08-3-2673 US Purchaser Questionnaire (Final)

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 08-2-2577; Expiration Date: 6/30/11
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
SODIUM METAL FROM FRANCE

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than August 15, 2008
See page 4 of the Instruction Booklet for filing instructions
The information called for in this questionnaire is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in
connection with its antidumping investigation concerning sodium metal from France (inv. No. 731-TA-1135 (Final)). The
information requested in the questionnaire is requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII. This report
is mandatory and failure to reply as directed can result in a subpoena or other order to compel the submission of records or
information in your possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)). Further information on this questionnaire can be obtained from
Nancy Bryn, economist (202 205-3226 or e-mail: [email protected] ).

Name of firm
Address
State

City

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm purchased sodium metal (as defined in the instruction booklet) from any source (domestic or
foreign) at any time since January 1, 2005?

NO

(Sign the certification below and promptly return only this page of the questionnaire to the Commission)

YES

(Read the instruction booklet carefully, complete all parts of the questionnaire, and return the entire
questionnaire to the Commission)

CERTIFICATION
I certify that the information herein supplied in response to this questionnaire is complete and correct to the best of my knowledge
and belief and understand that the information submitted is subject to audit and verification by the Commission.
By signing this certification I also grant consent for the Commission, and its employees and contract personnel, to use the
information provided in this questionnaire and throughout this investigation in any other import-injury investigations conducted
by the Commission on the same or similar merchandise. (If you do not consent to such use, please note the certification
accordingly)
I acknowledge that information submitted in this questionnaire response and throughout this investigation may be used by the
Commission, its employees, and contract personnel who are acting in the capacity of Commission employees, for developing or
maintaining the records of this investigation or related proceedings for which this information is submitted, or in internal audits
and investigations relating to the programs and operations of the Commission pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Appendix 3. I understand that
all contract personnel will sign non-disclosure agreements.

Name of Authorized Official

Title of Authorized Official
Phone: (

Signature

Date

)
E-mail address

Fax (

)

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

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PART I.—GENERAL QUESTIONS
The questions in this questionnaire have been reviewed with market participants to ensure that issues of
concern are adequately addressed and that data requests are sufficient, meaningful, and as limited as
possible. Public reporting burden for this questionnaire is estimated to average 25 hours per response,
including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering the data needed,
and completing and reviewing the questionnaire. Send comments regarding the accuracy of this burden
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the
burden, to the Office of Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW,
Washington, DC 20436.
I-1.

a) Please report below the actual number of hours required and the cost to your firm of preparing
the reply to this questionnaire and completing the form.
hours

dollars

b) We are interested in any comments you may have for improving this questionnaire in general
or the clarity of specific questions. Please attach such comments to your response or send them to
the above address.
I-2.

Provide the name and address of establishment(s) covered by this questionnaire (see page 4 of the
instruction booklet for reporting guidelines). If your firm is publicly traded, please specify the
stock exchange and trading symbol.

I-3.

Is your firm owned, in whole or in part, by any other firm?
No

Firm name

I-4.

Yes--List the following information

Address

Extent of
ownership

Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which are engaged in
importing sodium metal from France into the United States or which are engaged in exporting
sodium metal from France to the United States?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information
Address

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

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PART I.--GENERAL QUESTIONS--Continued
I-5.

Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which are engaged in the
production of sodium metal?
No

Yes--List the following information

Firm name

Address

Affiliation

Unless otherwise instructed, please answer all questions in this questionnaire based on your
firm’s total U.S. purchases of sodium metal during January 2005-June 2008. If your responses
differ by product form and grade of the sodium metal that you purchased, please specify.
Some questions request responses that involve specific forms and grades of sodium metal. Please refer
to the following different forms and names of grades in any such responses.
FORMS:
There are three basic forms of sodium metal-- (1) bulk; (2) ingots/bricks; and (3) sticks/doses. The bulk
form is by far the most prevalent.
GRADES:
Dupont reports that it offers three basic grades of sodium metal and MSSA (France) reports that it offers
four basic grades of sodium metal, although there may be some variations within each of the grades to
satisfy particular customer requirements. These grades contain different purity and/or maximum calcium
(Ca) levels.
DuPont’s three grades of sodium metal
Name

Specification1

MSSA (France)’s four grades of sodium metal
Name

Specification1

Technical

99.89% pure; 400 ppm Ca

Technical (S+)

99.8% pure; 400 ppm Ca

Niapure

99.89% pure; 400 ppm Ca

Sopure

99.8% pure; 200 ppm Ca

Niapure select

99.91% pure; 200 ppm Ca

Refined (R)

99.9% pure; 10 ppm Ca

Extra refined (R)

99.98% pure; 10 ppm Ca

1

These specifications show the purity level and the maximum level of calcium for each grade. The technical
grade of sodium metal involves only primary filtration, whereas the other grades of sodium metal involve primary
and secondary filtrations.

