The Port of Port Said in British Consular reports (1886-1914)

Consular reports are historical documents frequently examined by researchers. Reports from consuls of various states regarding different cities have been the subject of many scholarly studies and have been analysed by researchers. However, a review of the literature reveals that no such academic study has been identified concerning a strategically important city like Port Said. On the other hand, Port Said, located at the Mediterranean entrance of the Suez Canal—which has been a significant commercial route since it began operating—is indeed a strategic region. In this context, 27 British consular reports written between 1886 and 1914 about Port Said were examined and interpreted using the document analysis method. The reports, which generally consist of two main parts, were analysed only in terms of the data related to the Port of Port Said. Reports from the years 1892 and 1913 could not be accessed and were therefore excluded from the study. Trade data from the Port of Port Said during the relevant years were analysed under the categories of import, export, re-export, transit trade, and trade with raftieh permits. In this way, the study aimed to determine the volume of trade at the Port of Port Said between 1886 and 1914, identify the imported and exported goods, and make comparisons based on nationalities. The data obtained from the reports show that trade in Port Said increased significantly over the years, and that certain nations, such as the British, were more active in the region's commerce. It was also observed that there was competition in the trade of some products, and that a wide range of goods—from ostrich feathers to works of art—were imported and exported. Furthermore, it was concluded that certain goods, such as petroleum, coal, cotton, and cigarettes, surpassed others in terms of import and export volume.