For some ten years Greece has taken the leading place as an importer. Before the war, Cyprus cotton went chiefly to Marseilles and Greece, some also to Trieste. Only a very insignificant quantity goes to England. The freight to Marseilles was about 25s. per ton, to Trieste about 15s. per ton, while to England it averaged 50s. per ton. The market prices at Marseilles and Trieste were approximately the same, but at Marseilles they were subject to a discount of 1½ per cent., whereas at Trieste a discount of 3 to 4 per cent. was made. The Trieste market, being small, was subject to sudden fluctuations and was therefore risky and less favoured by Cypriot exporters.
For several reasons the Liverpool market has not been so attractive as that of Marseilles. At Liverpool and Manchester quantities of not less than, say, 100 bales are preferred, whereas Marseilles would take smaller consignments of 20 or 40 bales. Uniformity of type is required by Manchester spinners, whereas the French factories are more ready to handle different types, including the shorter staples. Cyprus merchants make no distinction as regards the varieties of cotton, whether "Orleans," "Sea Island" or other kinds, and indeed they are scarcely competent to do so, as this requires special knowledge and experience. They buy in small quantities from many peasant growers and mix the produce in order to make up a fair consignment.
In normal times there was always the further difficulty of obtaining direct transport to England, whereas to Marseilles, Trieste and also to Greece the opportunities were more frequent.
Since the war Greece has become much the largest buyer. Owing to shortage of cotton on the Greek market this commodity was purchased from Cyprus rather than from Liverpool, as the freight was lower and war risks much less; apart from the almost impossibility of obtaining tonnage. It was the practice before the war for Cypriot merchants to sell c.i.f. Piræus, but they could not continue this under recent conditions and now sell f.o.b. Cyprus, and this practice is likely to continue. This f.o.b. Cyprus price has lately been about the same as would ordinarily be obtained for c.i.f. Liverpool. Greece has many small filatures willing to take consignments of even 10 bales, and the shipment direct or via Alexandria is easier.
A Cyprus bale weighs about 150 okes.
The following figures, showing average annual exports of raw cotton at various pre-war periods, indicate the course of the cultivation:
| Period. | Average Quantity. | Average Value. |
| Cwts. | £ | |
| 1880-89 | 68,410 | 147,683 |
| 1890-99 | 57,291 | 91,812 |
| 1900-09 | 41,121 | 92,939 |
| 1910-17 | 68,384 | 213,275 |
Prices have varied, as is shown by the values of the following record years:
| Quantity. | Value. | Average price. | |||
| Cwts. | £ | £ | |||
| 1885 (highest export on record) | 14,276 | 29,567 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 1886 (2nd ditto) | 13,887 | 26,535 | 1 | 16 | 11 |
| 1912 (3rd ditto) | 13,808 | 40,085 | 2 | 18 | 0 |
| 1913 (4th ditto) | 13,444 | 40,693 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| 1884 (5th ditto) | 12,227 | 26,874 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
In 1917 there were 13,685 donums under cotton cultivation.