly to the India 5S-3 63 6 67-9 ; C5'G 7C-7 72 6.
accident that Zuhair, Knauiisiyah and other places
in the Basrah district have boon drawing some of United Kingdom, 4 G 3 3 2-5
their supplies from Kuwait instead of from 02-9 C7'i 707 G3G 7G7 ?:s
Ba^rih as in pre-war times. There was also some
speculation among the local merchants, who Tnrkiib Arabia . 2r2 SG 73 51 13-3 22-5
imported certain articles in larger quantities than America 2'7 1*0 7-2
were required for local consumption in the expect­
ation of exporting them to Iraq, an enterprise Fe«U 125 12-5 11-5 97 35 33
frustrated by the blockade. The last two pearl France i-0 3 2
seasons have given very di-couraging result: uot
even half the number ot Kuwait pearling boats Germany . 22 0-5
participated iu the industry in 1015, for want
firstly, of money and secondly, of men. This Arab Coast 97 03 11-7 G9
latter shortage has been brought about by tribal Aa-tria-IInagarjr 41 1*4
fighting iu the interior and by our operations in
Mesopctmiia which Lave given remunerative work Other countries . 1*7 3'1 2 3 4-9 31 1-6
to numbers of poor class Arabs who were ordi­ ico-o 10>0 lto-0 100 0 lU'J-0 100-0
narily engaged in pearling. The 1915 catch of 1
pearls was, on the whole, a good one. Profitable
It will be seen from the above table that the
prices were realized and advantage was taken of hulk of the trade is carried ou with India and the
the rise iu the market to dispose of unsold stocks
of 1913 and 14- seasons. United Kingdom, the other countries in order of
importance being Persia, Turkey, and America.
Total Trade.—The total trade of the year Germany and Austria-Ilungarv have needless to
amounted to i.l"4,eu9 as against 1334,123 for sav disappeared from the returns forthe current
1911-1 o, showing a net iucrease of £70,51G or year.
21 09 per ceut.
Reasons for abnormal increases and decreases
Imports—Exports.—These amounted to *“ some °* l5ie items of imparts and exports are
.£'292,212 and £112,757 reflectively, the former giv<>n below,
showing au increase of £529 and’ the latter of Imports by Steamers.
170,Ul7 as compared with that for 1914-15.
Coffee.—Shows an increase of £10,$26 which
me table given below gives the percentage is said to he due to cheaper rates obtainable in India.
share iu the imp rts aud ex|K»rts for the last 3 The market if congested with thin article about
years of the countries concerned. ?tlis of the total imports bciug still in hand!

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