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PART I.--GENERAL QUESTIONS--Continued
I-6.

Are these specifications for DuPont and MSSA consistent with your understanding of the
specifications of sodium metal offered by DuPont and MSSA?
Yes

I-7.

No—If not, please explain what grades you understand are offered by them.

a) Since January 2005, have you requested or required a higher grade of sodium metal than you
were currently buying?
Yes—Please explain which product(s) and when the request occurred

No –Skip to I-8.

b) Did you purchase the higher grade of sodium metal?
Yes—Please explain the circumstances of the switch, and any differences between the grades
that you noticed
No—Why not?

I-8.

a) Since January 2005, has DuPont or MSSA offered to supply you a higher grade of sodium
metal than you were currently buying?
Yes—Please explain which product(s) and when the offer occurred

No –Skip to I-9.

c) Did you purchase the higher grade of sodium metal?
Yes—Please explain the circumstances of the switch, and any differences between the grades
that you noticed
No—Why not?

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

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PART II.--PURCHASES
II-1.

Report, as indicated below, shipment data for your firm’s total U.S. purchases of U.S.-produced sodium
metal directly from U.S. producers and its U.S. purchases of foreign-produced sodium metal directly from
U.S. importers, by the countries shown below. In addition, report separately, if applicable, your firm’s
purchases from other U.S. sources (e.g., distributors or others who themselves purchase from U.S.
producers and/or importers) by the countries shown below. Report shipment data based on dates of
deliveries for sodium metal received by your firm, not order dates, and report delivered values to your
firm’s U.S. receiving location(s).
(Quantity in 1,000 pounds, value in 1,000 U.S. dollars)
Item

2005

2006

2007

Jan.-Mar. 2008

PURCHASES MADE DIRECTLY FROM U.S. PRODUCERS AND IMPORTERS
U.S.-PRODUCED SODIUM METAL:
Quantity (1,000 pounds)
Value (1,000 dollars)
IMPORTED SODIUM METAL FROM FRANCE:
Quantity (1,000 pounds)
Value (1,000 dollars)
IMPORTED SODIUM METAL FROM ALL OTHER COUNTRIES:1
Quantity (1,000 pounds)
Value (1,000 dollars)
1

Please identify these countries:

PURCHASES MADE FROM OTHER U.S. SOURCES
U.S.-PRODUCED SODIUM METAL:
Quantity (1,000 pounds)
Value (1,000 dollars)
IMPORTED SODIUM METAL FROM FRANCE:
Quantity (1,000 pounds)
Value (1,000 dollars)
IMPORTED SODIUM METAL FROM ALL OTHER COUNTRIES:1
Quantity (1,000 pounds)
Value (1,000 dollars)
1

Please identify these countries:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

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PART II.—PURCHASES--Continued
II-2.

a) Report/estimate, as indicated below, end-of-period inventory quantities of your firm’s total U.S.
purchases of U.S.-produced sodium metal and its U.S. purchases of foreign-produced sodium metal (Do
not report, if applicable, inventories of your firm’s direct imports).
Quantity (1,000 pounds)
Item

2005

2006

2007

Jan.-Mar. 2008

U.S.-PRODUCED SODIUM METAL:
IMPORTED SODIUM METAL FROM
FRANCE:
IMPORTED SODIUM METAL FROM
ALL OTHER COUNTRIES:1
1

Please identify these countries:

b) Please explain the reasons for any changes (as indicated above) in your firm’s U.S. inventories of the
sodium metal produced in the United States, imported from France, and/or imported from other countries,
during January 2005-June 2008.
U.S.-produced:

Imported from France:

Imported from other countries:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

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PART II.—PURCHASES--Continued
II-3.

If the relative levels of your firm’s purchases of sodium metal from different country sources (both
domestic and foreign) have changed since January 2005 (as seen in question II-1), please list for up to
each of the top 5 shifts the (1) country-of-origin, (2) the product (form and grade), (3) indicate whether
the relative share from that country has increased or decreased, and (4) state the reason(s).

Country

II-4.

Product
(form and grade)

Increase/
decrease

Reason(s)

a) What percentage of your purchases was made in bulk, ingots/bricks, and sticks/doses forms in 2007 for
U.S., French, and other sources? What was the use(s) for each of these purchases?

Country

Bulk

Ingots/bricks

Sticks/Doses

Use(s)

U.S.
France

b) Have there been any appreciable changes in percentage of sodium metal that you purchased in each
form since 2005? If so, what were the changes?

