Page 389 - 2 Persian Trade rep Bahrain 2_Neat

AMENDMENTS TO PARTS I AND II OF MR. WAKEFIELD’S REPORT ON
ECONOMIC AND TRADE CODITIONS IN THE BAHRAIN ISLANDS FOR
THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1942.

(A) General Description. (B) Finanical-Tightness ll Money.
^„~ho total population is estimated at about Money renamed extremely tightduring the yea*
Vw»;^vJ,000. 19-13-44. Indian Funds were being sold in the
Trade—General Condition. bazar at 4% discount until the beginning of 1944
The total value of trade lor the year, excluding wfcen the rate fell to 1£% discount,
imports and exports of petroleum, of oil equipment Ezchanqc.— The average sterling-rupee rate of
wchange Ibrtlic yw ™ Ra 1,338 F, £ .00.
Kith Rs. 4,77,49,030 in 19*42-43. It shows an llancst.-Thc date crop wxs unusually good,
increase in imports of Rs. 1,01,60,420 and decrease During the year under report there wa3 an increa.se
in exports of Rs. 14,12,340. of cultivation of vegetables by small holders.
Of the total imports aod exports for the year Industry.— Tho pearl catch, was a little less than
under review, 241% and 5C’%respectively were of the previous year. Due to activity on the Imiian
specie, note*, gold and good coins, tho figures for market prices of lower grade pearls rose consider-
which for the last two years are as follows ably over 1912— 43 prices.
1 * port t— 1912-43. 1943-44. Dcxdopmcrl of mines.—The figures below will
Specie and notes . 09.71.(-90 93.15.f-50
Gold ic-iof . 47*30 94.(00 give some idea of the development of t he oil fields :—
Total 1,00.19,020 94.09.CS0 Quantity of oil shipped from Bahrain for the
fiscal year ended 31st March 1941 -
Export*— 1,095 844.346 tons.
Specie nzA note* 78,18.530 1,01.98.(00
Gold coin* . 2.70.S40 3,14,160 Total production of oil for the same period-
Total 80.S3.370 1.05,12.190 882,923-626 tons.
Quantity of crudo oil received from Arabia
It shows a decrease in impends of Rs. 6,09,240 and and refined in Bahrain—686,103*299 tons.
in exports an increase of Rs. 24,22.820. Omitting
the articles mentioned in the previous paragraph (E) Air Service.
the value of imports and exports for thelast two
years has been as follows :— The British Overseas Airways Corporation are
1942-43. 1943-44- maintaining six sendees weekly both east aid
Import* . . - 1.80,28*90 2,91,04,750 west, carrying passengers, mails and a quantity
Export* . . _ 1,16,1 J.C50 77,76,490 of cargo.
These figures which include considaablc tranship­
ment and re-export cargoes, flow an increase in tLe Shipping end navigation.— There is an increase
value of imports of Rs. 1,10*75,7G0 and a decrease of 110% over pre-war rates of freight between
in the value of exports by lb*. 38,35,160. Karachi and Persian Gulf ports. The freight
charges in respect of general cargo were as follow-
Sour (vs of trade.—The principal source of Bah­
rain's imports is India wboac shaLre of the total Bahrain to Karachi 29 rupees per ton-
imports decreased by 14% x& compared with 1942- Bahrein to Bombay 29-8-4) rupees per ton.
43. The shares ftLe United Kingdom and United Bahrain to Basra 25 rupees per ton.
States of Amor** on tLe otLer band showed a Bahrain to Persian Gulf ports Rs. 32-8-0 peg
de:rease of 3% and an increase of 588% respec­ ton.
tively. Imports from Arahiia show an increase of
30%. Lighterage.— There are a number of sea-going
dhows with cargo capacity of up to 40 tons each.
T he increase, in the value of trade cannot how- There is a marked increase in the craft availallc in
ever he attributed to an all round improvement this area. Messrs. Gray, Machenrie and Co Ltd,
in t rade, Lut was due to an increased quantity of Bahrain had ten steel Larges with avenge capacity
imports by tl.e Bahrain Petreleum Company and of about 180 tons during the period under revie^
or cereals by the UK.C.C. 3 here was however a Moreover the British Indian gtcain Navigation
p if61 uiproveinent in local trade between Company nuuntained twelve cargo boat, with m
ferula and Balirain. average capacity of about 26 to 30 tons.