Coll 28/61 ‘Persia. Trade Reports. Bundar Abbas & Lingah, 1925/6–’ [‎20r] (39/245)

mm
Report on the Trade and Commerce of the Bandar Abbas
District for the year 1932-33.
1. Trade.
(a) General conditions .—Trade of Bandar Abbas
during the year under review was, as in the past years,
very limited and the merchants here, who in the
majority of cases are closely connected with business
firms in Kerman and Yezd, have been acting as
agents for clearing and forwarding goods up country.
The import was restricted owing to adverse
exchange and export invariably brought loss, were
it not for the premium at which export certificates
were sold. The monopoly of sugar and matches
being reserved by the Persian Government, the con
signments of these commodities w T ere stored in the
newly built godowns at Bandar Abbas and sold to
the merchants who then forward these up country
to Kerman and Yezd.
It is usual for the principal merchants to proceed
to the neighbouring hill stations and elsewhere in
the interior during summer months and this often
slackens trade for 3 months.
Since the introduction of the Foreign Trade
Monopoly Law and increased taxation, the Hindu
merchants, who were in the past doing business
extensively in Persia (specially in Kerman and
Bandar Abbas), were hard hit and had to face diffi
culties. Of the two Hindu firms that existed last
year, one was closed down in the beginning of the
year. The remaining one is also contemplating clos
ing down as soon as outstanding amounts are
realised.
The total volume of trade of the district, which,
for Customs purposes, comprises Bandar Abbas,
Charbar, Jask, Khamir, Kishm and Tiab (Port of
Minab) aggregated Rials 46,467,700, as against
Rials. 27,934,349 for the previous year, showing an
increase of .RiaZs. 18,533,351.
Imports .—The imports amounted to Rials.
37,521,200 being more by Rials 17,753,743 than the
previous year.
The values of the principal articles of imports
were :—
(1) Cotton piece-goods from—
Rials.
Russia ....
3,051,238
Japan .....
. 2,464,933
India .....
. 2,070,304
United Kingdom .
337,670
7,924,145
(2) Twists and yarns from—.
Japan ......
India ......
Russia .....
China ......
United Kingdom ....
Rials.
12,176,566
8,658,000
104,100
39,400
16,600 1
20,994,666
(3) A. Sugar (Loaf and cube) from—•
Russia .....
India .....
2,345,642
141,000
2,486,642
B. Sugar (Crystal) from—
Russia .....
Java .....
1,533,650
124,000
1,657,650
(4) Tea from—■
India .....
China ......
Java ......
491,682
54,000
7,640
553,322
(5) Matches from—
Russia .....
39,700
From the above details, it will be observed that
Russia has played a prominent part in the cotton
piece-goods. It is believed that in the coming year
Japan will oust Russian piece-goods from the Persian
market, as, it is reported, the Japan piece-goods
are cheaper and better in quality and therefore gain
favour in this country. The import of Manchester
goods has practically ceased, but it cannot be said
that there is no demand, as the piece-goods imported
through India are mostly Manchester products.
As regards twists and yarns, Japan has captured
the market and it is believed that in the next year
the market will be flooded with these commodities.
As the monopoly of the importation of sugar was
solely given by the Persian Government to Russia
during the year, no other country has imported
this commodity. The figures shown under India
and Java were imported last year before the monopoly
was given to Russia and cleared from the Customs
during the year under report.