12-4-3034 Foreign Producer Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 12-4-3034; Expiration Date: 6/30/2014
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

FOREIGN PRODUCERS’/EXPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
FERROVANADIUM AND NITRIDED VANADIUM FROM RUSSIA

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than APRIL 23, 2012
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 review of the antidumping duty order concerning ferrovanadium and nitrided vanadium from Russia
(Inv. No. 731-TA-702 (Third Review)). The information requested in the questionnaire is requested under the authority
of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII.

Name of firm

_________________________________________________________________

Address
World Wide Web address
Has your firm produced or exported ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium (as defined in the instruction
booklet) at any time since January 1, 2006?

NO
YES

(Sign the certification below and promptly return only this page of the questionnaire to the Commission)
(Read the instruction booklet carefully, complete all parts of the questionnaire, and return the entire
questionnaire to the Commission so as to be received by the date indicated above)

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 means of 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 proceeding in any other import-injury proceeding conducted by the
Commission on the same or similar merchandise.
I acknowledge that information submitted in this questionnaire response and throughout this proceeding 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 proceeding or related proceedings for which this information is submitted, or in internal audits and
proceedings 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

Date

Phone:
Signature

E-mail address
Fax:

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium and Nitrided Vanadium

Page 2

PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION
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 30 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-1a.

OMB statistics.--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

I-1b.

OMB feedback.--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.

Establishments covered.--Provide the name and address of establishment(s) covered by this
questionnaire (see page 3 of the instruction booklet for reporting guidelines). If your firm is
publicly traded, please specify the stock exchange and trading symbol.

I-3.

U.S. importers.--Please provide the names, contacts, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers of
the FIVE largest U.S. importers of your firm’s ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium in 2011.

No.

1

2

3

4

5

Importer’s name

Contact person

E-mail address

Area
code and
telephone
number

Share of
your 2011
exports
(%)

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium and Nitrided Vanadium

Page 3

PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
I-4.

U.S. production.--Does your firm or any related firm produce, have the capability to produce, or
have any plans to produce ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium in the United States or other
countries?
No

I-5.

U.S. importation.--Does your firm or any related firm import or have any plans to import
ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium into the United States?
No

I-6.

Yes--Please name the firm(s) and country(ies) below and, if U.S. producer(s),
ensure that they complete the Commission’s producer questionnaire
(contact Joanna Lo at [email protected] for copies of that
questionnaire).

Yes--Please name the firm(s) below and ensure that they complete the
Commission’s importer questionnaire (contact Joanna Lo at
[email protected] for copies of that questionnaire).

Business plan.--In Parts II and III of this questionnaire we request a copy of your company’s
business plan. Does your company or any related firm have a business plan or any internal
documents that describe, discuss, or analyze expected future market conditions for ferrovanadium
and/or nitrided vanadium?
No

Yes--Please provide the requested documents. If you are not providing the
requested documents, please explain why not.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium and Nitrided Vanadium

Page 4

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Joanna Lo (202-205-1888,
[email protected]). Supply all data requested on a calendar-year basis.
II-1.

Contact information.--Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which
Commission staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted in
part II.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Fax

II-2.

Changes in operations.--Please indicate whether your firm has experienced any of the following
changes in relation to the production of ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium since January 1,
2006.
(check as many as appropriate)
plant openings ..............................

plant closings................................

relocations ....................................

expansions ....................................

acquisitions...................................

consolidations...............................

prolonged shutdowns or
production curtailments................
revised labor agreements ..............

other (e.g., technology) ................

(please describe)

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium and Nitrided Vanadium

Page 5

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued

II-3.

Anticipated changes in operations.--Does your firm anticipate any changes in the character of
your operations or organization (as noted above) relating to the production of ferrovanadium
and/or nitrided vanadium in the future?
No

II-4.

Yes–Supply details as to the time, nature, and significance of such changes
and provide underlying assumptions, along with relevant portions of
business plans or other supporting documentation that address this
issue. Include in your response a specific projection of your firm’s
capacity to produce ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium (in
1,000 pounds of contained vanadium) for 2012 and 2013.