II-5.

If your firm purchased sodium metal from only one country since January 2005, please identify the
form(s) and grade(s) of the sodium metal and explain the reasons for doing so.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

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PART III.—MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES
III-1.

Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of sodium metal during January 2005-June
2008 (check all purchaser types that apply to your firm)? Indicate the form(s) and grade(s) that you
purchased and, if known, the downstream product(s) that is/are produced (by your firm if an end user)
with each form and grade of sodium metal your firm purchased. In addition, indicate the use(s) of each
downstream product produced by your firm with each associated form and grade of sodium metal.
END USER:
Form(s) and grade(s) of sodium metal
Downstream product(s) and use(s) (Please identify the supplier(s) of the sodium metal used
in each downstream product produced):

DISTRIBUTOR:
Form(s) and grade(s) of sodium metal:
Downstream product(s) and use(s) (Please identify the supplier(s) of the sodium metal used
in each downstream product produced):

OTHER: (Specify:

____________________________________________________)

Form(s) and grade(s) of sodium metal
Downstream product(s) and use(s) (Please identify the supplier(s) of the sodium metal used
in each downstream product produced):

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PART III.—MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-2.

Does your firm sell its purchased sodium metal?
No (skip to next question)

Yes--Continue

a) Please identify the types of customers to which you firm sells its purchased sodium metal.

b) Does your firm compete for sales to its customers with those manufacturers and importers from which
it purchases sodium metal?
No (skip to next question)

Yes--Continue

Please identify the names of these firms, identify the product involved (i.e., grade and form), and indicate
each as a U.S. producer, importer, or other type (specify) of competing supplier.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

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PART III.—MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASE PRACTICES--Continued
III-3.

a) Did your firm purchase one or more grades of bulk sodium metal during January 2005-June 2008?
No (skip to next question)

Grade (specify
Use:

Yes—Identify each such grade of sodium metal and discuss
how well each such grade met your firm’s needs for
use and storage of the product.
)

Storage:

Grade (specify
Use:

)

Storage:

Grade (specify
Use:

)

Storage:

b) For each grade of sodium metal reported above that involved a calcium level that was lower than that
for the technical grade, please identify and discuss the advantages of the lower calcium grade vis-à-vis the
technical grade. If there is a long-term or short-term cost advantage to buying lower-calcium grade
sodium to your firm, please provide a quantifiable (in dollars) estimate of the cost advantage and your
methodology used in your calculations.
Grade (specify

)

Grade (specify

)

Grade (specify

)

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PART III.—MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASE PRACTICES--Continued
III-3.

c) Did/would your firm pay a premium for the lower-calcium grade of sodium metal vis-à-vis the
technical grade?
No
Yes
If no, please explain the reasons why your firm did/would not pay a price premium. If yes, please
specify below the price premium in dollars per pound of sodium metal and discuss reasons that your
firm did/would pay a price premium.

Answer questions III-4 through III-6 only if your firm is an end user of sodium metal
III-4.

a) Please list your firm’s top 3 immediate output products, based on value, that it produced during January
2005-June 2008 for which it purchased sodium metal as an input. Please indicate what percentage of the
total cost to produce each output product was accounted for by the purchased sodium metal.

Output product you produced

Percent of cost accounted for by purchased
sodium metal (percent)

1.

1.

2.

2.

3.

3.

b) If the immediate product your firm produced with sodium metal is itself a part of a final product,
identify, to the extent possible, the final product for each such product your firm produced with sodium
metal that it reported above and if possible, estimate the percentage of the total cost to produce each final
product that was accounted for by the sodium metal.

Final product

Share of final product cost accounted
for by sodium metal (percent)

1.
2.
3.
c) If your firm purchased both U.S.-produced sodium metal and imported sodium metal from France,
please describe any significant differences in the immediate output products and/or the final products
because of the type of sodium metal being used.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

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PART III.—MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASE PRACTICES--Continued
III-5.

For the immediate output product(s) that your firm produced with its purchased sodium metal (shown in
your response to question III-4a), report below how demand for each such output product(s) of your firm
changed since January 2005?
(1) Output product (specify):
Increased

Unchanged

Decreased

Fluctuated

What has been the effect on your firm’s demand for sodium metal since January 2005?

(2) Output product (specify):
Increased

Unchanged

Decreased

Fluctuated

What has been the effect on your firm’s demand for sodium metals since January 2005?

(3) Output product (specify):
Increased

Unchanged

Decreased

Fluctuated

What has been the effect on your firm’s demand for sodium metals since January 2005?

