'The Economic Situation in the Persian Gulf and Mesopotamian Markets. Lt-Col Sir P Z Cox, A H Grant and Cpt G Lloyd, MP, Aug 1916' [‎9v] (18/21)

IS
66. The last example may be taken from the figures relating to the
imports of iron, iron manufactures, steel wire, &c.
, Worbs of Iron, Steel wire .ok
/ ^
S I o g. Q q I q . t 0 t<\VV-V3.
I ^ V X. ^
V-. 0 C"
The above shows a British increase of some 800 tons, and shows a
Russian increase of some 1,800 tons. The comparative proximity of
Russian iron and steel works in South Russia partly explains these ligures,
as against which British products have the benefit of sea carriage to
Persian ports as against the more costly land transport and bulk breakage
of the Russian route.
g-HA \ 0 ^
Jnvjxoliii o| ulixxAxu^ci'ciA.vieA J Km.
sec
o
0
q
£
1
(>
&
s
s
U
u
I
5
1
a
j
i
i
In reading the above figures the abnormal and sudden rise of British
imports in 1909-10 is due probably to the importation for^ erection of
Abadan oil refineries and pipe line, i he normal course oi impoits may
more properly be arrived at by a curve from 1908-09 to 1913-14, and the
steady decline of British imports, as shown in the diagram, is to that extent
artificial or at any rate non-indicative. British imports seem to have risen
slightly, but to have been completely overtaken by Russian.
67. The export trade shows almost in exactly the same way the
tendencies exhibited by the import trade, and it will suffice if the diagrams
are appended without comment.
Attention is, however, drawn to the fact that of the main raw mateiials
emanating from Persia, viz., wool, gum, hides, rice and cotton, there is
scarcely an exception from the adverse tendency displayed in the general
trade, and British are importing comparatively less and less year by year,
while Russia imports more and more of Persian products.