Anticipated changes in operations in the event the order is revoked.--Would your firm
anticipate any changes in the character of your operations or organization (as noted above)
relating to the production of ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium in the future if the
antidumping duty order on ferrovanadium and nitrided vanadium from Russia were to be
revoked?
No

Yes–Supply details as to the time, nature, and significance of such changes
and provide underlying assumptions, along with relevant portions of
business plans or other supporting documentation that address this
issue. Include in your response a specific projection of your firm’s
capacity to produce ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium (in
1,000 pounds of contained vanadium) for 2012 and 2013.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium and Nitrided Vanadium

Page 6

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
II-5.

Same equipment, machinery, and workers.--Has your firm since 2006 produced, or does your
firm anticipate producing in the future, other products on the same equipment and machinery
used in the production of ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium?
No

Yes--List the following information and report your firm’s combined
production capacity and production of these products and
ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium in the periods indicated.

Product

Period

Basis for allocation of capacity data

Quantity (in 1,000 pounds)
Item

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Overall production capacity
Production of:
Ferrovanadium
Nitrided vanadium
Other products:
NOTE.--The quantity requested above is gross pounds and is not intended to match the quantity data requested in
question II-14.

II-6.

Constraints on production.--Please describe the constraint(s) that set the limit(s) on your
production capacity.

II-7.

Production shifting.--Is your firm able to switch production between ferrovanadium and/or
nitrided vanadium and other products in response to a relative change in the price of
ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium vis-a-vis the price of other products, using the same
equipment and/or labor?
No

Yes---Please identify the other products, the approximate time and cost
involved in switching, and the minimum relative price change required
for your firm to switch production to or from ferrovanadium and/or
nitrided vanadium.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium and Nitrided Vanadium

Page 7

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
II-8.

Share of sales.--What percentage of your firm’s total sales in its most recent fiscal year was
represented by sales of ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium?
Percent

II-9.

Inventories in the United States.--Has your firm, since 2006, maintained any inventories of
ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium in the United States (not including inventories held by
firms identified in question I-3)?
No

Yes--Report the quantity of such end-of-period inventories below.
Quantity (in 1,000
Item

pounds of contained vanadium)

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Inventory

II-10.

Barriers.-(a)

Are your firm’s exports of ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium subject to tariff or
non-tariff barriers to trade (for example, antidumping or countervailing duty findings or
remedies, tariffs, quotas, or regulatory barriers) in any countries other than the United
States?
No

Yes--List the products(s), country(ies), the year each such barrier was
imposed, and the type of barrier.
Product

(b)

Country

Year imposed

Barrier (if tariff,
give rate)

Are your firm’s exports of ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium subject to current
proceedings in any countries other than the United States that might result in tariff or
non-tariff barriers to trade?
No

Yes--List the products(s), country(ies), and type of proceeding.
Product

Country

Type of proceeding

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium and Nitrided Vanadium

Page 8

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
II-11.

Other export markets.--Identify export markets (other than the United States) that you have
developed or where you have increased your sales of ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium
since 2006. Please identify and discuss below.

II-12.

Significance of antidumping duty order.--Describe the significance of the existing antidumping
duty order covering imports of ferrovanadium and nitrided vanadium from Russia in terms of its
effect on your firm’s production capacity, production, home market shipments, exports to the
United States and other markets, and inventories. You may wish to compare your firm’s
operations before and after the imposition of the order.

II-13.

Anticipated changes if order revoked.--Would your firm anticipate any changes in its
production capacity, production, home market shipments, exports to the United States and other
markets, or inventories relating to the production of ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium in
the future if the antidumping duty order on ferrovanadium and nitrided vanadium from Russia
were to be revoked?
No

Yes–Supply details as to the time, nature, and significance of such changes
and provide underlying assumptions, along with relevant portions of
business plans or other supporting documentation for any trends or
projections you may provide.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium and Nitrided Vanadium

Page 9

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
II-14.

