تقارير ومراسلات تتعلق ببلاد فارس، بما يشمل التجارة ومساراتها في بلاد فارس [و‎‎٨] (٢٥٢/١٥)

STATISTICS OF PERSIAN TRADE.
11
II.—Trade Statistics.
From a _ statistical statement under preparation, kindly lent me by the
Administration of Persian Customs, I estimate the trade of Persia (exclusive
of the Karun) with foreign countries for the year 21st March 1902 to 20th
March 1903, exclusive of Caspian Sea fish exports and bullion imports, at—
Imports 4,9*15,982
Exports . 2,889,565
Details are furnished in Annex A. Tables 1 and 2, pp. 70*74.
The administration of the Customs of Muhammerah and Karun ports was
only taken over from the Sheikh of Muhammerah in the autumn of 1902, and
official Persian statistics for those ports are not available.
Consular Statistics (Foreign Office r ‘Annual Series” No. 3036—Trade
of the Persian Gulf) for Muhammerah and Karun ports for the year ending
31st December 1902, give—
Imports 123,458
Exports 147,283
These figures are not for the same period as the Persian statistics, but
admitting them as roughly representative of Karun trade, we have, for all
Persia—
£
Total Imports . • . . . 5> 0 39,°oo
,, Exports ..... 3,036,000
8 > 0 75 > 000
Statistics for the previous year, on the same basis, give —
£
Total Imports 5,297,000
„ Exports 2,849,000
8,146,000
The values given in the Persian statistics are those accepted by the
Customs for payment of ad valorem duties, and therefore may be considered as
fairly accurate but representing less (certainly not more) than the real value
of the merchandise.
The weights given in the same statistics are for the most part gross
weights.
The general rule observed in classifying articles seems to have been to
ascribe merchandise to the different countries according to declarations of
origin or destination, aided by marks, names, and indications on the packages.
Contraband no doubt exists, and will continue to be practised across a
frontier so wide as that of Persia. Under the Belgian administration it is at
least real, not open, smuggling, and out of reach of calculation.
Some important articles of Persian commerce, such as bar silver, fish,
and precious stones, are not included in the Customs Statistics, presumably
because they are not subject to duty.
Imports of bar silver for the Persian mint amounted to some 650,000/.
(krans 36,216,098 silver were struck at the Teheran mint during the year
March 1902-3).
The important fisheries on the Caspian, leased to a Russian subject, must
furnish an export of fish and caviare to Russia of at least 80,000/. to 100,000/.
annually.
The turquoise mines of Nishapur yield valuable stones most of which are
exported, but information is not obtainable as to the annual output.