Reports and Correspondence Relating to Persia, Including Trade and Trade Routes in Persia [‎11v] (22/252)

REPORT ON TRADE OF PERSIA.
wheat lands. The return is estimated at 10 times the seed sown,
but the ground is little more than scratched, and is cropped year
after year. There is often a large percentage of barley mixed
with the wheat, which is dealt in at Ahwaz on the basis of 8 per
cent, barley and dirt. In consequence of a succession of bad
harvests, prices have not admitted of important purchases for
abroad since 1895, when over 25,000 tons were exported. This
year a small quantity has been exported. The prices on the
Karun in 1902 averaged about 7s. per cwt. It cannot be dealt
in at Ahwaz for export at current London prices (March 1902,
27s. 6d.) at much over krs. 30 per Ismailia man (3J cwts.)
(35. id. per cwt.).
The province of Kermanshah is also an important wheat
growing country, and, like the Karun region, might attain to
agricultural prosperity were the excessive taxes and restrictions
on export removed. The price of wheat in Kermanshah during
the last year has been krs. 20 to krs. 25 per kharwar Tabriz, or
15. 2fl?. to is.’jd. per cwt. Customs duty on export is krs. 10
per kharwar (75^. per cwt.). The local governor has been in the
habit of levying an altogether unjust and illegal tax of krs. 5 per
kharwar (3^. per cwt.) on all grain moved out of the province,
whether to other provinces or abroad.
Charcoal.
A small export to Baku from Resht.
Clothing.
Import.— Underclothing, such as socks, undervests, and
drawers of all qualities both in wool and cotton, for both men
and women’s wear, cotton and flannel shirts, &c., is finding favour
with the middle and upper classes in the larger towns. Teheran
is the best market, and is supplied largely from Tabriz through
Persian traders with Constantinople. A large proportion of these
articles are of British origin. Cotton blankets (imitation wool),
known as Austrian blankets, obtain a fairly wide sale (price
Tabriz krs. 4 to krs. 6 per piece). Ladies’ wearing apparel,
bonnets, muffs, and general millinery find a limited market in
Teheran only.
Handkerchiefs (printed) for women’s headgear find a fairly
wide sale.
An increasing demand for boots and shoes (men and women’s)
of European shape is noted. Walking boots appear to come
chiefly from Austria, long riding boots (chakmeh) from Russia,
and fancy, shoes and slippers from France. Rubber goloshes
from Russia are much used.
The underclothing imported is said to be largely composed
of odd lots and clearing sale goods picked up by traders on
their annual visits to Europe, and traders state that prices are
so precarious it is impossible to do business in regular lines.
Export.-— Persian cloaks (abbas), socks, cotton shoes (givehs)
gloves, handkerchiefs, &c., are exported from Azerbaijan to
Caucasia and Turkey, and find a market amongest the Muham-
medan population in those regions. Munam-
COFFEE.
Import.— From India. Demand limited. Wholesale price
Bu shire, landed and cleared, krs. 14 to krs. 17 per man (7*7 lbs —1
S^d. per lb.) ; Hamadan, krs. 14 per Tabriz man (g±d. per lb.).'
Cottons.—Textiles.