III-6.

If your firm’s immediate product produced with the sodium metal is itself a part of a final product (shown
in response to question III-4b), report below, if known, how demand for each such final product changed
since January 2005?
(1) Identify the final product:
Increased

Unchanged

Decreased

Fluctuated

What has been the effect on your firm’s demand for sodium metal since January 2005?

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PART III.—MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASE PRACTICES--Continued
III-6.

Continued
(2) Identify the final product:
Increased
Unchanged
Decreased
Fluctuated
What has been the effect on your firm’s demand for sodium metals since January 2005?

(3) Identify the final product:
Increased

Unchanged

Decreased

Fluctuated

What has been the effect on your firm’s demand for sodium metals since January 2005?

III-7.

Have there been any changes in the end uses of sodium metal since January 2005?
No

Yes--Discuss the changes, noting the time period in which they occurred.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

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PART III.—MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASE PRACTICES--Continued

III-8.

Are there any downstream products using sodium metal with which your firm is familiar, where changes
in U.S. demand for the downstream products during January 2005-June 2008 and/or expected during the
rest of 2008 and in 2009 resulted in, or are expected to result in, changes in U.S. demand for sodium
metal?
No (skip to next question)

Yes

If yes-a) Identify the largest product using sodium metal that your firm is familiar with where U.S. demand
increased or decreased during January 2005-June 2008 and/or is expected to increase or decrease during
the rest of 2008 and in 2009. In addition, indicate the changes in U.S. demand for this downstream
product and the period(s) when such changes occurred or are likely to occur.

b) Discuss the extent to which the downstream product was produced with sodium metal versus a
different input had on U.S. production of this downstream product during January 2005-June 2008 and/or
the expected impact during the rest of 2008 and in 2009. Also identify and discuss the factors that lead to
more or less production of this product with sodium metal during these periods.

c) What impact have imports, or changes in the quantity of imports, of the downstream product had on
U.S. production of this downstream product since January 2005?

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PART III.—MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASE PRACTICES--Continued
III-8.

d) Estimate the impact on U.S. demand for sodium metal during January 2005-June 2008 and/or the
expected impact during the rest of 2008 and in 2009, based on any changes in demand for this
downstream product. Estimate, any changes/expected changes in U.S. sodium metal demand from
changes in U.S. demand for this downstream product (in short tons). Indicate whether any changes are
an increase or decrease.

Discuss substitution in demand in the U.S. market between sodium metal and alternative (other than sodium
metal) products in the following question.
III-9.

a) Do substitutes exist for sodium metal in the U.S. market? If none, please indicate.
No (skip to question III-10)

Yes (continue)

b) Please list, in descending order of importance, the top two products that may substitute for sodium
metal, or vice-a-versa, in the U.S. market, based on your firm’s experience during January 2005-June
2008, and show the (form and grade) of sodium metal product for which each alternative product is the
most probable substitute.
1.
2.
c) For each possible substitute product-pair listed, please note the most likely principal application(s)/enduse product(s) in which they may substitute for each other during January 2005-June 2008.
1.
2.
d) To what extent do changes in the relative prices of the substitute product-pairs affect the price or
quantity of the sodium metal product during January 2005-June 2008? What is the time lag for any such
impact and does this vary by form and grade of sodium metal and/or final end-use?
1.

2.

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PART III.—MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASE PRACTICES--Continued
III-10. Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that can be substituted for sodium metal
since January 2005?
No

Yes--Please explain.

III-11. How has demand for sodium metal within the United States and, if known, outside the United States,
changed since January 1, 2005? Identify principal factors that affected any changes in demand.
United States:
Increased

Unchanged

Decreased

Fluctuated

Principal factors that affected any changes in demand?

Outside the United States (specify countries
Increased

Unchanged

______________________________________):
Decreased

Principal factors that affected any changes in demand?

Fluctuated

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PART III.—MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASE PRACTICES--Continued
III-12.(a) Was the sodium metal market in the United States subject to business cycles, product cycles, or
conditions of competition distinctive to sodium metal during January 2005-June 2008?
No–Identify factors affecting U.S. demand for sodium metal.
Yes--Please explain and provide estimates of the duration of any such cycle and identify any other
factors affecting U.S. demand for sodium metal.

(b) Has the emergence of new applications and/or markets for sodium metal since January 2005 affected
the business cycles, conditions of competition distinctive to sodium metal, and/or other demand factors
for sodium metal in the U.S. market?
No

Yes--Please explain any such changes.

