'File 10/4 I Trade Reports' [‎483r] (980/1102)

Trade -^port of the Baiiraia islands for the year ended the
31st March 1332.
t)
he Independent Arab , rincipality of lialirmin consists of
a ^roup of islands off the i^ast coast of Arabia, ^he Otate
is under British protectitm "but is not a protectorate#
a geaeral description of the ph/Mcal,political and
cosaiercial peculiarities of the island-® is given in the Report
for the /ear 1911/1912 (Annual Series So:5052). The permanent
'.r i- ' ■ :
population is eatiiaated at 115,000.
ojjli- ■ f ;
The total value of trade for the year amounted to
£.1,369,720 as compared with £.1,691,558 in 1930/31,showing a
decrease of £.321,338 or Id'&Z,**This decrease is chiefly
due to the worldwide fall in prices of co^isodities and to the
lack of ready money, due to the slump in the pearl trad#?
actual imports have dcoreaued and the aarket Tor better class
pods is at a standstill. Further, since pearls are a
luxury and are only bought when other wants have been satisfied
the depress ion is be is more acutely felt in Bahrain tban
elsewhere, siace it is almost entirely dependent on the pearl
trade for a living.
JLJyLOJLJk f
The total value of taports cja^unted to £.631,824 as
against £.1,087,524 in 1930/31, showing a decrease oi
£•265,700 or 24.43^. The tfeble given hereunder shows the
jv . ■ 1 ^ i
movements of jeneiral merchandize as compared with pearls and
1 - i
specie.
' a
v : v
Pearls. j
j i
Specie and Dollar®4
u,
Mercmndlat.
,/i
Total Imports,
if.
lsfeo/31.
1931/32.
% of increase
or decreasf..,.
15,600
5,444
-66.1
109.537
f 125,137
93.316
98,760
-14.7
-21.07
962,384
723,064
-24.8
1,087,521
8E1,824
-34.43^
x
kfeature