File 1407/1918 'Kowait Trade Reports. (1911-1930)' [‎270r] (544/746)

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# REPORT
ON THE
TRADE OF KUWAIT
for the Year 1916-17 (April 1st 1916 to 31st March 1917) by Lieutenant-
Colonel K. E. A. Hamilton.
Introduction. —Kuwait is a principality on the
Arabian side of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , 50 miles from the
mouth of the Shatt-al-Arab and 138 miles by sea
and 90 miles by land from Basrah. The population,
which is estimated to be over 40,000, is larger than
any other port on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Kuwait is also
an entrepot of goods for Nejd and some of the
important towns of Central Arabia and in a
lesser degree for Mashur, Hindian, and other
neighbouring minor ports on the Persian Coast.
Its trade is not therefore influenced by local
conditions only, but also by climatic and economic
conditions of those countries and by the safety
of the caravan routes to the interitor.
The trade of the port has, like that of other
countries, suffered during the last three years,
but in spite of the continuance of the war,
shortage of tonnage, blockade, and other restric
tions it has appreciably recovered during the year
under review. This is due to three causes, viz. :—
speculation on the part of the local merchants,
general rise in the price of almost every article,
and to the safety of the caravan routes which were,
with the exception of a few spasmodic raids,
comparatively safe throughout the year and
facilitated the transportation of merchandise
under permits to non-blockaded towns of Central
Arabia and Nejd.
The pearling season, an industry on which 50
per cent, of the inhabitants chiefly depend, was
also a successful one, though a lesser number of
boats participated in the fishery owing to the
shortage of men. The catch was up to the
average of past years and good prices were also
realised.
Total rade.—The imports amounted to £471,
713, and the exports to £152,530, the former
shewing an increase of 61‘42 per cent, and the
latter of 35'27 per cent, or a total of 54 14 per
cent, as compared with 1915-lb. Ihe chief items
427 F. & P. D.
which have contributed towards it are piece-goods,
rice, wheat and sugar under imports and pearls
and specie under exports. Reasons for abnormal
increases and decreases in some of the articles
are given below :—
IMPORTS BY STEAMERS.
Barley. —Was imported of the value of £8,786.
Formerly this came from Persia but owing to a
shortage in that country, it has this year been
imported from India.
Coffee. —Shows an increase of £5,546. Large
stocks are stated to be still on hand.
Enamelware. —Shows a decrease of £1,255
which is due to the difficulty of obtaining the
commodity.
Piece-goods. —Show an enormous increase, viz .:
£116,820. It is due to the rise in the price of
every kind of cloth and to increased exports to
certain districts which formerly used to draw their
supplies from elsewhere.
Rice.—Increase of £12,757 is due to the rise
in price and also to the fact that a lesser quantity
was imported in 1915-16.
Sugar. —The increase of £21,120 is attributed
to advance in price and increased exports to the
interior.
Tamarind. —Shows an increase of £4,707
which is due to its export to Basrah and the
Persian coast.
Tea.—The quantity imported was smaller than
in previous years, the increase of £2,i.24 being
due to rise in prices.
Twist and Yarn. —Lesser quantity was
imported last year and the increase of £1,1 i 5 is
attributed to it.
Wheat and Wheat Flour. —Show an increase
of £12,550. This is due to the failure of crops