File 1283/1913 Pt 1 'Persian Gulf: Anglo-German Commercial Competition' [‎277v] (158/272)

BASRA.
storing, manipulation and shipment abroad is estimated at 150,000L.T.,
thus benefiting to this extent the labour market, river shipping lines
and wharf owners. Importers’ profits are estimated approximately
at 50,000L.T. The net profit accruing to the agriculturists is there
fore 650,000L.T., a comparatively large sum in view of their re£ ir e -
ments. The cost of freight of the grain abroad pocketed by the
shipping companies is represented by the same authority as 300,00OL.T.,
and the profits accruing to export houses are estimated at 120,000L.T.|f
2)^.—The export of dates was 66,169 tons, valued at 457,7952.,
as compared with 61,780 tons, valued at 423,233/., in 1910, showing
an increase of 4,389 tons in quantity and of 34,562/. in value or about
8 per cent. The average market price of dates exported at Basra was
6/. 18s. id. per ton.
Prices were higher for H alia wees and Khadrawees and somewhat
lower for Sayers than in 1910, being fixed at the annual meeting of
merchants and growers in September at 390 shamis (22/. 15s.), 290
,shamis (16/. 18s. Ad.) and 190 shamis (11/. Is. M.) for Hallawees,
Khadrawees and Sayers respectively per kara of dates of 40 maunds.
The shami is equivalent to Is. 2<Z. and the kara of dates to 54| cwts.
The purchase price of Hallawees, Khadrawees and Sayers was therefore
at the outset 8s. Ad., 6s. 2d. and 4s. Id. respectively per cwt. But
none of these prices were maintained throughout the season.
Khadrawees in particular were difficult to procure in large quantities
at the price mentioned owdng to the demand for early shipment to
Australia. Prices, how r ever, fell both for Hallawees and Khadrawees
after the departure of the Australian and American steamers. The
crop is estimated as considerably less than that of the previous year.
A few’ shipments to London via Bombay prior to the departure of the
direct steamers, which arrived in time for the Christmas trade, gave
good results, but direct sBipments and forward sales of dates in
particular must have resulted in heavy losses. A few parcels of dates
held over in London till the New Year were sold at good prices.
Freight for dates by the direct London lines was fixed at 1/. 12s. M.
per ton as compared with 1/. 7s. §d. in the previous year. Two
steamers, one German and one British, were loaded direct for Australia,
and the usual three steamers left for the United States of America.
Shipments to the Levant A geographical area corresponding to the region around the eastern Mediterranean Sea. and Mediterranean ports showed a consider
able increase as compared with those of the previous year. This
is due to the favourable prices offered in those markets compared
with London prices during the season.
Imports .—The estimated value of imports to Basra in 1911, in
cluding goods in transit to Bagdad and Persia, was 2,855,677/.
compared with 2,634,596/. in the previous year, showing an increase
of 8| per cent.
Candles .—These increased by 1,193 cases.
China and glass .—These articles show an increase of 2,549 cases
and in value 6,372/.
Piece-goods .—There was an increase of 676 packages of cottons
and in value 23,660/., chiefly Manchester goods. Silks increased
by 83 cases and by 4,150/. in value, and woollens bv 734 cases and
29,360/. in value.