'File 10/4 I Trade Reports' [‎450r] (914/1102)

Report on the Trade of the Bahrain Islands for the year ended
31 st March 1931.
Introduction.
The Independent Arab Principality of Bahrain
consists of a group of islands off the East coast of
Arabia. The State is under British protection but
is not a protectorate.
A general description of the physical, political
and commercial peculiarities of the Islands is given
in the Report for the year 1911-12 (Annual Series
No. 5052). The permanent population is estimatea
at 115,000.
Trade.
The total value of the trade amounted to £1,691,558
as compared with £2,818,257 in 1929-30, showing
a decrease of £1,126,699 or 39-9 per cent.
The total value of Imports amounted to £1,087,524
as against £1,930,692 in 1929-30, showing a decrease
of £843168 or 43-7 per cent. The decrease
chiefly due to the worldwide fall m pnces of com
modities but owing to the tightness of ready money
anrl flip slunrD in the pearl trade actual imports
have decreased and the market for better class goods
is at a stand-still.
Since pearls are a luxury, and are only boug
when other wants have been satisfied, the depres
sion has been felt acutely in Bahrain which is
almost entirely dependent on the pearl trade for
a ll will be seen that Cotton goods valued at £79^38
are shown as imported from India. This ™
leading as the bulk of the car ^° ^ and consT-
the United Kingdom arrives via India and conse
pertly h f di„g. .nd .Is. a
quantity of Japanese piecegoods.
Pearl Industry.
A general description of this Industry is given
in this Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Trade Report for the year 1927-28.
Exports.
Tb, total value of yea' amoon^
nA fn £604 034 as against £oo<,ooo i
obowing adecreaae of l«531 ». <»«'■
Tie following table .bows
general merchandize as compared with Pearls »n
Specie:—
Imports.
Year.
Specie.^
Pearls.
Total
of
Pearls
and
Specie.
General
Merchan
dize.
Total
Imports.
1929-30
1930-31
Percentage of
increase or
decrease.
£
574,029
109,537
—80-9
£
11,843
15,600
+ 31-7
£
585,872
125,137
—78-6
£
1,344,820
962,384
—28-4
£
1,930,692
1,087,524
—43-7
Exports.
Year.
Specie.
Pearls.
Total
of
Pearls
and
Specie.
General
Merchan
dize.
Total
Imports.
1929-30
1930-31
Percentage of
increase or
decrease.
£
193,922
185,570
—4-3
£
141,278
42,672
—69-8
£
335,200
228,242
—31*9
£
552,365
375,792
—31-9
£
887,565
604,034
—31-9
Since many Pearls leaving iJanram are ^
elated and vory few deolat .d at tbe.i
it is impossible to give «act fS"
port but the amount is variously estimated between
one -aad-a-bali aad two million pounds .n notmal
years.
Customs.
The Tariff is fixed by Treaty at 5 per cent.
valorem on all imports. In June 1920 on the advice
of the Government of India the tax on goods landed
STin in transit f.e .be
from 5 per cent, to 2 per cent at ^
it formerlv stood. Export duty of Ks. tu per
bundle of "hides and Rs. 2 per ^ basket of dates is
cbarffed The Customs work is carried on by a
European Director of Customs under the orders
of the Ruler of Bahrain.