FREE PORT OF ALMERIA 207 
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Dispatch in unloading vessels.—There is no information indicating 
that there has been greater dispatch in unloading vessels at the free 
Port of Almeria than in the customs zone. No mechanical equipment 
has been installed, and with the exception of the delivery of oil to 
the oil tanks in the free zone, which are the only oil tanks at Almeria, 
the system of handling cargo destined for the free port has been the 
same as followed in the customs zone. 
Beconsignment and transshipment trade.—The commercial impor- 
tance of the free port of Almeria up to the present time has been 
confined to the trade in petroleum products. It was particularly 
hoped that, because of its situation in the Mediterranean, an impor- 
tant transshipment trade in products destined for, and shipped from, 
Ports of northern Africa would develop, but these hopes have not 
yet been realized. As shown by statistics that follow covering the 
free-port movement in the calendar year 1927, only 33 metric tons 
merchandise, exclusive of petroleum products, entered the free 
port during the 12 months, and only 172 metric tons left it. The 
@erchandise on hand at the free port on January 1, 1927, exclusive 
of petroleum products, totaled 394 metric tons, and on January 1, 
1928, 255 metric tons. 
Oil deposit in free zone.—The Compafia de Depositos Comerciales 
lel Puerto de Almeria built within the free zone a steel tank of 
10,000 cubic meters capacity. for fuel oil, and two small tanks for 
Diesel oil, each with a capacity of 300 cubic meters. A tank ship 
*apable of carrying 3,500 metric tons of oil was acquired for delivery 
Purposes. An agreement was made with an American oil company 
for securing oil supplies on consignment, and the business of furnish- 
ing fuel and Diesel oil to vessels and to other consumers was com- 
Menced. Total imports of mineral oils in 1924 were 8,086 metric 
tons, according to customs statistics; in 1925, 13,033 metric tons; 
ind in 1926, 7,651 metric tons. In the latter year the agreement with 
the American company was canceled, and 2,704 metric tons of the 
Tineral oils imported in 1926 were from Russia. During the first 
dart of 1927 the oil deposit was without supplies, but later in the 
Year fuel oil was imported from Rumania. On January 1, 1928, the 
oil station at Almeria, along with every other mineral-oil establish- 
Ment in Spain, was taken over by the operating company of the 
Spanish Petroleum Monopoly, which has operated it since that time, 
“applies during the present year having been received from Russia. 
Coaling station contemplated. —A section of the free zone is reserved 
for coal storage, but up to the present time the concessionaire has 
Made no arrangements for handling coal, although the matter has 
%en discussed with coal concerns. Steamers now coal at Gibraltar 
r Oran, and it is reported that a coaling station at Almeria would 
aye difficulty in competing with the stations at the ports mentioned.