Trade in Palestine
In 1910, about 480 tons of coffee were imported, some 40 tons less than in 1909. The greater parts is credited to Egypt, though France, Italy, and Austria also appear as having sold coffee to Palestine. Undoubtedly a good proportion of this import originates in South America, though it is impossible to ascertain the proportion coming from there and from Java. The consumption of genuine Mocha coffee is insignificant.
Of the 192,000 cases of kerosene imported about one-fourth is credited to the United States, the remainder chiefly from Egypt, Russia, France, Austria, and England. A substantial increase is shown in the imports of olive oil for the soap- making industry the local production being insucfhient to meet the demand. This comes from Cyprus and other nearby Mediterranean countries. —
Textile imports decreased $108,735, the value being about 8 per cent. less than in 1909. While England leads in the sales of cotton goods, Austria, Germany, and Egypt each have an excellent trade here in cottons, and cloth, Austria's sales being nearly as high as England's. Italy, where the manufacture of cotton goods adapted to Eastern markets is steadily developing, has less than one-fourth of England's trade. In other dry goods the imports are chiefly from Russia and Austria.
There is a steady market in Palestine for all kinds of building materials. Tiles and bricks are imported from France and Germany. Some 13,000 cubic metehs of lumber were imported from Marseille, Russia, and Roumania. The imports from Marseille include Scandinavian lumber transshipped there. Cement is imported chiefly from France and Belgium. Hardware, iron girders, bars, etc., are imported from Germany, England, Austria, France, and Belgium.
Some 690 tons of glassware and pottery, valued at $83,907, were imported in 1910. Austrian goods lead in the market with German and Belgian wares next in favor. Of the 201 tons of hides and leather im-
(From U. S. Consul WILLIAM COFFIN'S Report)
ported in 1910, England is credited with the largest share, with Austria, Germany, and France next. Paper and stationery come chiefly from Austria and Germany. France also has a share of the trade but it is less than a third of Austria's sales.
Groceries, canned goods, wines, and spirits are imported in considerable quantities to meet the demand created by the large foreign population and the tourists. England, France, Italy, and Germany supply most of the trade.
Upwards of 900,000 cases of oranges, valued at $1,136,794, were exported from Jaffa in 1910. This is an increase of $232,525 over 1909. During the last five years the production of oranges in the doistrict has nearly doubled, the export in 1905 having been 456,152 cases valued at $553,386. About 72,000 cases were shipped to Egypt, 32,000 to Russia, and 22,000 to Austria. Nearly 90 per cent. of the export goes to England.
The factories at Nablous, Jaffa, Ramleh, and Lydda exported about 4,100 tons of soap valued at $762,538, an increase of $54,827. The export market is exclusively in Egypt. This is the most important of the manufacturing industries of the district. district.
The grape is extensively cultivated in Palestine and produces a very good "vin ordinaire," both red and white. The value of the exports in 1910 amounted to $293,-963, an increase of $130, 765 over the exports for 1909. France buys more than half of the exports and Egypt takes about one-fourth.
Shipments of fruits and vegetables exceeded in nearly every item the 1909 exports with the exception of the lupine crop, which fell from $218,987 to $64,935. Egypt takes most of this produce, as well as practically all of the dari (millet) exports, which amounted to $55,106 in 1910, against $99,301 in 1909. Almond culture is rapidly extending and within a very few years the crop will be an important feature of the agricultural production of Palestine.