13-1-3089 U.S. Producer Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 13-1-3089; Expiration Date: 6/30/2014
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PRODUCERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
SILICA BRICKS AND SHAPES FROM CHINA

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than NOVEMBER 28, 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 antidumping duty investigation concerning silica bricks and shapes from China (Inv. No. 731-TA1205 (Preliminary)). 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)).

Name of firm

_________________________________________________________________

Address
City

State

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm produced silica bricks and shapes (as defined in the instruction booklet) at any time since January
1, 2009?

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 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 proceedings 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

Email address
Fax:

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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – SILICA BRICKS AND SHAPES

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 50 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.

Petition support.--Do you support or oppose the petition?
Support

Oppose

Take no position

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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – SILICA BRICKS AND SHAPES

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

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

Firm name

I-5.

Address

Extent of
ownership

Related importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, that are engaged in importing silica bricks and shapes from China into the United States
or that are engaged in exporting silica bricks and shapes from China to the United States?
No
Firm name

I-6.

Yes--List the following information.

Yes--List the following information.
Address

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that are
engaged in the production of silica bricks and shapes?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Address

Affiliation

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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – SILICA BRICKS AND SHAPES

Page 4

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Mary Messer
([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 silica bricks and shapes since January 1, 2009.
(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)

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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – SILICA BRICKS AND SHAPES

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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-3.

Same equipment, machinery, and workers.--Has your firm since 2009 produced, or does your
firm anticipate producing in the future, other products on the same equipment and machinery
used in the production of silica bricks and shapes and/or using the same production and related
workers employed to produce silica bricks and shapes?
No

Yes--List the following information and report your firm’s combined
production capacity and production of these products and silica bricks
and shapes in the periods indicated.

Product

Basis for allocation of capacity and
employment data (indicate if different)

Period

(Quantity in short tons)
Calendar years
Item

2009

2010

January-September
2011

2011

2012

Overall Production Capacity
Production of:
Silica bricks and shapes
Other (specify
Other (specify

)
)

II-4.

Production constraints and product shifting.--Please describe the constraint(s) that set the limit(s)
on your production capacity and your ability to shift production capacity between products.

II-5.

Tolling.--Since January 1, 2009, has your firm been involved in a toll agreement (see definition
in the instruction booklet) regarding the production of silica bricks and shapes?
No

II-6.

.

Foreign trade zone.--Does your firm produce silica bricks and shapes in a foreign trade zone
(FTZ)?
No

II-7.

Yes--Name firm(s):

Yes--Identify FTZ(s):

.

Importer.--Since January 1, 2009, has your firm imported silica bricks and shapes?
No

Yes--COMPLETE AND RETURN A U.S. IMPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE

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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – SILICA BRICKS AND SHAPES

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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-8.

Trade data.--Report your firm’s production capacity, production, shipments, inventories, and
employment related to the production of silica bricks and shapes in your U.S. establishment(s)
during the specified periods. (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)
Quantity (in short tons) and value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2009

2010

January-September
2011

2011

2012

Average production capacity1 (quantity)
Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity)
Production (quantity)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity of commercial shipments
Value of commercial shipments
Internal consumption:
Quantity of internal consumption
Value2 of internal consumption
Transfers to related firms:
Quantity of transfers
Value2 of transfers
Export shipments:3
Quantity of export shipments
Value of export shipments
End-of-period inventories4 (quantity)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments to distributors (quantity)
U.S. shipments to end users (quantity)
Employment data:
Average number of PRWs (number)
Hours worked by PRWs (1,000 hours)
Wages paid to PRWs (value)
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 (use additional pages as necessary).
2

Internal consumption and transfers to related firms must be valued at fair market value. In the event that you use a
different basis for valuing these transactions, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.) and provide value data
using that basis for each of the periods noted above:
3

Identify your principal export markets:
.
Reconciliation of data.--Please note that the quantities reported above should reconcile as follows: beginning-of-period
inventories, plus production, less total shipments, equals end-of-period inventories. Do the data reported reconcile?
4

Yes

No--Please explain:

.

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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-9.