III-13. Is buying sodium metal that is produced in the United States an important factor in your firm’s purchases
of these products (please check ALL that apply)?
No
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are required by law or regulation (for example,
government purchases under “Buy American” provisions). This involves
total quantity of your firm’s purchases of sodium metal in 2007.

percent of the

Yes--Purchases of domestic product are not required by law or regulation, but are by your
firm or its customers. This involves
percent of the total quantity of your firm’s purchases
of sodium metal in 2007.
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are required for other reasons (please specify these
reasons below, e.g. short lead times required, customization, etc.). This involves
of the total quantity of your firm’s purchases of sodium metal in 2007.

percent

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

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PART III.—MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASE PRACTICES--Continued
III-14. Did your firm and, if a distributor, did your customers make purchase decisions based on the identity of
the producer of the sodium metal you purchased during January 2005-June 2008?
Your firm:

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Your customers:

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, please discuss how your firm and/or your customers determine the producer and
explain why this information is important.
Your firm:

Your customers:

III-15. Did your firm and, if a distributor, did your customers make purchase decisions based on the country of
origin of the sodium metal you purchased during January 2005-June 2008?
Your firm:

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Your customers:

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, please discuss how your firm and/or your customers determine the country source
and explain why this information is important.
Your firm:

Your customers:

III-16. a) How frequently did your firm purchase sodium metal during January 2005-June 2008? If your
responses differed based on whether the purchase was a long-term, short-term, or spot purchase, please
answer separately for each type of purchase.
Daily

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other (specify)

)

b) How frequently did your firm receive shipments of sodium metal during January 2005-June 2008?
Daily
Other (specify)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually
)

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PART III.—MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASE PRACTICES--Continued
III-17. (a) Did your firm’s purchases of sodium metal usually involve negotiations between supplier and
purchaser or did the supplier typically set the terms (price, payment methods, etc.) during January 2005June 2008?
Supplier sets price

Negotiate--Please describe these negotiations and identify the
suppliers.

b) Discuss how (1) the length of the purchase contract/agreement and (2) the volume of purchases
affected your firm’s purchase price level of sodium metal during January 2005-June 2008 (i.e., did a
longer contract period and/or a larger-volume purchase lead to lower prices)
(1)
(2)
c) Did your firm mention competing prices to your supplier(s) when negotiating a price for sodium metal
during January 2005-June 2008?
Always

Frequently

Sometimes

Never

(d) Did your firm tend to vary its purchases of sodium metal from a given supplier within a specified time
period based on the price offered for that period during January 2005-June 2008?
Always

Frequently

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes–
Specify the time period.

III-18. How many suppliers did your firm generally contact before making a purchase of sodium metal during
January 2005-June 2008? If your responses differed based on whether the purchase was a long-term,
short-term, or spot purchase, please answer separately for each type of purchase.

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PART III.—MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASE PRACTICES--Continued
III-19. Has your firm changed suppliers of sodium metal since January 2005?
No

Yes

If yes-Please list the supplier(s) and indicate whether the firms were added or dropped as a supplier. Also give
the reasons for the change and how frequently you changed suppliers since January 2005.

III-20. (a) Is your firm aware of any new suppliers of sodium metal, either foreign or domestic, that have entered
the U.S. market since January 2005?
No

Yes

If yes-Please identify the new suppliers, the country-of-origin of their sodium metal, and indicate how your firm
became aware of them.

(b) Does your firm expect new suppliers of sodium metal to enter the U.S. market in the future?
No

Yes

If yes-Please provide details, noting the specific future time period and country(ies) of origin in your response.

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PART III.—MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASE PRACTICES--Continued
III-21. Did your firm require during January 2005-June 2008 its suppliers to be or become certified or
prequalified with respect to the form, grade, purity or other product characteristics and/or performance
characteristics of the sodium metal they sold to your firm?
No

Yes –

percent of such purchases in 2007

Yes–all purchases in 2007

If yes-a) Please provide a general description of the certification or qualification process and the time and cost
required for such approval.

b) Briefly describe the factors that your firm considered during January 2005-June 2008 when qualifying
a new supplier (e.g., form, grade, quality of product, reliability of supplier, etc.).

c) Since January 2005, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their attempts to certify or qualify
their sodium metal with your firm or have any suppliers lost their approved status?
No

Yes

If yes-Please identify these firms, the countries where they are located, and the reasons why they failed the
certification/qualification process.

