Palestine Trade Makes Progress, Annual Report by Government Shows

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The annual report of the Department of Customs, Excise and Trade for the year ending December 31, 1925, was issued here.

According to the report, the total cross revenue derived from Customs, Excise and Port Dues was £E.1,019,955, compared with £E.656,880 in 1924.

The revenue from tobacco excise is over £E.100,000 per annum.

Coal, crude petroleum, diesel oil, solar and mazut, empty barrels and staves, and raw materials for the soap, oilseed crushing, tanning and textile industries have been exempted from customs duties.

Goods to the value of £E. 59,244 were exempted from Customs dues under treaty rights and immunity clauses.

620 offences under the Customs and Excise Laws were detected and £E.3,753 was collected in fines.

The total value of imports of merchandise for home consumption was £E.7,338,491, compared with £E. 5,266,349 in 1924; exports of Palestine produce amounted to £E. 1,297,559, compared with £E. 1,200,812 in 1924. The principal increases in imports were in cereals, flour, building materials, cotton goods, machinery, motor-ars and petroleum products.

4,794 tons of salt were sold, compared with 3,457 tons in 1924.

The steady recovery from the trade depression of 1923 which commenced in 1924, the report states, continued under the stimulus of new settlers furnished with capital.

Many of these immigrants imported considerable sums which were deposited in the banks, so facilitating the granting of credits, and the rate of interest on loans reached the lowest figure since the Occupation; but speculative purchases were made abroad in anticipation of increasing demands, particularly in the building trade, and the immobilization of capital in extensive building operations and land purchases caused a shortage of capital towards the end of the year, which led to a restriction of credit.

The cost of living index number rose by 4.4% and that of wholesale prices by 7.2%, as compared with 1924.

Exports of oranges amounted to 1,868,291 cases, compared with 1,880,783 cases in 1924; the prices realized were high. The 1925-26 crop is inferior in quality and quantity, and first sales in England realized only 12/- to 15/- per case; the prices have since improved.

The wine industry still suffers from lack of markets and exports decreased by £E.7,830.

5,855 tons of soap, value £E.247,725, were exported, compared with 4,809 tons, value £E.205,891, in 1924. Improved methods of production are being introduced and toilet soap of better quality is being manufactured.

Seven tobacco and cigarette factories and seven tombac factories are in operation. Since May 1, 219,800 kilograms of cigarettes, 12,000 of cut tobacco and 42,000 of tombac have been produced. About 40% of the tobacco used by factories is locally grown and 3,000 acres were planted with tobacco and tombac during the year. Smuggling of tobacco is, however, still considerable.

The Haifa cement factory commenced work in October; its product is retailed locally at P.T. 325 to P. T. 330 per ton and compares favorably with foreign brands.

At the Palestine Pavilion of the British Empire Exhibition sales, by 66 exhibitors, amounted to £E. 17,000. A net profit of approximately £E.2,000 was made.

The total import trade for 1925 was £E.7,603,923, as against £5,589,679 in £E.924 and £E.5,124,945 in 1923. The total export trade for 1925 was £E.1,388,?37, as against £E.2,120,931 in 1924 and £E.1,834,118 in 1923.