It exports timber, grain, salt and petroleum; importing coal, iron and textiles.
In 1854 a Californian company began importing ice from Alaska.
The general export of yarn varies according to influences such as tariff charges, spinning and manufacturing development in the importing countries and the price of cotton.
Trade is confined to coaling passing ships and to importing goods for and exporting goods from southern Abyssinia via Harrar, there being no local industries.
The risk of importing plague from India has been materially lessened by medical inspection of outward-bound ships at the principal ports.
