'File 10/4 I Trade Reports' [‎513r] (1040/1102)

Trade Report of the Bahrain Islands for the year ended the
31st March 1932.
Introduction. —The Independent Arab Principality
of Bahrain consists of a group of islands off the
East coast of Arabia. The State is under British
protection but is not a protectorate.
A general description of the physical, political and
commercial peculiarities of the Islands is given in
the Eeport for the year 1911-1912 (Annual Series
No. 5052). The permanent population is estimated
at 115,000.
Trade. —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 £321,838 or 19*02
per cent. This decrease is chiefly due to the world
wide fall in prices of commodities and to the lack
of ready money, due to the slump in the pearl trade ;
actual imports have decreased and the market for
better class goods is at a standstill. Further, since
pearls are a luxury and are only bought when other
wants have been satisfied the depression is being
more acutely felt in Bahrain than elsewhere, since
it is almost entirely dependent on the pearl trade
for a living.
Imports. —The total value of Imports amounted
to £821,824 as against £1,087,524 in 1930-31, showing
a decrease of £265,700 or 24-43 per cent. The table
0 iven hereunder shows the movements of general
merchandise as compared with pearls and specie.
v
—
1930-31.
1931-32.
Per cent of
increase or
decrease.
Pearls ....
Specie and Dollars •
15,600
109,537
5,444
93,316
—651
—14-7
Merchandise .
125,137
962,384
98,760
723,064
—21-07
—24-8
Total Imports
1,087,521
821,824
—24-43
±x XtJCltUi.C? yJJL UJJLO VT V/X V vy J -U.V /.U .V .IJ.
great strides made by Japan who now command
the cheaper piece-goods market. A considerable
quantity of the textiles shown as imported from
India are actually of Japanese origin and this point
must be borne in mind.
British imports benefited from the departure
from the gold standard, but Japan s departure
from the gold standard to all intents and purposes
neutralized this advantage.
Exports. —The total yalue of Exports amounted
to £547,896 as against £604,034 in 1930-31, showing
a decrease of £56,138 or 10-24 per cent. The follow
ing table shows the movements of general merchan
dise as compared with pearls, specie and gold coins.
1930-31.
1931-32.
Per cent of
increase or
decrease.
Pearls ....
Specie and Dollars .
Gold and Silver
42,672
185,570
31,860
51,904
77,818
99,918
+21-6
—58*06
+ 210-4
General merchandise
260,102
333,932
229,640
318,256
—11-7
-4-7
total exports
604,034
547,896
—10-24
It Will be observed tnat goia coins vaiuea au
V %ife99,494 Were exported as compared with gold coins
worth £31,860 exported the previous year. This
activity in the export of gold is chiefly due to its
rise in value consequent on the abandonment of the
gold standard by Great Britain and India. The
gold comprised not only coins but ornaments of all
kinds and the opportunity was taken to dispose
at a profit of the hoardings of years.
Since many pearls leaving Bahrain are not declared
and very few declared at their correct value, it is
impossible to give exact figures for their export
but the amount is variously estimated at between
one-and-a-half and 2 million pounds in a good year.
Last year the value fell far short of this amount.
Pearl Industry. —A general description of this
industry is given in this Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Trade Eeport for
the year 1927-28.
Customs. —The Tarif£ is fixed by Treaty at 5
per cent ad valorem on all imports. In June 1920
on the advice of the Government of India the tax
on goods landed at Bahrain in transit to the mainland
was reduced from 5 per cent to 2 per cent at which
figure it formerly stood. Export duty of Es. 10 per
bundle of hides and Es. 2 per basket of dates is
charged. The Customs work is carried on by a
European Director of Customs under the orders of
the Euler of Bahrain.
Banks. —A branch of the Eastern Bank exists at
Bahrain and transacts all classes of business and
the Hundi system is also used by the Hindu mer
chants.
This bank is also the State bank of the Bahrain
Government.
Oils and Minerals.—The Bahrain Petroleum Com
pany Limited, a subsidiary company of the Standard
Oil Company Limited of California has been prospec
ting for oil in Bahrain. They have put down a
test bore and though traces of gas have been met
no oil has hitherto been discovered in commercial
quantities.
Enquiries regarding trade. —The political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. ,
Bahrain, who is in close touch with local and main
land affairs, will be glad to answer any enquiries
regarding trade from merchants in the United
Kingdom through the Board of Overseas Trade.
Enquiries from India should be made through the
Director General of Commercial Intelligence at
Calcutta. Time would probably be saved by ad
dressing the latter official direct, as information
on most ordinary matters is available in his records.
Shipping. —There is now a regular weekly mail
service from and to India and 'IEAQ.
General Motor roads suitable for cars
and lorries exist over the greater part of the Islands.
There are about 200 motor cars of various makes
and motor cars are available for hire. Motor boats
ply regularly between Bahrain and Qatar on the
mainland and also between Bahrain and Qatif and
Ojair, and occasionally to Kuwait and Dubai.
C. G. PEIOE, Captain,
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bahrain'