12-4-3046 Foreign Producer Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 12-4-3046; Expiration Date: 6/30/2014
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

FOREIGN PRODUCERS’/EXPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
SILICOMANGANESE FROM BRAZIL, CHINA, AND UKRAINE

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than July 2, 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 orders concerning silicomanganese from Brazil, China, and Ukraine
(Inv. Nos. 731-TA-671-673 (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 silicomanganese (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)

Data reported in this questionnaire relate to (Check One):
Brazil

China

Ukraine

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 proceedings or reviews
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 – Silicomanganese from Brazil, China,
and Ukraine (3rd Review)

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 silicomanganese 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 - Silicomanganese from Brazil, China,
and Ukraine (3rd Review)

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 silicomanganese 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
silicomanganese 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.

Yes--Please name the firm(s) below and ensure that they complete the
Commission’s importer 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
silicomanganese?
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 - Silicomanganese from Brazil, China,
and Ukraine (3rd Review)

Page 4

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Russell Duncan (202-7084727, [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 silicomanganese 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 - Silicomanganese from Brazil, China,
and Ukraine (3rd Review)

Page 5

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--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 silicomanganese 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 silicomanganese (in short tons) 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 silicomanganese in the future if the antidumping duty orders on
silicomanganese from Brazil, China, and Ukraine 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 silicomanganese (in short tons) for 2012 and 2013.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Silicomanganese from Brazil, China,
and Ukraine (3rd Review)

Page 6

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-5.

Furnace count and specs.--Please detail your firms’ furnaces and their specifications used in
production of silicomanganese in Brazil, China, or Ukraine.

Location
(City, Region)

Short description of furnace
specifications

Dedicated
Year
to SiMag purchased,
production installed, or
(check =
acquired
yes)
(year)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

More than eight.--Check here if your firm operated more than eight furnaces in the production of
silicomanganese in Brazil, China, or Ukraine since January 1, 2006, and please provide the same
information as requested in the above grid for those additional furnaces as an attachment to your
firm’s response to this questionnaire.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Silicomanganese from Brazil, China,
and Ukraine (3rd Review)

Page 7

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-6.

Product shifting.--Please provide answers to each of the following questions relating to your
firm’s ability to shift production between silicomanganese and other products.
(a)

In relation to those furnaces (reported in question II-5 above) not dedicated 100 percent
to the production of silicomanganese, please provide the following information on the
other products produced in those furnaces (if more than four products, list the largest).

Costs and timeframes involved in switching
production to/from SiMag

Product(s)

Est. share of furnace
fleet’s production time
dedicated to product1
(share)

1. Ferromanganese

2. Ferrosilicon

3.

4.

1
Provide an estimated share that represents how much of the annual average total production hours of all of
the furnaces reported in question II-5 (a.k.a., furnace fleet) relates to the production of the listed product in a given
year. For example, report 25 percent of ferromanganese if in a year 500 hours are dedicated to ferromanganese and
1500 hours are dedicated to silicomanganese.

Additional discussion:

(b)

In relation to those furnaces (reported in question II-5 above) dedicated 100 percent to the
production of silicomanganese since January 1, 2006, could these furnaces be converted
to the production of products other than silicomanganese?
No

Yes.--And at what cost/time constraint?

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Silicomanganese from Brazil, China,
and Ukraine (3rd Review)

Page 8

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-6.

Product shifting.--Continued
(c)

Does your firms own or operate furnaces not reported in question II-5 at all (i.e., not
involved in silicomanganese production during the period) that could be converted to the
production of silicomanganese?
No

II-7

Yes.--And at what cost/time constraint?

Overall capacity.--Based your firm’s typical silicomanganese operations (i.e., typical hours per
week and weeks per year) and in relation to only those furnaces actually used to produce
silicomanganese at any time since January 1, 2006 (i.e., reported in question II-5 and not those
discussed in II-6c), please report the following information.
Item

2006

2007

2008
2009
Hours (1,000s)

2010

2011

Annual hours of furnace
operations
Quantity (short tons)
1

Overall production capacity
Production of:
Silicomanganese
Ferromanganese
Ferrosilicon
Other product 3 (from Q II-6a)
Other product 4 (from Q II-6a)
All other products2
1

The overall production capacity reported here relates to operating your firm’s furnaces used in the production
hours per week and
weeks per year, and indicate how
of silicomanganese (as reported in question II-5)
the overall production capacity quantity figure was arrived at:

II-8.

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

II-9.

Share of sales.--What percentage of your firm’s total sales in its most recent fiscal year was
represented by sales of silicomanganese?
Percent

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Silicomanganese from Brazil, China,
and Ukraine (3rd Review)

Page 9

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-10.

Barriers.-(a)

Are your firm’s exports of silicomanganese 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
Country

(b)

Year imposed

Describe barrier (if tariff, give rate)

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

II-11.

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

Yes--please describe.

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

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Silicomanganese from Brazil, China,
and Ukraine (3rd Review)

Page 10

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-12.

Significance of antidumping duty orders.--Describe the significance of the existing
antidumping duty orders covering imports of silicomanganese into the United States from Brazil,
China, and Ukraine 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 silicomanganese in the future if the
antidumping duty orders on silicomanganese from Brazil, China, and Ukraine 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 - Silicomanganese from Brazil, China,
and Ukraine (3rd Review)

Page 11

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-14.

