Page 39 - 3 Persian Trade rep KUWAIT 1_Neat

No. 215, dated Koweit, 20tli April (3rd May) 1909.
From—Major S. G. Knox, I.A., Political Agent, Koweit,
To-S. H. Butler, Esq., C I.E., Secretary to the Goverumont of India ia the
Foreign Department, Simla.
I have tho honour to submit, herewith, tho Trado Report for Koweit for
tho year 1003*09 together with tho returns showing tho statistics of trade foe
tho same period.

Trade Report for Koiceit for the year 1008-09,
Tho total valuo of tho trade for the year 1903-09 amounts to Rs. GG,99,305
as against Its, 75,57,107 of tho previous year, showing a nett decrease of
Its 8,53,102.
This fall is shared both by exports and imports, though tho fall in exports
is proportionately considerably greater. The imports of iS07-08 exceed those
of tho year under report by Us. 1,52,510, whfle. fhe exports of 1907 08 exceed
those of tho year under report by Rs. 4Vj9^)Gi. Even these figures do not
show the full extent that trade has sulTcred during the past year, and especially
exports as some large items ought to be ruled out of the returns as exceptional
and unconnected with ordinary trade.
The fall was duly anticipated in the report for 190"-0S and its cause was
assigned, vis., the failure of tho pearl market which has only in the last few
months begun to recover. To this calamity must bo added poor harvests in
Persia and the Shatt-el-Arab which affected tho trade in cereals, and again no
rain this year which has pressed heavily on tho desert population and their pur­
chasing power and destroyed the export of slaughter animals and gbi.
All classes have felt the pinch of poverty severely and have been compelled
to retrench their expenditure.
The imports have amounted to Pvs. -19,13,120 as against Rs. 53,95,GG0 of
the previous year, showing a nett falling off of Rs. 4,52,51-0. Of this Rs.
4,S9,3S8 worth has been lost by the bungalow trade, while the steamer traffic has
held its own and even shows a slight increase of Rs. 30,818 in spite of a large
fall of nearly one and half lakh of rupees in arms and ammunition.
The imports by steamers amounted to Rs 24.62,143 while buggalow imports
reached the total of 11s. 24.SO,072. On the other hand, the exports for 1908-09
have amounted to Rs. 17,56,185 as against Rs. 21,56,147 of the previous year
showing a decrease of Rs. 3,99,962. The exports by steamers show what must
he called a misleading increase of Rs. 5,53,1S6, as Rs. 8,11,SCO of the returns
under report consisted of a single shipment of specie made by the ruler of
Koweit to purchase date gardens in tho Shatt-el-Arab, and it would be more in
accordance with facts to say that the exports steamer trade of Koweit has
sudored during the year under report to the extent of Rs. 2,58,614.
Still more noticeable is the martod decrease in the buggalow exports which
amounts to no less than Rs. 9,53,148.
Steamer Returns (Imports).

The import of anchors has nearly doubled and no very satisfactory reason
has been found for this increase. It is noticed that, in spite of the prevailing
poverty, many new boats are being built and that extensive repairs are being
carried out in the existing pearling fleet. 11 is convenient to notice at the same
time a similar increase in the import of sailcloth, iron jiails, coir rope and par-
tially tallow.