Reports and Correspondence Relating to Persia, Including Trade and Trade Routes in Persia [‎25v] (50/252)

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REPORT ON TRADE OF PERSIA.
Number in
Tables of
Statistics.
63,67
Textiles.—-Woollen Tissues, Pure and Mixed.
Imports at Bushire and Bunder Abbas per Bushire Consular
Reports— ^
Average for 3 years, 1895-97 . • .11,100
And for 3 years, 1899-1901 • • • 2I , 3 0 °
The bulk of these goods are imported from Great Britain and
British India, but are probably of wider origin.
Muhammerah imports no woollen goods, except a few blankets
or rugs. Kermanshah also has a very limited trade, importing
perhaps 5,000/. to 6,ooo/, value annually, in linings, broadcloth,
fa^onne, suitings and trouserings, blankets, &c. Hamadan is
supplied chiefly from Tabriz.
Tabriz is the greatest inlet for all woollen goods. Trebizond
Consular Reports give imports—
Yearly average for five years :
: —
British.
Other Countries.
Total.
£
£
£
1886-90
7 900
74,000
81,900
1891-95
. 16,160
98,380
H 4 , 54 °
1896-1900
14 , 74 °
n 5 , 74 °
130,480
There is little
doubt that the trade has made quite, if not more
than, the progress indicated by the Frebizond statistics.
The bulk of the trade is in the hands of the Persian merchants,
dealing through partners or agents in Constantinople, who come
much more into contact with Continental manufacturers than
traders by the Gulf routes.
Broadcloth is a most important line, and comes chiefly from
Austria, but also from Britain, Germany and France. The
largest demand is for goods of medium and low quality, and
shoddy. The trade in broadcloths is still a steady and perhaps
increasing line of business, although fa5onne suitings and trouser
ings have recently become popular.
These fagonnd goods, all wool, or cotton and wool, are much
appreciated by the middle and even lower classes as suitings and
trouserings, and are taking the place of broadcloths, double twills,
Thibets, &c. British manufactures have taken a good place in
this trade, for which German, Italian, French and Swiss goods all
compete. Woollen Italians are being run out by cotton Italians,
Bradford double twill by French all-wool goods, and Bradford
serges and poplins by cheaper cotton fancies.
Double twills, b^ack Italians, union-leather poplins, alpacas,
&c., are often of British manufacture. Merinos, cashmere,
imprimes, woollen satins, &c., are more generally of French or
Continental origin.
The sale of imitation Astrakhan is of some importance as it is
largely used for the manufacture of Persian headgear (“ kolah ”).
Cloth is made up in pieces of iS-inch fold, tilloted ; packed
usually in cases. Bale goods are wrapped in a half piece of
Mexican, which sells along with the bale at half value.
The Tabriz market continues to supply a large part of Persia—
Tehran, Hamadan, Ispahan, Yezd, and Khorassan. British
imports through Ispahan, especially of suitings, wool or mixed,
appear to be gaining ground in Yezd and Khorassan. Also
the small trade by the Bunder Abbas and Nushki routes to
Khcrassan shows signs of developing.
Russian imports are mainly through Resht for the Teheran
market.