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PART III.—MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASE PRACTICES--Continued
III-22. For the factors listed below, please rate each in terms of its importance in your firm’s purchase decision
for sodium metal.
VERY
SOMEWHAT
NOT
IMPORTANT
IMPORTANT
IMPORTANT
Availability
Avoidance of calcium buildup
and clogging
Credit extension
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Form requested (e.g., ISO tank,
rail car, drum, ingots, etc.)
Minimum quantity requirements
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets requirements for
your process/application
Quality exceeds requirements for
your process/application
Reliability of supply
Sodium oxide buildup and clogging
Technical support service
U.S. transportation costs
Other (specify):

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PART III.—MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASE PRACTICES--Continued
III-23. Please list, in descending order of their importance, the three major factors generally considered by your
firm in deciding from whom to purchase sodium metal (examples include current availability, extension
of credit, prearranged contracts, price, form, grade, quality exceeding specifications or industry standards,
consistency of quality, range of supplier’s product line, traditional supplier, etc.).
1.
2.
3.
Other factors or comments:

III-24. What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the quality of sodium metal?

III-25. How often does your firm purchase the sodium metal that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If not “always”, what other factors were also important in your firm’s purchasing decisions for sodium
metal during January 2005-June 2008?

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

Page 24

PART III.—MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASE PRACTICES--Continued
III-26. Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the U.S. market for sodium metal since
January 2005. A price leader is defined as (1) one or more firms that initiate a price change, either
upward or downward, that is followed by other firms, or (2) one or more firms that have a significant
impact on prices. A price leader does not necessarily have to be the lowest priced supplier. For those
firms identified as a price leader, please specify the time period in which a price change was
communicated, whether the price change was upward or downward, and whether it covered a specific
geographic region or a specific product type.

III-27. Please describe how each of the above firm(s) or, as applicable, all the firms collectively exhibited price
leadership.

|
III-28. How frequently did the price of the sodium metal your firm purchased change during 2005-07?

III-29. Does your firm purchase sodium metal on the internet?
No

Yes

If yes-Please describe, noting the estimated percentage of your firm’s total quantity of U.S. purchases of sodium
metal in 2007 accounted for by internet purchases, and identify the country(ies) of origin of the products
purchased on the internet.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

Page 25

PART IV.—COMPARISONS BETWEEN IMPORTED AND U.S.-PRODUCED PRODUCT
IV-1.

Please indicate the countries of origin of the sodium metal for which your firm has actual
marketing/pricing knowledge. Check all that apply to your firm.

United States

France

China

Other countries--(Specify

)

Please respond to question IV-2 only for those countries for which you indicated marketing and pricing
knowledge of the sodium metal.
IV-2. Are the sodium metal products produced in the United States, imported from France, and
imported from other countries used interchangeably (i.e., can they physically be used in the same
applications)? Please indicate below, using “A” to indicate that the products from a specified countrypair are always interchangeable, “F” to indicate that the products are frequently interchangeable,“S” to
indicate that the products are sometimes interchangeable,“N” to indicate that the products are never
interchangeable, and “0” to indicate no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair.1
Country-pair

France

China

India

Other countries

United States
France
1

For any country-pair producing sodium metal which is sometimes or never interchangeable, please explain
the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use. Also, identify any “other countries” included in the lastcolumn comparisons.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

Page 26

PART IV.—COMPARISONS BETWEEN IMPORTED AND U.S.-PRODUCED PRODUCT
—Continued
IV-3.

Did your firm or its customers ever specifically order sodium metal from one country in particular over
other possible sources of supply during January 2005-June 2008?
No

Yes--Please identify all relevant countries (including the United States and both
subject and nonsubject foreign countries) from which your firm or, if a
distributor, its customers prefer to order, and indicate why sodium metal from
these countries are preferred over product from other countries.

IV-4.

Were certain forms, grades/purities, and/or other characteristics of sodium metal available from only a
single source (domestic or foreign, including both subject and nonsubject countries) during January 2005June 2008?
No
Yes-Please identify the supplier, country source, and the specific product features.

IV-5.

If your firm purchased sodium metal from one source although a comparable product was available from
another source at a lower price during January 2005-June 2008, please explain your reasons for doing so
(please specify by supplier and country of origin of the sodium metal, including the United States and
both subject and nonsubject foreign countries). Possibilities might include form and/or grade/purity of
sodium metal, transaction characteristics such as length of time to fill orders, minimum order size,
reliability of supply, etc.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

Page 27

PART IV.—COMPARISONS BETWEEN IMPORTED AND U.S.-PRODUCED PRODUCT
—Continued
IV-6.

For the factors listed below, please rate how sodium metal produced in each country your firm identified in its
response to the first question in Part IV compares with sodium metal products produced in each of the other
countries your firm identified (including the United States and both subject and nonsubject foreign countries).
Please attach any comments your firm cares to make concerning its responses, especially in comparisons where
your firm rates product from one country superior or inferior to product from another. If multiple country
comparisons are the same, then include all such countries on a single page in your firm’s response.

