HC Deb 29 January 1937 vol 319 cc1200-1W
Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the annual imports and exports between Iraq and this country, and between Iraq and Japan, for each of the last five years, stating separately, if possible, the trade for each period in textile manufactured goods between the three countries?

Dr. Burgin

The following statement shows, for each of the years ended March, 1932 to 1936, the value of the merchandise (including bullion) trade of Iraq with the United Kingdom and Japan, respectively, distinguishing imports of the principal categories of textile manufactured goods(a).

(Compiled from the official trade returns of Iraq.)
Exports from and Imports into Iraq. In the trade with
United Kingdom. Japan.
Years ended March:—
1932. 1933. 1934. 1935. 1936. 1932. 1933. 1934. 1935. 1936.
'000 Dinars '000 Dinars
Total exports 1,095 958 901 1,036 747 (b) (b) (b) 7 3
Total imports 1,305 2,179 2,027 1,506 2,037 210 425 706 1,224 1,432
Of which imports of:—
Cotton piece-goods (including "Hizams" and "Yasmaghs") 494 417 301 211 188 66 179 384 723 826
Artificial silk piece-goods 24 12 5 1 2 81 94 159 238 293
Silk piece-goods 1 1 2 5 8 35 34 54 36
Wool piece-goods 32 76 66 88 103 (b) 4 3 5 12
Wearing apparel (not including footwear, hosiery," Hizams" and "Yasmaghs") 23 32 37 33 32 (b) 34 18 34 34
(c) (c) (c) (c)
Hosiery (b) (b) (b) 5 7 (b) (b) (b) 42 42
(a) Exports from Iraq of textile manufactured goods are negligible.
(b) Not available.
(c) Owing to changes in classification these figures are not precisely comparable with those for earlier years.
Notes.—
(1) 1 Dinar = £1 sterling.
(2) In the Iraqi trade returns imports are attributed, as far as possible, to country of origin (production) and exports to country of final destination. Prior to the end of 1933, however, when a direct shipping service between Iraq and Japan commenced, it is understood that substantial amounts of Japanese produce imported via Bombay had been attributed to India.
(3) The export figures do not include the large quantities of crude petroleum exported by the Iraqi Petroleum Co., Ltd., in 1934–5 and 1935–6 via their pipe-lines to Haifa and Tripoli. Of these, 231,978 in 1934–5 and 629,252 tons in 1935–6 were destined for the United Kingdom, and none for Japan.