Related firms.--If you reported transfers to related firms in question II-8, please indicate the
nature of the relationship between your firm and the related firms (e.g., joint venture, wholly
owned subsidiary), whether the transfers were priced at market value or by a non-market formula,
whether your firm retained marketing rights to all transfers, and whether the related firms also
processed inputs from sources other than your firm.

II-10.

Purchases.--Other than direct imports, has your firm otherwise purchased silica bricks and
shapes since January 1, 2009? (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)
Yes--Report such purchases below for the specified periods.1

No

(Quantity in short tons, value in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2009

2010

January-September
2011

2011

2012

PURCHASES FROM U.S. IMPORTERS2
OF PRODUCT FROM CHINA:
Quantity
Value
All other countries:
Quantity
Value
PURCHASES FROM DOMESTIC
PRODUCERS:2
Quantity
Value
PURCHASES FROM OTHER SOURCES:2
Quantity
Value
1

2

Please indicate your reasons for purchasing this product. If your reasons differ by source, please elaborate.

Please list the name of the firm(s) from which you purchased this product. If your suppliers differ by source,
please identify the source for each listed supplier.

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PART III.--FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Address questions on this part of the questionnaire to Charles Yost (202-205-3432,
[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.

Accounting system.--Briefly describe your financial accounting system.
A.

When does your fiscal year end (month and day)?
If your fiscal year changed during the period examined, explain below:

B.1.

Describe the lowest level of operations (e.g., plant, division, company-wide) for
which financial statements are prepared that include silica bricks and shapes:

2.
3.

4.

Does your firm prepare profit/loss statements for the silica bricks and shapes:
Yes
No
How often did your firm (or parent company) prepare financial statements
(including annual reports, 10Ks)? Please check relevant items below.
Audited,
unaudited,
annual reports,
10Ks,
10 Qs,
Monthly,
quarterly,
semi-annually,
annually
Accounting basis:
GAAP,
cash,
tax, or
other comprehensive
basis of accounting (specify)

Note: The Commission may request that your company submit copies of its financial statements,
including internal profit-and-loss statements for the division or product group that includes silica
bricks and shapes, as well as those statements and worksheets used to compile data for your firm’s
questionnaire response.

III-3.

Cost accounting system.--Briefly describe your cost accounting system (e.g., standard cost, job
order cost, etc.).

______
III-4.

Allocation basis.--Briefly describe your allocation basis, if any, for COGS, SG&A, and interest
expense and other income and expenses.

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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – SILICA BRICKS AND SHAPES

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PART III.--FINANCIAL INFORMATION--Continued
III-5.

Other products.--Please list any other products you produced in the facilities in which you
produced silica bricks and shapes, and provide the share of net sales accounted for by these other
products in your most recent fiscal year:
Products

Share of sales
%
%
%
%
%

III-6.

Does your firm purchase or transfer inputs (raw materials, labor, energy, or any other services)
used in the production of silica bricks and shapes FROM any related firms or a division of your
firm?
Yes--Continue to question III-7 below.

III-7.

Inputs from related firms.--In the space provided below, identify the inputs used in the
production of silica bricks and shapes that your firm purchases or transfers from related parties or
a division of your firm.
Input

III-8.

No--Continue to question III-9 below.

Related party

Inputs from related firms at cost.--All intercompany profit on inputs purchased or transferred
from related parties should be eliminated from the costs reported to the Commission in question
III-10 (i.e., costs reported in question III-10 should only reflect the related party’s cost and not
include an associated profit component). Reasonable methods for determining and eliminating
the associated profit on inputs purchased from related parties are acceptable.
Has your firm complied with the Commission’s instructions regarding costs associated with
inputs purchased from related parties?
Yes

No--Please contact Charles Yost (202-202-3432, [email protected]).

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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – SILICA BRICKS AND SHAPES

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PART III.--FINANCIAL INFORMATION--Continued
III-9.

Nonrecurring items (charges and gains) included in reported silica bricks and shapes
financial results.--For each annual and interim period for which financial results are reported in
question III-10, please specify all material (significant) nonrecurring items (charges and gains) in
the schedule below, the specific table III-10 line item where the nonrecurring items are included,
a brief description of the relevant nonrecurring items, and the associated values (in $1,000), as
reflected in table III-10; i.e., if an aggregate nonrecurring item has been allocated to table III-10,
only the allocated value amount included in table III-10 should be reported in the schedule below.
Note: The Commission’s objective here is to gather information only on material (significant)
nonrecurring items which impacted the reported silica bricks and shapes financial results in table
III-10.