Comparison 1:
compared to
(specify country)

(specify country)
SUPERIOR

COMPARABLE

INFERIOR

Availability
Avoidance of calcium buildup
and clogging
Credit extension
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Form requested (e.g., ISO tank,
rail car, drum, ingots, etc.)
Minimum quantity requirements
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets requirements for
your process/application
Quality exceeds requirements for
your process/application
Reliability of supply
Sodium oxide buildup and clogging
Technical support service
U.S. transportation costs1
Other (specify):

1

A rating of “Superior” on price or U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has
lower prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

Page 28

PART IV.—COMPARISONS BETWEEN IMPORTED AND U.S.-PRODUCED PRODUCT
—Continued
IV-6.
Comparison 2:
compared to
(specify country)

(specify country)
SUPERIOR

COMPARABLE

INFERIOR

Availability
Avoidance of calcium buildup
and clogging
Credit extension
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Form requested (e.g., ISO tank,
rail car, drum, ingots, etc.)
Minimum quantity requirements
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets requirements for
your process/application
Quality exceeds requirements for
your process/application
Reliability of supply
Sodium oxide buildup and clogging
Technical support service
U.S. transportation costs1
Other (specify):

1

A rating of “Superior” on price or U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has
lower prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

Page 29

PART IV.—COMPARISONS BETWEEN IMPORTED AND U.S.-PRODUCED PRODUCT
—Continued
IV-6.
Comparison 3:
compared to
(specify country)

(specify country)
SUPERIOR

COMPARABLE

INFERIOR

Availability
Avoidance of calcium buildup
and clogging
Credit extension
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Form requested (e.g., ISO tank,
rail car, drum, ingots, etc.)
Minimum quantity requirements
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets requirements for
your process/application
Quality exceeds requirements for
your process/application
Reliability of supply
Sodium oxide buildup and clogging
Technical support service
U.S. transportation costs1
Other (specify):

1

A rating of “Superior” on price or U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has
lower prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

Page 30

PART IV.—COMPARISONS BETWEEN IMPORTED AND U.S.-PRODUCED PRODUCT
—Continued
IV-6.
Comparison 4:
compared to
(specify country)

(specify country)
SUPERIOR

COMPARABLE

INFERIOR

Availability
Avoidance of calcium buildup
and clogging
Credit extension
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Form requested (e.g., ISO tank,
rail car, drum, ingots, etc.)
Minimum quantity requirements
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets requirements for
your process/application
Quality exceeds requirements for
your process/application
Reliability of supply
Sodium oxide buildup and clogging
Technical support service
U.S. transportation costs1
Other (specify):

1

A rating of “Superior” on price or U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has
lower prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

Page 31

PART IV.—COMPARISONS BETWEEN IMPORTED AND U.S.-PRODUCED PRODUCT
—Continued
Respond to the following question only for the country sources of sodium metal qualified by your firm during
January 2005-June 2008.
IV-7.

(a) How often did U.S.-produced sodium metal meet minimum quality specifications for your firm’s uses
or, if a distributor, its customers’ uses during January 2005-June 2008?
Your firm

Your customer

Always

Usually

(Check one)
Sometimes

Rarely or never

(Check one)

(b) How often did imported sodium metal from France meet minimum quality specifications for your
firm’s uses or, if a distributor, its customers’ uses during January 2005-June 2008?
Your firm

Your customer

Always

Usually

(Check one)
Sometimes

Rarely or never

(Check one)

(c) How often did imported sodium metal from nonsubject countries meet minimum quality specifications
for your firm’s uses or, if a distributor, its customers’ uses during January 2005-June 2008? Answer
separately by country of origin.
Your firm
Country of origin

Your customer

(Check one)

(Check one for each country)
Always
Usually
Always
Usually
Always
Usually

Sometimes
Sometimes
Sometimes

Rarely or never
Rarely or never
Rarely or never

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

Page 32

PART V.—CONTRACT INFORMATION

This part of the questionnaire requests long-term and short-term purchase contract/agreement information,
including any competing offers submitted to your U.S. firm for each contract/agreement, for sodium
metal in bulk form shipped to your U.S. firm during January 2005-June 2008 and/or product that will be
shipped to your firm during the rest of 2008 and/or in 2009 from U.S. producers and importers
UNRELATED (by ownership) to your firm.
Long-term purchases are for multiple deliveries over a period of more than 12 months after the purchase
agreement, and short-term purchases are for multiple deliveries for up to 12 months after the purchase
agreement. Long-term and short-term purchase agreements can be written contracts or verbal
agreements. Do NOT include any SPOT purchases in your responses; spot purchases are usually onetime delivery, made within 30 days of the purchase agreement.
Please note that the information is requested for purchase contracts/agreements that were either (1)
negotiated during January 2005-June 2008 for deliveries occurring in 2005-2009, or (2) negotiated
prior to January 2005 if the contract delivery period extended into 2005-2009. This information is
requested only for sodium metal in bulk form.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

Page 33

PART VI.—SUPPLIER IDENTIFICATION
V-1.

