Coll 28/19 ‘Sistan & Kain. Annual Commercial Reports’ [‎124v] (252/318)

4
4. Imports. —For details of the imports of various commodities reference
should be made to Appendix ‘ B Piece-goods. Further details of the
Piece-goods included under the general heading in Appendix ‘ B ’ are given
in Appendix ‘ D It will be noted that the total value of piece-goods
imported, as compared with the previous year, fell by approximately two
mildons of Krans. There is thus revealed a progressive decline, for the
figures for 1928-29 were about four millions less than those for 1927-28. It is
unlikely that the continued decrease is due to a general falling off of import
ations, but is probably more than accounted for by increased import of
Russian goods from the North.
5. Sugar. —In spite of the monopoly tax and contrary to expectation,
the import of sugar rose from 855 tons in 1928-29 to 1,420 tons in the year
under report. This increase is probably due to a partial collapse of the sub
sidized sugar trade hitherto indulged in by the U. S. S. R. in East Persia.
It may to some extent also be due to increased consumption of sugar in k>cal
Industry, such as tinned fruit, which is now produced at Meshed. Neverthe
less import of this commodity falls for short of a normal year before the
imposition of the monopoly tax, when there was an average of 5,000 tons
imported annually by the Nushki-Duzdap Railway.
6. Tea. —The import of tea, the other commodity subjected to the
‘ Monopole ’ has declined by approximately two million Krans.
7. Machinery. —Machinery was imported to the value of 506,203 Krans
as compared with 179,406 in the previous year. It is anticipated that the
importation of machinery will continue to increase. Details of the countries
of origin of this machinery are :—
Germany . • 382,000
United States 92,000
England and India ........ 32,000
8. Cotton Thread. —The value of cotton thread imported increased by
about one million Krans, in spite of the depression in the carpet trade. This
may be accounted for by the increased manufacture of cotton goods in other
parts of Persia.
9. Motors and Cycles. —The total value of imports has slightly decreased.
On the other hand it will be noticed that there has been a considerable
inc ease in the quantity of tyres imported, nearly all of which are of American
origin.
10. Matches and Candles. —The import of matches was about double
that of the preceding year, while the value of candles brought into the
country via Duzdap declined considerably.
11 . Bicycles manufactured in England continue to be popular. 1,227
bicycles were imported of which 1,221 came from England. The total for
1928-29 was 916 of which 841 were British.
12. Import of English motors has not increased and the British share
of this trade is quite insignificant, practically all cars and lorries imported
being of American manufacture.
13. Exports. —Appendix ‘ C ’ should be referred to for details of the
various exports. The total Kran value of exports has decreased, although
the figures reveal a considerable increase in the weight of exports. The
discrepancy is not quite so great as appears from the figures provided, owing
to the fact that the goods customed at Meshed, but exported via Duzdap,
have not been included in the totals for 1929-30. For purposes of a rough
comparison about 60 per cent, of the total value given in Appendix ‘ D ’ may
be added, or say nine million krans, thus making the total exports about 29
million krans, as compared with 33 million in 1928'29. Attention is drawn
to the marked increase in the export of ‘ spices ’, consisting almost entirely
of poppy seeds.
14. (6) New item of trade. —Nil.