Fiscal years ended--

January-September
2011

Nonrecurring item: In this column please provide a
brief description of each nonrecurring item and indicate
the specific table III-10 line item where the nonrecurring
item is included.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

2012

Nonrecurring item: In these columns please report the amount (in
$1,000) of the relevant nonrecurring item reported in table III-10.

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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – SILICA BRICKS AND SHAPES

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PART III.--FINANCIAL INFORMATION--Continued
III-10. Operations on silica bricks and shapes.--Report the revenue and related cost information
requested below on the silica brick operations of your U.S. establishment(s).1 Do not report
resales of purchased products. Note that internal consumption and transfers TO related firms
must be valued at fair market value; purchases/transfers FROM related firms must be at cost.2
Provide data for your three most recently completed fiscal years in chronological order from left
to right, and for the specified interim periods. If your firm was involved in tolling operations
(either as the toller or as the tollee), please contact Charles Yost at (202) 205-3432 before
completing this section of the questionnaire.
Quantity (in short tons) and value (in $1,000)
Fiscal years ended-Item

January-September
2011

2012

Net sales quantities:3
Commercial sales (“CS”)
Internal consumption (“IC”)
Transfers to related firms (“Transfers”)
Total net sales quantities
Net sales values:3
Commercial sales
Internal consumption
Transfers to related firms
Total net sales values
Cost of goods sold (COGS):4
Raw materials
Direct labor
Other factory costs
Total COGS
Gross profit or (loss)
Selling, general, and administrative
(SG&A) expenses:
Selling expenses
General and administrative expenses
Total SG&A expenses
Operating income (loss)
Other income and expenses:
Interest expense
All other expense items
All other income items
All other income or expenses, net
Net income or (loss) before income taxes
Depreciation/amortization included above
1

Include only sales (whether domestic or export) and costs related to your U.S. manufacturing operations.
Please eliminate any profits or (losses) on inputs from related firms pursuant question III-8.
Less discounts, returns, allowances, and prepaid freight. The quantities and values should approximate the corresponding
shipment quantities and values reported in Part II of this questionnaire.
4
COGS should include costs associated with CS, IC, and Transfers, as well as export shipments in question II-8.
2

3

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PART III.--FINANCIAL INFORMATION--Continued
III-11. Asset values.--Report the total assets (i.e., both current and long-term assets) associated with the
production, warehousing, and sale of silica bricks and shapes. If your firm does not maintain
some or all of the specific asset information necessary to calculate total assets for silica bricks and
shapes in the normal course of business, please estimate this information based upon a method
(such as production, sales, or costs) that is consistent with your cost allocations in the previous
question. Provide data as of the end of your three most recently completed fiscal years in
chronological order from left to right.
Note: Total assets should reflect net assets after any accumulated depreciation and allowances deducted.
Total assets should be allocated to the subject products if these assets are also related to other products.
Please provide a brief explanation if there are any substantial changes in total asset value during the
period; e.g., due to asset write-offs, revaluation, and major purchases.
Value (in $1,000)
Item

Fiscal years ended--

Current assets:
Accounts receivable
Finished goods inventories
All other current assets
Subtotal current assets
Non-current assets:
Property, plant and equipment (cost)
Less: accumulated depreciation
Property, plant and equipment (book value)
All other non-current assets
Subtotal non-current assets
Total assets (current plus non-current assets)

III-12. Capital expenditures and research and development expenses.--Report your firm’s capital
expenditures and research and development expenses on silica bricks and shapes. Provide data
for your three most recently completed fiscal years in chronological order from left to right, and
for the specified interim periods.
Value (in $1,000)
Fiscal years ended-Item
Capital expenditures
Research and development expenses

January-September
2011

2012

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PART III.--FINANCIAL INFORMATION--Continued
III-13. Data consistency and reconciliation.--Please indicate whether your financial data for questions
III-10, 11, and 12 are based on a calendar year or your fiscal year:
Calendar year
Fiscal year (specify