COPY THIS PAGE AS NECESSARY. Complete a separate page for each of your U.S. firm’s
purchase contract/agreements for sodium metal in bulk form. Report separately for long-term and
short-term purchase contracts/agreements and report the year the contract/agreement was negotiated
and the length (in years) of the purchase contract/agreement period (indicate this information at the top
of table where requested). Report only for sodium metal (in bulk form) shipped to your firm’s U.S.
locations during January 2005-June 2008 and/or product that will be shipped during the rest of 2008
and/or in 2009. Copy this page as necessary to report for additional long-term and/or short-term
purchase contracts/agreements. For each additional contract, manually copy and paste pages 33 and
34 into new pages as necessary. (At the end of page 34, insert a page break (Menu: Insert-Break-Page
break); copy the contents of page 33 and paste in the new page. Repeat for page 34.)
Year contract/agreement negotiated
Length of contract period
Long-term
Name of quoting firms and the
grade(s) of sodium metal
offered

Initial quote

Short-term (Check one)
Final quote

As quoted

Winning quote(s)
As quoted

Delivered basis1

1.
Quote date
Country of origin
Quoted price ($/pound)2
Total quoted quantity (pounds)
2.
Quote date
Country of origin
Quoted price ($/pound)2
Total quoted quantity (pounds)
3.
Quote date
Country of origin
Quoted price ($/pound)2
Total quoted quantity (pounds)
4.
Quote date
Country of origin
Quoted price ($/pound)2
Total quoted quantity (pounds)
1

Convert price quotes, where applicable, to a delivered value basis; i.e., include U.S. transportation costs from your U.S.
suppliers’ locations (U.S. warehouse, U.S. production facility, or U.S. port-of-entry) to your firm’s U.S. receiving locations.
2
Please indicate whether delivered price (delivered), U.S. f.o.b. shipping location (U.S. f.o.b.), or other basis beside the
quoted price.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

Page 34

PART V.—CONTRACT INFORMATION--Continued
V-2.

With respect to the contracts that were reported in question V-1, please describe the following
stipulations of the contract. Again, please copy these pages as needed to report for more than a
single long-term and/or short-term purchase contract/agreement using the method described in
question V-1.

Supplier name
Country of origin
Reason for selecting
supplier
Grade(s)
Date signed
Beginning/end dates
Extension clause
(please describe)
Contracted price
Price escalators
(include basis,
frequency and other
factors)
Additional price
terms (if any)
Quantity
Payment terms
Delivery terms or
provisions (include
U.S. receiving
location and transport
method)
Inventory provisions
(if any)
Hardship/meet-orrelease provisions (if
any)
Most favored
customer provision
(if any)
Other considerations
(if any)
Product(s) produced
with contracted
sodium metal
Provide for supply of
sodium metal to other
countries also?

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

Page 35

PART V.—CONTRACT INFORMATION--Continued
V-4. Please report the date and amount of each adjusted U.S. purchase price (on a delivered basis and, if
possible, on a net U.S. f.o.b. shipping location) made via the price escalator and via any hardship/meetor-release provisions from the first to the most recent price adjustment during the stipulated agreement
period.
Adjusted selling price due to-Price escalator
Date

U.S. f.o.b
($/lb.)

Delivered
($/lb.)

Hardship/meet-or-release provisions
U.S. f.o.b
($/lb.)

Delivered
($/lb.)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Sodium Metal

Page 36

PART VI.—SUPPLIER IDENTIFICATION
Please provide the names and addresses, in descending order, of up to the 5 largest U.S. suppliers of
sodium metal to your U.S. firm during January 2005-June 2008. Please also provide for each supplier the
name and telephone number of a contact person. In addition, report the share, by quantity, of your firm’s
purchases of sodium metal that it received in 2007 that was accounted for by each of the 5 largest
suppliers of these products. Identify where indicated the country of origin of the sodium metal purchased
from each supplier, and, for any suppliers related to your firm, place an R by the name of each such
supplier.

No.
1
2
3
4
5

Supplier’s
name

Country
of origin

Street address (not P.O. box),
city, state, and zip code

Contact person

Share of
2007
Area code and
shipments
telephone number
(%)