Page 165 - 5 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE I_Neat

No. 4397. Annual Series.

Reference to previous Report, Annual Series No. 4179.

Report on the Trade of the Consular District of Bushire for the
Persian Fiscal Year March 22, 1908, to March 21, 1909,

By Mr. Vice-Consul Chick.

Imports to Bushire in I90S-09 were valued at 39.673,238 krans
and exports at 21.029,811 krans. At the nominal rate of exchange
of 50 krans to the 1/. these sums represent 793,165/. and 432,596/. respec­
tively and show decreases of 25S.578Z. and 65,3941. on the figures of
1907-08. But if exchange be reckoned at the actual average rate for
the year, nearly 55 krans to the 1/., the decrease will be seen to be con­
siderably heavier, viz., 330,712/. on imports and 104,723/. on exports.
Though foreshadowed to an extent by the unhealthy condition
of trade at the end of March, 1908. business continued very dull through­
out the year, at times even remaining at a complete and forced stand­
still. The political situation and the utter lack of tranquillity in Fars
aggravated the bad markets in a more marked degree than even before
March, 1908.
The weakness of the Government In Shiraz to maintain order
in the immediate neighbourhood of that city, the tribal fighting on
the caravan route from Bushire to Shiraz, and constant robberies
and looting on the road from Shiraz to Isfahan, continued to paralyse
all commercial activity. The piece-goods trade suffered especially,
and it will be seen that Manchester lost at least 120,000/. worth of
business on the previous years figures. Even the amount imported
proved more than the demand could hold, and there is ample evidence
to show that many wholesale buyers sold their purchases at a heavy
loss. Of more moment to British trade are the facts that importing
companies have themselves frequently had the goods ordered out and
left on their hands by bankrupt buyers, and that the amount of out­
standing claims presented for recovery from defaulting Persian traders
during a period of 18 months from the beginning of 1908 totalled more
than 20,000/.
The foundation of credit on which so large a number of petty dealers
have kept going for years has been severely shaken during the past
two years of unrest; these men have continually been driven into
forced sales of merchandise in order to meet bills, and there has been
little chance of making losses good.
The lack of transport on the great caravan route to Shiraz was
also a factor which increased the difficulties of merchants. Extortion
(225) a 2

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