'Arabia. Handbooks prepared under the direction of the Historical Section of the Foreign Office - no 90' [‎107] (122/148)

Arabia]
FOREIGN COMMERCE
107
Between 1912 and 1916 the value of the rice im
ported at Aden shows a decrease as compared with
that of other cereals. Hodeida imports comparatively
little, as it is situated in a fertile district which grows
large quantities of millet. The Muscat import has
greatly declined since 1909, as Debai now supplies the
Oman ports, and the import duty levied on rice at
Muscat is thus avoided. The Khoja tribe in Oman
have a monopoly of the import of Calcutta rice to
Oman ports.
There is an enormous grain and flour import at
Jedda, far surpassing that of any other port. The
annual value ranges usually, from £300,000 to £400,-000.
In 1913, according to the Austrian Consular Report, the
countries of origin and the values imported were
approximately as follows:— £
Wheat from Basra 208,000
Other grain, &c., from Basra ... 72,800
Other grain, &c., from India and
Mohammerah
Wheat from India
Wheat from Egypt
Flour from India
Flour from Austria
Flour from Russia
Total
30,000
2,000
3,000
80,000
1,120
400
£397,320
These large quantities are required for the pilgrims,
for the fixed population of the Hejaz, and in part also
for the needs of central Arabia. The corn shipped to
Jedda from Basra varies a good deal in quantity,
and consists of inferior qualities at lower prices than
that sent elsewhere from Basra.
The next largest import is at Aden, where maize and
millet show the largest figures. In 1914 their value
rose to £224,000, but has since declined. Muscat
and Hodeida both import from India only. The
Muscat import fluctuates with the movements of the
navy.