Trade data.--Report production capacity, production, shipments, and inventories of
silicomanganese produced by your firm in Brazil, China, or Ukraine during the specified periods.
(See definitions in the instruction booklet.) Do not submit data on multiple countries combined,
the establishments reported here should all be located in the country of the firm’s address
reported on the certification page. Multinational companies with production in multiple subject
countries should submit separate foreign producer questionnaire responses for each subject
country.
Quantity (in short tons) 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)
Production2 (C)
Home market shipments:
Internal consumption/transfers
quantity (D)
Commercial shipments
quantity (E)
value (F)
Export shipments:
to the United States:3
quantity (G)
value (H)
to the European Union:4
quantity (I)
value (J)
to Asia:5
quantity (K)
value (L)
to all other markets:6
quantity (M)
value (N)
Total exports (quantity) (O)
Total shipments (quantity) (P)
End-of-period inventories (Q)
1
If your firm produces more than just silicomanganese on its furnaces (i.e., production of silicomanganese does not
equal the totality of all production as reported in question II-7), on what basis did your firm allocate overall capacity (reported
in question II-7) to the average production capacity reported here (e.g., share of production, hours dedicated, other…)?

2

Please estimate the percentage of total production of silicomanganese in Brazil, China, or Ukraine accounted for by
percent
your firm’s production in 2011:
3
Please estimate the percentage of total exports to the United States of silicomanganese in Brazil, China, and Ukraine
percent
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 - Silicomanganese from Brazil, China,
and Ukraine (3rd Review)

Page 12

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--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:

Inventories in the United States.--Has your firm, since 2006, maintained any inventories of
silicomanganese in the United States (not including inventories held by firms identified in
question I-3 and not including inventories reported in question II-14)?
No

Yes--Report the quantity of such end-of-period inventories below.
(Quantity in short tons)
Item

Inventory

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Silicomanganese from Brazil, China,
and Ukraine (3rd Review)

Page 13

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Amelia Preece (202-205-3250,
[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 silicomanganese 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 silicomanganese (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 - Silicomanganese from Brazil, China,
and Ukraine (3rd Review)

Page 14

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

Lead times.--What is the average lead time for silicomanganese to U.S. customers between a
customer’s order and the date of delivery for your firm’s sales of silicomanganese?
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 silicomanganese 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 Brazil, China, and Ukraine -produced
silicomanganese in the U.S. market since 2006?
No

Yes-- Please describe.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Silicomanganese from Brazil, China,
and Ukraine (3rd Review)

Page 15

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

Availability of SUBJECT import supply.-(a)

Do you anticipate any changes in terms of the availability of Brazil, China, and Ukraine produced silicomanganese 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 silicomanganese between
the U.S. market and alternative country markets. In your discussion, please describe any
contracts, other sales arrangements, or other constraints (including any third-country trade
barriers such as tariffs, quotas, or other non-tariff barriers) that would prevent or retard your firm
from shifting silicomanganese between the U.S. and alternative country markets within a 12month period.

III-9.

Product range.--Is the product range, product mix, or marketing of silicomanganese in your
home market different from that of silicomanganese for export to the United States or to thirdcountry markets?
No

Yes—Please explain.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Silicomanganese from Brazil, China,
and Ukraine (3rd Review)

Page 16

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
III-10. Product changes.--Have there been any significant changes in the product range, product mix, or
marketing of silicomanganese 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.— Can other products be substituted for silicomanganese?
No

Substitute

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 silicomanganese?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.

III-12. Changes in substitutes.-- Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that
can be substituted for silicomanganese since 2006? Do you anticipate any future changes?
Changes in
substitutes
Changes since
2006
Anticipated
changes

No Yes

Explain

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Silicomanganese from Brazil, China,
and Ukraine (3rd Review)

Page 17

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
III-13. Interchangeability.--Is the silicomanganese produced by your firm and sold in its home market
interchangeable (i.e., can be used in the same applications) with your firm’s silicomanganese 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 silicomanganese that you manufacture and sell to your
home market. If these end uses differ from those of the silicomanganese 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 silicomanganese 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 - Silicomanganese from Brazil, China,
and Ukraine (3rd Review)

Page 18

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
III-16. Demand trends.-- Indicate how demand in the following markets for silicomanganese has
changed since January 1, 2006, and how you anticipate demand will change in the future.
Describe the principal factors that have affected, and that you anticipate will affect, these changes
in demand.

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 silicomanganese in your home market, the
United States, and third-country markets.

III-18. Description of home market.--Describe briefly your home market for silicomanganese,
including the number of, and competition between, producers.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Silicomanganese from Brazil, China,
and Ukraine (3rd Review)

Page 19

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
III-19. Import competition.--Do you face competition from imports of silicomanganese in your home
market?
No

Yes--Please identify the country sources of any imports of silicomanganese
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 silicomanganese supply (including
production capacity and capacity utilization) and demand in (1) the United States, (2) each of the
other major producing/consuming countries, including Brazil, China, and Ukraine, and (3) the
world as a whole. Of particular interest is such data from 2006 to the present and forecasts for the
future.