_________)

Please note the quantities and values reported in question III-10 should reconcile with the data
reported in question II-8 (including export shipments) as long as they are reported on the same
calendar year basis.
Do these data in question III-10 reconcile with data in question II-8?
Yes

No--Please explain

________________________

III-14. Effects of imports.--Since January 1, 2009, has your firm experienced any actual negative effects
on its return on investment or its growth, investment, ability to raise capital, existing development
and production efforts (including efforts to develop a derivative or more advanced version of the
product), or the scale of capital investments as a result of imports of silica bricks and shapes from
China?
No

Yes--My firm has experienced actual negative effects as follows:
Cancellation, postponement, or rejection of expansion projects
Denial or rejection of investment proposal
Reduction in the size of capital investments
Rejection of bank loans
Lowering of credit rating
Problem related to the issue of stocks or bonds
Other (specify)

III-15. Anticipated effects of imports.--Does your firm anticipate any negative effects due to imports of
silica bricks and shapes from China?
No

Yes--My firm anticipates negative effects as follows:

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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - SILICA BRICKS AND SHAPES

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PART IV.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Aimee Larsen (202-205-3179,
[email protected]) or Samantha Day (202-205-2088, [email protected]).
IV-1.

Contact information.--Please identify the individual that Commission staff may contact
regarding the confidential information submitted in part IV.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Fax

PRICE DATA
IV-2.

This question requests quarterly quantity and value data, f.o.b. your U.S. point of shipment, for
your commercial shipments to unrelated U.S. customers since January 1, 2009 of the following
products produced by your firm.
Product 1.—Silica bricks or shapes with at least 90 percent silica content sold to the steel
industry.
Product 2.—Silica bricks or shapes with at least 90 percent silica content sold to the glass
making industry.

Please note that total dollar values should be f.o.b., U.S. point of shipment and should not include
U.S.-inland transportation costs. Total dollar values should reflect the final net amount paid to you
(i.e., should be net of all deductions for discounts or rebates). See instruction booklet.

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PART IV.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
IV-2.

Pricing data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 produced and sold by
your firm. Please note that quantity is requested in SHORT TONS and value is requested in
ACTUAL DOLLARS not $1,000s dollars.

(Quantity in short tons, value in dollars)
Product 1
Quantity
Value
Quantity

Product 2
Period of shipment
Value
2009:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2010:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2011:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2012:
January-March
April-June
July-September
1
Net values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of
returned goods), f.o.b. your U.S. point of shipment.
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part IV.
Note.--If your product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the specified product,
provide a description of your product. Also, please explain any anomalies in your reported pricing data.
Product 1:
Product 2:

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PART IV.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
IV-3. Price setting.-- How does your firm determine the prices that it charges for sales of silica bricks
and shapes (check all that apply)? If your firm issues price lists, please submit sample pages of a recent
list.
Transaction
by
transaction

IV-4.

If other, describe

Annual
total
volume
discounts

No
discount
policy

Other

Describe

Pricing terms for silica bricks and shapes.-(a)

What are your firm’s typical sales terms for its U.S.-produced silica bricks and shapes?
Net 30 days

(b)

Net 60 days

2/10 net 30 days

Other (specify)

On what basis are your prices of domestic silica bricks and shapes usually quoted (check
one)?
Delivered

IV-6.

Other

Discount policy.-- Please indicate and describe your firm’s discount policies (check all that
apply).

Quantity
discounts

IV-5.

Contracts

Set
price
lists

F.o.b.

If f.o.b., specify point

Contract versus spot.--Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of its U.S.-produced silica
bricks and shapes 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

100

%

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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - SILICA BRICKS AND SHAPES

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PART IV.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
IV-7.

Contract provisions.— Please fill out the table with respect to provisions of your typical sales
contracts for silica bricks and shapes (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

Short term contracts

Long term contracts

(multiple deliveries up to
and including 12 months)

(multiple deliveries for more
than 12 months)

No
Quantity

Fixed quantity and/or price

Price
Both
Yes

Meet or release provision

No

Not applicable

IV-8.

