Syria: An Economic Survey 



C. The Main Branches of Foreign Trade. 



Import : 



1. Victuals and delicacies. 



1. Flour. The Syrian wheat flour is not suitable for 

 fine pastry. Flour is imported from Russia, Roumania, and 

 Bulgaria, especially by the Palestinian Jews. In years when 

 the crops fail inferior qualities are imported from other coun- 

 tries as well. 



2. Sugar is imported from Austria, Russia, etc. 



3. Rice is extensively used by the well-to-do natives, and 

 is imported from Egypt. 



4. Coffee comes mostly from Santos (Brazil). The 

 Arabian coffee from the Yemen is of a superior quality, and 

 has been much used during the war. 



5. Tea is brought from China, India, and Java. Recently 

 a large Moscow firm established a branch in Palestine. 



6. Cocoa is not much used in Syria, except by Europeans. 



7. Pepper is extensively used, especially the domestic red 

 pepper. The black pepper of the Peruvian pepper tree grow- 

 ing along the coast is not used, but real black pepper is im- 

 ported from the East. 



2. Alcohol and beverages. 



Alcohol is imported from Russia, Austria, and Java. 

 Beer, etc., is imported from Germany and Austria, mineral 

 waters from France, Austria, etc. 



3. Coal and petroleum. 



Coal is used (1) to fire trains, (2) to make gas in Beirut 

 and electricity in Damascus, (3) for coal-gas motors, (4) for 

 steam machines, (5) for heating purposes. Practically all the 

 coal used in Syria is imported from England, small quantities 

 coming from Heraclea (Turkey) and Germany. In 1910-1911 

 the amount of coal imported was 143,530,833 pounds, valued 

 at 8,671,198 francs. According to the official statistics, 87,966,- 

 173 pounds of petroleum were used in Syria in 1910. Forty 

 years ago American petroleum was used in Syria exclusively, 

 but it has been forced out of the market by Russian petroleum 

 from Baku. In recent years it has partially regained its 

 former popularity, due to the efforts of the Vacuum Oil Com- 



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