Trade of the Muslim World

What is Trade

Man needs food, clothing and construction material to build a house to live in. He also needs medicine and other articles essential for his daily use. These essential commodities are available generally within the country. Things which are not produced in the country  are purchased from other  countries. Our country produces agricultural products and minerals. When these products are in excess  of our requirements  we sell them out to other countries. Goods are also sent from one place to another within the country. This selling and buying of goods is called trade.  Trade carried on with other countries is called the external trade.

Import and Export

All the countries sell and buy goods. Goods sold to open countries are called exports of that country. Goods which are purchased from from other countries are called imports of that country. All the countries export some items which they produce or manufacture and have in excess of their requirements while they import some items some items which they do not produce or requirements  while they import some items which they do not produce or  manufacture or have less than what they require.

Items of Trade

Agriculture is the main occupation of most of the people in the Muslim World. Most of these  countries produce agricultural items which include rice, Cotton, jute, tea, wheat etc. Fresh fruits and dates are also produced in the Muslim countries. The Muslim countries are rich in mineral produced in the Muslim countries. The Muslim countries are rich in mineral produced in the Muslim countries. The Muslim countries are rich in mineral produced in the Muslim countries. The Muslim countries are rich in mineral products Pakistan, Iran and Turkey have developed their industries considerably. They are making ships, railway carriages, cars, buses,  machines, electrical goods, agricultural  tools, cloth, sugar, cement and many other articles of daily use. The newly independent Muslim countries are more technically advanced than other Muslim countries. If they make joint ventures with the oil rich countries of the Middle East then the entire Muslim world can become a match for the western advanced countries in all their requirements of machine and plants. They export these items to other countries. Some of the Muslim countries export their raw materials to other countries and import the commodities, they require The following items are the main articles of trade of the Muslim countries.

Rice

Pakistan produces good quality of rice in large  quantity which it exports to the countries of the Middle East, Europe and other countries Beside Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, Malaysia and Indonesia also produce sufficient rich and export it to other countries in case of surplus production.

Cotton

Pakistan and Egypt produce good quality of cotton. Iraq and Sudan also produce cotton. These countries export to Britain, Japan, China and Germany.

Jute and Tea

Bangladesh is the largest producer of jute in the world. It exports jute to the Muslim and non-Muslim countries jute is the main source of foreign exchange earning for Bangladesh Tea is also produced in abundance in Bangladesh and is exported to other countries.

Petroleum

The Muslim world especially the countries of the East Middle East are the largest oil producing countries of the world Saudi Arabia and Iran are among the largest oil producing countries. Kuwait, Abu Dhabi Iraq, Libya, Nigeria and Algeria also produce oil in large quantities. All these countries export their oil to other countries Pakistan imports oil from other countries Oil has been discovered  at some places in Pakistan but it will take a long time to develop its  production. Pakistan has yet to find out more oil to meet its requirements.

Cotton yarn, cloth and Garment

Pakistan is the producer  of good quality cotton. There are large number  of textile mills in Pakistan. Exports cotton textile mills in Pakistan. Pakistan exports cotton, cotton textile  products and cotton yarn to the countries of Middle East and Europe. Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Iraq and Algeria also have textile mills but Pakistan’s trade of cotton and cotton products is much higher than others.

Medicines,  Surgical Instruments, Sports Goods And Electrical Goods

Pakistan is producing high class products in these fields Sialkot, Wazirabad and Gujranwala are the main centres of this industry Electrical goods are also manufactured in Iran, Turkey and Egypt. Medicines are manufactured in Pakistan, Iran and Turkey. They export their surplus medicine to other countries. Sports goods and surgical instruments are the main  exports of Pakistan.

Carpets

Carpets weaving is the main industry of some Muslim countries. Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan are famous for manufacturing high class carpets and other woolen items. Large quantities of carpets are exported every year from these countries.

Fresh and Dry Fruits and Dates

Some Muslim countries have gained importance on account of the production of fruit. Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and Libya export fresh fruits particularly mangoes oranges. Iraq, Iran and Turkey export dates in large quantities.
Fish and prawns are important food items in most the countries Prawns of Pakistan are in great demand in U.S.A and Canada. Pakistan and the Muslim countries around the Mediterranean Sea export fish and prawn to many countries.

Hides and Skins

Muslim countries, being situated in tropical and sub-tropical regions are rich in domestic and wild animals. Many Muslim countries export hides and skins. Pakistan tops the list  of such countries

Spices

Spices are in great demand throughout the world . They are the main items of export of Indonesia and Malaysia where they are produced in large quantities.