Lead times.--What is your share of sales both from inventory and produced to order and what is
the average lead time between a customer’s order and the date of delivery for your firm’s sales of
your U.S.-produced silica bricks and shapes?
Source
From inventory

%

Produced to order

%

Total

IV-9.

Share of
2011 sales

Lead time (days)

100 %

Shipping information.-(a)

What is the approximate percentage of the total delivered cost of silica bricks and shapes
that is accounted for by U.S. inland transportation costs?
%

(b)

Who generally arranges the transportation to your customers’ locations?
Your firm
Purchaser (check one)

(c)

Indicate the approximate percentage of your sales of silica bricks and shapes that are
delivered the following distances from your production facility.
Distance from production facility

Share

Within 100 miles

%

101 to 1,000 miles

%

Over 1,000 miles

%
Total

100

%

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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - SILICA BRICKS AND SHAPES

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PART IV.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
IV-10. Geographical shipments.-- Please estimate the share of your firms’ U.S. shipments of silica
bricks and shapes by geographic market area in the United States in 2011?
Est. Share of U.S.
shipments in 2011
(percent)

Geographic area
Northeast.–CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, and VT.
Midwest.–IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, and WI.
Southeast.–AL, DE, DC, FL, GA, KY, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, and WV.
Central Southwest.–AR, LA, OK, and TX.
Mountains.–AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, and WY.
Pacific Coast.–CA, OR, and WA.
Other.–All other markets in the United States not previously listed, including AK, HI,
PR, VI, among others.
TOTAL

100%

IV-11. End uses.--List the end uses of the silica bricks and shapes that you manufacture. For each enduse product, what percentage of the total cost is accounted for by silica bricks and shapes and
other inputs?
Share of total cost of end use product
accounted for by

End use product

Silica bricks and
shapes (percent)

Other inputs
(percent)

Total

%

%

100%

%

%

100%

%

%

100%

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PART IV.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
IV-12. Substitutes.-- Can other products be substituted for silica bricks and shapes?
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 silica bricks and
shapes?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.

IV-13. Demand trends.-- Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United States
(if known) for silica bricks and shapes has changed since January 1, 2009. Describe the principal
factors that have affected these changes in demand.

Market

No
Increase change Decrease Fluctuate

Factors

Within
the United
States
Outside
the United
States

IV-14. Product changes.--Have there been any significant changes in the product range, product mix, or
marketing of silica bricks and shapes since January 1, 2009?
No

Yes--Please describe and quantify if possible.

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Page 20

PART IV.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
IV-15. Business cycles.-(a) Is the silica bricks and shapes market subject to business cycles or conditions of competition
(including seasonal business) distinctive to silica bricks and shapes?
No (skip to question IV-17.)

Yes-- Please describe below and then answer part (b).

(b) If yes, have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
silica bricks and shapes since January 1, 2008?
No

Yes-- Please describe.

IV-16. Supply constraints.--Has your firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply silica bricks and
shapes since January 1, 2009 (examples include placing customers on allocation or “controlled
order entry,” declining to accept new customers or renew existing customers, delivering less than
the quantity promised, been unable to meet timely shipment commitments, etc.)?
No

Yes-- Please describe.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - SILICA BRICKS AND SHAPES

Page 21

PART IV.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
IV-17. Raw materials.—
(a)
To what extent have changes in the prices of raw materials affected your firm’s selling
prices for silica bricks and shapes since 2009?

(b)

Do you anticipate changes in your raw material costs in the foreseeable future?
No

Yes—Please explain.