Trade data (Russia).-- Report production capacity, production, shipments, and inventories of
ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium produced by your firm in Russia during the specified
periods. (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)

Russia
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds of contained vanadium) and Value (in 1,000 dollars)
Calendar year
Item

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

1

Average production capacity (A)
Beginning-of-period inventories (B)
2

Production (C)
Home market shipments:
Internal consumption/transfers
quantity (D)
Commercial shipments
quantity (E)
value (F)
Export shipments:
3
to the United States:
quantity (G)
value (H)
4

to the European Union:
quantity (I)
value (J)
5

to Asia:
quantity (K)
value (L)
6

to all other markets:
quantity (M)
value (N)

Total exports (quantity) (O)
Total shipments (quantity) (P)
End-of-period inventories (Q)
1

The production capacity (see definitions in instruction booklet) reported is based on operating
hours per week,
weeks per year. Please describe the methodology used to calculate production capacity, and explain any changes in
reported capacity.
2

Please estimate the percentage of total production of ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium in Russia accounted for
percent
by your firm’s production in 2011:
3
Please estimate the percentage of total exports to the United States of ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium in
percent
Russia accounted for by your firm’s exports in 2011:
4
Identify your principal European Union export markets:
.
5
Identify your principal Asian export markets:
.
6
Identify your principal other export markets:
.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium and Nitrided Vanadium

Page 10

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
II-15.

Reconciliation of trade data.—
(a)

The quantities reported in question II-14 should reconcile as follows in each period (i.e.,
in each column):
Reconciliation
B+C–D–E–G–I–K–M=Q

(b)

Yes

No--Please

Further, the quantities reported for end-of-period inventories should equal the beginningof-period inventories reported in the subsequent calendar year (i.e., line Q of year 2006
should equal line B of year 2007). Do these data reconcile for each adjacent calendar
year?
Yes.

II-16.

Do these data reconcile?
explain:

No--Please explain:

Total production of ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium.--Indicate the share of your
total production in 2011 of ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium accounted for by each of the
following items:
Item

Share (percent)

Grade 40-60 percent ferrovanadium

%

Grade 75-85 percent ferrovanadium

%

Nitrided vanadium

%

Other vanadium-containing product (specify):

%

Total

100%

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium and Nitrided Vanadium

Page 11

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from John Benedetto (202-205-3270,
[email protected]).
III-1.

Contact information.-- Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which
Commission staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted in
part III.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Fax

III-2.

Contract versus spot.--Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of ferrovanadium and/or
nitrided vanadium to U.S. customers in 2011 was on a (1) long-term contract basis, (2) short-term
contract basis, and (3) spot sales basis?
Share of
2011 sales

Type of sale
Long-term contracts (multiple deliveries for more
than 12 months)

%

Short-term contracts (multiple deliveries up to and
including 12 months)

%

Spot sales (for a single delivery)

%

Total

III-3.

100

%

Please fill out the table with respect to provisions of your typical sales contracts with U.S.
customers for ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium (or check “not applicable” if your firm
does not sell on a long term and/or short term contract basis).

Typical sales contract
provisions

Item

Average contract duration

Number of days

Price renegotiation (during the
contract period)

Yes
No
Quantity

Fixed quantity and/or price

Price
Both

Meet or release provision
Not applicable

Yes
No

Short term contracts

Long term contracts

(multiple deliveries up to
and including 12 months)

(multiple deliveries for more
than 12 months)

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium and Nitrided Vanadium

Page 12

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
III-4.

Lead times.--What is the average lead time for ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium to U.S.
customers between a customer’s order and the date of delivery for your firm’s sales of
ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium?
Source

Share of
2011 sales

From inventory

%

Produced to order

%

Total

Lead time (days)

100 %

III-5.

Raw materials.--To what extent have changes in the prices of raw materials affected your firm’s
selling prices for ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium since 2006? Also discuss any
anticipated changes in your raw material costs.

III-6.

Changes in factors affecting supply.--Have any changes occurred in any other factors affecting
supply (e.g., changes in availability or prices of energy or labor; transportation conditions;
production capacity and/or methods of production; technology; export markets; or alternative
production opportunities) that affected the availability of Russian-produced ferrovanadium and/or
nitrided vanadium in the U.S. market since 2006?
No

Yes-- Please describe.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium and Nitrided Vanadium

Page 13

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
III-7.