Tin and Rubber

Tin and rubber are widely used in different industries. Indonesia and Malaysia supply almost 80 percent of the world requirement of these products.
Besides these goods, there are many other goods which are exported to other countries from the Muslim world. They are mineral products like coal, iron, zinc, phosphate, Sulphur, mica and magnesium. These countries also export cement, tea, tobacco and wood to other countries.

Trade Routes

Muslim countries have been trading among themselves since along. The minerals and other products of the Muslim countries were being sold to other Muslim and non-Muslim countries. They used to trade through land and sea routes. Muslim sailors used to travel to countries far away in their boats. They were expert sailors. Trade goods as well as passengers used to be sent through boats. In the present day world new sea routes and large ships have greatly helped foreign trade. Well equipped ports are there in every country where goods can be loaded and unloaded. Air routes have also supported the foreign trade. There are modern Airports in almost all the Muslim countries

Land Routes

Transport is very important in the modern trade. It covers the distance between the goods and the market. Roads and railways are the best and most convenient means of carrying trade. But the present state of roads and railways in the Muslim countries is not satisfactory. Most of the Muslim countries have either desert or rocky sail. In the desert, there are not even ordinary roads. All the trade in the desert, there are not even ordinary roads. All the trade in those areas  is carried on camel back.

In Pakistan land route is increasing rapidly. Roads link production centres with Karachi port and thus serve in transporting trade goods to every corner of the country and to foreign countries. Pakistan has a road link with Afghanistan. The trade between the two countries is carried through land route. Pakistan has also a road link with China. The Karakoram Highway links Pakistan with China. It has been built along the ancient silk route. Pakistan, Iran and Turkey are not linked directly through the road. Under the R.C.D. a highway and a rail link is under construction. Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey and most of the countries of the Muslim world carry on very little trade through land route. A road link between the Central Asian countries and Pakistan will be constructed in near future. Some initial work has been carried out till the end of 1993.

Sea Routes

Ships are the cheapest means of transportation. The most important sea- route of the  world passes through the Suez canal which  connects the  Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. The Middle East and the North African countries use this route to go to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia. Trade between the Muslim countries and  other countries of the world like U.K and U.S. A is carried on through this route. Suez canal shortens the distance between  the West and the East by several thousand miles through this sea route.

A branch of this route goes to the oil producing countries of the Persian Gulf. The Second branch goes to the Muslim countries of East Africa. The third branch passes through Karachi to Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia. Port Said is  situated  at the northern end of the suez canal.

Air Routes

Air transport is also used for the purpose of trade, where the facilities of air service are available. But it is the most expensive mean of mean of modern transport. Valuable goods like gold and diamond, perishable commodities like fruit and essential items such as drugs and medicines are sent by air. Aeroplanes are also being used for transportation of goods from one Muslim country to another. Almost all the Muslim countries have their own airlines. Pakistan International Airline has spread a network of air flights in all important countries of the Muslim world as well the non-Muslim countries of the world.

Trade Relations Among The Muslim Countries

Most of the Muslim countries have trade relations among themselves They import such things which they do not produce and export things which are surplus in their countries. Exports and imports among the Muslim countries are made under trade agreements. Pakistan has made many trade pacts with different Muslim countries of the world. Pakistan entered into an agreement with Iran and Turkey through Istanbul Pact in 1964 in order to promote its foreign trade. Also in 1964 Pakistan and Indonesia signed a trade pact. Trade delegations of the two countries visited each other in 1975. Pakistan is constantly increasing its trade with Muslim countries. Pakistan exports cotton yarn, cloth and garments electrical goods, rich, fruits, medicines, surgical goods etc to the countries of the Muslim world, Turkey and Iran also export garments to fellow Muslim countries.

Muslim countries which do not produce oil import it from Saudi Arabia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iraq, Libya and Algeria which are oil producing countries. Pakistan and Turkey import oil from Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The counties of the Muslim world help one another by supplying essential goods. Pakistan, Iran and some other Muslim countries import industrial goods and tobacco from Turkey. Indonesia and Malaysia supply tin, rubber and spices to Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and some Muslim countries. Jordan exports phosphate, olive oil, fruits and vegetables to the neigh bouring Muslim countries. Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan export carpets to the countries of the Middle East and Africa. Muslim countries import dates form Iraq and jute from Bangladesh.