IV-18. Interchangeability.--Are silica bricks and shapes produced in the United States and in other
countries interchangeable (i.e., can they physically be used in the same applications)?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = the products from a specified country-pair are always interchangeable
F = the products are frequently interchangeable
S = the products are sometimes interchangeable
N = the products are never interchangeable
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair

China

Czech Republic

Mexico

United Kingdom

Other countries

United States
China
Czech Republic
Mexico
United Kingdom

For any country-pair producing silica bricks and shapes that is sometimes or never interchangeable,
please explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - SILICA BRICKS AND SHAPES

Page 22

PART IV.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
IV-19. Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (i.e., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between silica bricks and shapes
produced in the United States and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s sales of the
products?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = such differences are always significant
F = such differences are frequently significant
S = such differences are sometimes significant
N = such differences are never significant
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair

China

Czech Republic

Mexico

United Kingdom

Other countries

United States
China
Czech Republic
Mexico
United Kingdom

For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant factor in
your firm’s sales of silica bricks and shapes, identify the country-pair and report the advantages or
disadvantages imparted by such factors:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - SILICA BRICKS AND SHAPES

Page 23

PART IV.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
IV-20. Customer Identification--Please identify the names and contact information for your firm’s
10 largest U.S. customers for silica bricks and shapes since January 1, 2009. Indicate the share of
the quantity of your firm’s total shipments of silica bricks and shapes that each of these customers
accounted for in 2011.

Customer’s name

1

Contact person

Email

Telephone

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

Street Address

,
City

2

State

Street Address

,
City

3

State

,
State

,
State

,
State

,
State

,
State

,
State

Zip Code

Street Address

,
City

10

Zip Code

Street Address
City

9

Zip Code

Street Address
City

8

Zip Code

Street Address
City

7

Zip Code

Street Address
City

6

Zip Code

Street Address
City

5

Zip Code

Street Address
City

4

Zip Code

State

Zip Code

Street Address

,
City

State

Zip Code

Share
of 2011
sales
(%)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - SILICA BRICKS AND SHAPES

Page 24

PART IV.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
IV-21. COMPETITION FROM IMPORTS--LOST REVENUES.-Since January 1, 2009: To avoid losing sales to competitors selling silica bricks and shapes from
China, did your firm:
No

Yes

Reduce prices
Roll back announced price increases
THE TABLE BELOW IS TO BE COMPLETED ONLY BY NON-PETITIONERS. (Note:
petitioners may provide allegations involving quotes made AFTER the filing of the petition.)
If you indicated “yes” above, please furnish the following information for each affected
transaction. If possible, provide documentation (e.g., copies of invoices, sales reports, or letters
from customers). Please note that the Commission may contact the firms named to verify the
allegations reported.
Customer name, contact person, phone and fax numbers
Specific product(s) involved
Date of your initial price quotation
Quantity involved
Your initial rejected price quotation (total delivered value)
Your accepted price quotation (total delivered value)
The country of origin of the competing imported product
The competing price quotation of the imported product (total delivered value)
Customer name,
contact person,
phone and fax
numbers

Firm
Contact
Phone

Fax

Firm
Contact
Phone

Fax

Firm
Contact
Phone

Fax

Firm
Contact
Phone

Fax

Product

Country
of origin

Date of
quote

Quantity
(short tons)

Initial
rejected U.S.
price (total
value-dollars)

Accepted
U.S. price
(total value-dollars)

Competing
import price
(total
value—
dollars)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - SILICA BRICKS AND SHAPES

Page 25

PART IV.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
IV-22. COMPETITION FROM IMPORTS--LOST SALES.—
Since January 1, 2009: Did your firm lose sales of silica bricks and shapes to imports of these
products from China?
No
Yes
THE TABLE BELOW IS TO BE COMPLETED ONLY BY NON-PETITIONERS. (Note:
petitioners may provide allegations involving quotes made AFTER the filing of the petition.)
If you indicated “yes” above, please furnish the following information for each affected
transaction. If possible, provide documentation (e.g., copies of invoices, sales reports, or letters
from customers). Please note that the Commission may contact the firms named to verify the
allegations reported.
Customer name, contact person, phone and fax numbers
Specific product(s) involved
Date of your price quotation
Quantity involved
Your rejected price quotation (total delivered value)
The country of origin of the competing imported product
The accepted price quotation of the imported product (total delivered value)
Customer name,
contact person,
phone and fax
numbers

Firm
Contact
Phone

Fax

Firm
Contact
Phone

Fax

Firm
Contact
Phone

Fax

Firm
Contact
Phone

Fax

Product

Country
of
origin

Date of
quote

Quantity
(short tons)

Rejected
U.S. price
(total
value-dollars)

Competing
import price
(total
value—
dollars)