'File 10/8 Overseas trade enquiries' [‎104r] (208/495)

2
li 0
4?* Of the trades ciicsen, Nc.l would seem to
offer the most promising field for investigation.
Ootton goods consitiite "by far the most important
import of manufactured goods, and is one in which the
British position is being seriously attacked by strong
Japanese competition. The total annual value of this
trade in Kuwait, Bahrein, Dihai and Muscat normally
amounts to some £,4,00,000. How this is shared among the
principal competitors is hard to say, since almost
the whole (in Kuwait a considerable proportion is
imported from •Iraq.) is imported through India and is
shown as of Indian origin in Customs figures, hut there
is little doubt that, wnereas formerly a large pro-y
portion of the imports were of -British origin, they
are now most definitely Japanese, which country's
entry into the market, at any rate as regards Cotton
prints, appears to he of very recent date.
extent pieces of striped silk of suitable size for
similar use, are displayed in the hazaars. handkerchiefs
as such are scarcely, if indeed ever, used-certainly
only "by a very restricted section of the community.
Artificial silks, in the piece seems to he
gaining popularity and are used for dress^hy women
of the more well-to-do classes. Japan and Italy
appear to be the principal sources of supply, the
former very definitely preponderating; no Italian
silk or artificial silk being seen in "bazaars south of
Bahrein. u n the whole inferior silks from China and
Japan seem more favoured, since they compete with the
former in price.
The total value of the siiks and artificial
silks imported in the whole area concerned prohahly
As regards No.2 the market affordsiittle scope.
Head cloths of cotton or wool (imported through, or
more ofWten manufactured