Page 401 - 3 Persian Trade rep KUWAIT 1_Neat

REPORT

ON TUB
TRADE OF KUWAIT

For the year 1921-22 (1st April 1921'to 31st March 1922)

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

Introduction,

The year under review was not favourable to trade owing to the unsettled
state of the Interior due to the war between Ibn Sa’ud and Ibn Rashid which
resulted in the latter’s defeat in the beginning of November. The pearling
season, on which the prosperity of a large number of the inhabitants of Kuwait
depends, was a poor one as regards the catch, and the prices realised for pearls
also remained low. The figures given in the Table B are no real criterion of
the pearls exported, as compared with other years, as they only show those
exported by steamer, no figures being available for the large number exported
by sailing craff, or for those~taken in the personal luggage of passengers by
steamer.

Import.
The total imports by sea amounted to £1,112,909, and showed an increase
of 75*46 per cent, as compared with the figures for 1920-21, which is
accounted for by the increased import |of sugar, rice, dates, wheat and flour,
barley, sheep and goats, piece-goods and specie.
Of the total import trade 82T1 per cent, was with India, 7*24 per cent,
with’ Iraq, 6’03 per cent, with Persia, 4T3 per cent with Arab Coast and *44
with other countries.
Export.

The total exports by sea amounted to £543,576, and showed an increase
of 21*76 per cent, as compared with the figures for 1920-21, accounted for
bv the increased export of specie, which was £217,431 against £101,696 during
1920-21.
Of the total export trade 42^3 per cent, was with Persian Coast, 40 per
cent with India, 9 per cent, with Arab Coast and 8*7 per cent, with Iraq.
Customs Administration and Lighterage.

The administration of the Kuwait customs is supervised by a local Arab,
and the system works satisfactorily. An import duty of 4 per cent, ad valorem
is charged, and there is no export duty, except on goods brought in from the
Interior, such as clarified butter, hides, wool, etc., on which 4 per cent, is
charged if exported.
The arrangements for lightering and landing cargo at Kuwait are superior
to those at any other port in the Persian Gulf. A

Freight, Shipping and Navigation.
Kuwait owns about 200 sailing boats engaged in the carrying trade as
distinct from pearling and fishing boats. Of these CO have a carrying capacitv
of over 100 tons, including 8 of over 300 tons and 20 of over 230 ton*? 1 J