Availability of SUBJECT import supply.-(a)

Do you anticipate any changes in terms of the availability of Russian-produced
ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium in the U.S. market in the future?
Increase

(b)

No change

Decrease

If you anticipate changes in supply, please identify the changes, including the time period
and the impact of such changes on shipment volumes and prices.

III-8.

Product shifting.--Describe how easily your firm can shift its sales of ferrovanadium and/or
nitrided vanadium between the U.S. market and alternative country markets. In your discussion,
please describe any contracts, other sales arrangements, or other constraints (including any thirdcountry trade barriers such as tariffs, quotas, or other non-tariff barriers) that would prevent or
retard your firm from shifting ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium between the U.S. and
alternative country markets within a 12-month period.

III-9.

Product range.--Is the product range, product mix, or marketing of ferrovanadium and/or
nitrided vanadium in your home market different from that of ferrovanadium and/or nitrided
vanadium for export to the United States or to third-country markets?
No

Yes—Please explain.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium and Nitrided Vanadium

Page 14

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
III-10. Product changes.--Have there been any significant changes in the product range, product mix, or
marketing of ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium in your home market, for export to the
United States, or for export to third-country markets since 2006? Do you anticipate any future
changes?
Changes in
product range,
product mix, or
marketing
No Yes

Explain

Changes since
2006
Anticipated
changes

III-11. Substitutes.—
(a) Can ferrovanadium be substituted for nitrided vanadium in all end uses?
No—Please explain.

Yes

(b) Can other products be substituted for ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium?
No

Substitute
1.
2.
3.

Yes--Please fill out the table.

End use in which this
substitute is used

Have changes in the prices of this substitute
affected the price for ferrovanadium and/or
nitrided vanadium?
No Yes

Explanation

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium and Nitrided Vanadium

Page 15

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
III-12. Changes in substitutes.-- Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that
can be substituted for ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium since 2006? Do you anticipate
any future changes?
Changes in
substitutes

No Yes

Explain

Changes since
2006
Anticipated
changes

III-13. Interchangeability.--Is the ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium produced by your firm and
sold in its home market interchangeable (i.e., can be used in the same applications) with your
firm’s ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium sold to the United States and/or to third-country
markets?
Yes

No--Identify the market(s) and any differences in the products.

III-14. End uses.--Describe the end uses of the ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium that you
manufacture and sell to your home market. If these end uses differ from those of the
ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium you sell to the U.S. market or to third-country markets,
explain.

III-15. Changes in end uses.-- Have there been any changes in the end uses of ferrovanadium and/or
nitrided vanadium since 2006? Do you anticipate any future changes?
Changes in end
uses
Changes since
2006
Anticipated
changes

No

Yes

Explain

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium and Nitrided Vanadium

Page 16

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
III-16. Demand trends.-- Indicate how demand for ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium in the
following markets has changed since January 1, 2006, and why (factors). In addition, indicate
how you anticipate demand for ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium in these markets will
change in the future, and why (factors).

Market

No
Increase change Decrease Fluctuate

Factors

Demand since 2006
Your
home
market
United
States
Other
markets
Anticipated future demand
Your
home
market
United
States
Other
markets

III-17. Price differences.--Please compare market prices of ferrovanadium and/or nitrided vanadium in
your home market, the United States, and third-country markets.

III-18. Description of home market.--Describe briefly your home market for ferrovanadium and/or
nitrided vanadium, including the number of, and competition between, producers.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium and Nitrided Vanadium

Page 17

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
III-19. Import competition.--Do you face competition from imports of ferrovanadium and/or nitrided
vanadium in your home market?
No

Yes--Please identify the country sources of any imports of ferrovanadium
and/or nitrided vanadium into your home market.

III-20. Market studies.--Please provide as a separate attachment to this request any studies, surveys, etc.
that you are aware of that quantify and/or otherwise discuss ferrovanadium and/or nitrided
vanadium supply (including production capacity and capacity utilization) and demand in (1) the
United States, (2) each of the other major producing/consuming countries, including Russia, and
(3) the world as a whole. Of particular interest is such data from 2006 to the present and forecasts
for the future.