'Report on the British Indian Commercial Mission to South-Eastern Persia during 1904-1905. By A H Gleadowe-Newcomen.' [‎10v] (25/176)

8 KEPOKT ON THE BRITISH INDIAN COMMERCIAL
Statistics—
In order to get an idea of the future possibilities in the growth of trade,
we may examine trade statistics of the past. Unfortunately, reliable figures
cannot he had, except in the Custom’s reports for comparatively recent years.
However much the new Customs tariff may be criticised, it must he admitted
that since its introduction the compilation of statistics of Persian trade no
longer means guess work of the wildest, and that such figures may now be
regarded as being reasonably accurate.
The figures for the year 1903 are the first issued since the reform in the
reorganization and administration of the Imperial Persian Customs Department.
These figures are not absolutely accurate, but they are not very far from
the truth. They declare the total trade of Persia, in that year, to have been
over £8,000,000, composed of over £5,000,000 Imports and £3,000,000
Exports. Other reliable information makes it fairly evident that these figures
rather under-estimated the commerce of Persia, and shows that the total
imports and exports averaged £9,000,000 annually. Of this trade. £4,000,000
were, roughly, with Russia, £3,000,000 with the British Empire, and £2,000,000
with other countries :—so much for the figures for the year 1902-1903.
The official statistics for the year ending 74arch 20th, 1901, are less
satisfactory, though they show a considerable increase in the total trade of
Persia. The total for the year in question is placed (exchange being taken
at 60 krs. to the £ stg.) at £10,661,695, Imports being £6,415,609 and Exports
£4,246,086. Russi an trade shows a very great increase, being reckoned at
£5,668,340. British trade shows, on the other hand, a falling off, and amounts
now to only £2,490,009. The interests of Russia and of the British Empire
still, however, preponderate enormously.
When it is considered that Russia trades in particular with the northern
portion of Persia, which is undoubtedly richer and more prosperous than the
south, that Persia is her next-door neighbour, that the trade has not only
been assiduously nourished but spoonfed, and that we have to work against a
tariff which has been especially planned to kill our trade and foster that of
Russia, the figures are not so discouraging.
Improvement could be made by an expansion of existing trade, the
opening out of new connections in parts of Persia, which are at present hardly
touched, and by beating Russia, where w r e come into competition, by her own
methods, if necessary, eg., by special rates for freight, subsidies and rebates.
It must be borne in mind that the proportion of our trade which would need
this bolstering would be very small in proportion to our entire trade, whereas
with Russia the reverse is the case.
The Customs statistics, which showed the total of Persian trade to have
been over £8,000,000 in 1903, showed also the trade of Bander Abbas, the
port of South-East Persia, to have been £587,777. Here the United Kingdom
and India supplied 71 per cent, of the imports and took 58 per cent, of the ex
ports. The imports of Indian goods into the port showed a reduction in the same
year, falling from £187,277 in 1902 to £171,096; the import trade from the Uni
ted Kingdom also fell off, but the total trade of Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ports showed an
increase. Imports iato Binder Abbas during 1904, from the United Kingdom and
India collectively showed a decrease of £72,593, and exports a combined increase
of £19,289, as compared with the previous year. The increase in exports 'was
due entirely to India. At Bushire, compaiing the year 1903 with 1902, imports
from the United Kingdom showed a decrease of £93,094, whilst imports from
India improved by £55,618. In the same period exports from Bushire to the
United Kingdom fell of by £38,957, whilst exports to India improved
by £6,724. In the year 1904 imports from the United Kingdom into Bushire
c ecreased by £75,639, as compared with 1903, and imports from India were low r er
y £113.309. Both the United Kingdom and India took more from Bushire
ran m the previous year, the United Kingdom showing an increase of
£20,958 and India an increase of £30,979 in exports.
+ J he * e ™ Indian trade at Bander Abbas is attributable, in the main,
o e iversion of Indian tea shipments intended for Northern Persia and