Page 335 - 3 Persian Trade rep KUWAIT 1_Neat

RETORT

ON THE
TRADE OF KUWAIT

POE TIIE TEAR
1919-20

(1st ArniL 1919 to 31st March 1920)

BT
Major J. C. MORE, D.S.O.,
Political Agent, Kuwait.

Introduction.
The year under review opened with favourable trade conditions. The
pearling season on which the prosperity of the majority of the Kuwait, people
chiefly depends was a very successful one, although only about half the number
of Kuwait boats participated in the fishery for want of crews. The take was
above the average and prices ruled high—much higher than those of the last
five or six years. Tue caravan routes were also particularly safe throughout
the year and facilitated the transport of merchandise to all the big towns in
Central Arabia to which, and also to the neighbouring smaller coast towns on
the Persian side of the Gulf. Kuwait is a distributing centre. The disadvan­
tages of shortage of tonnage, high rates of freight, etc., referred to in the report
for 1915-19 had, with the signing of the peace with Germany, gradually
disappeared. Restrictions on the export of foodstuffs from India, however,
continued throughout the year, but these do not appear to have had a very
adverse effect on the general trade of the port, for the statistics which have
been furnished by His Excellency the Shaikh’s customs show that it recovered
to the extent of 6*72 per cent, from the fall of 23 35 per cent, in 1918-19.
This increase is due no doubt to the favourable economic and transport con­
ditions mentioned above.

Import-Export*

These amounted to £1,061,300 and £276,092 respectively, the former
shewing an increase of 6*S0 per cent, and the latter of 6 12 per cent, aa com-
pared with 1918-19. The items which have largely contributed towards the
increase are:—barley, haberdashery, piece-goods, rice, wheat, and wood for
building boats in imports and coffee, piece-goods, provisions, sugar and tea
in exports.

Boat-building.
Thiitccn large and seven medium bums and sir balams wero built durin®
the year of an aggregate value of £13,500. This figure is not included in the
trade tables.

Freight, Shipping and Navigation.
The British India Steam Navigation Company’s steamers called at Kuwait
fortnightly up to August 1920 and weekly thereafter. A few steamers of the
Persian Gulf Steam Navigation Company also called occasionally as Induce­
ment offered.