14-3-3281 U.S. Purchaser Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 14-3-3281; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
FERROVANADIUM FROM CHINA AND SOUTH AFRICA

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than September 19, 2014
See 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 from China and/or South Africa (inv.
Nos. 731-TA-986-987 (Second Review)). 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 Craig Thomsen (202-205-3226, [email protected]).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased ferrovanadium (as defined in the instruction booklet) from any source (domestic or
foreign) at any time since January 1, 2008?

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)

Return questionnaire via the U.S. International Trade Commission Drop Box by clicking
on the following link: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (use the following PIN: FeV)
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

Email address
Fax

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium

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 40 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 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, if different from that listed on the cover page (see page 3 of the instruction booklet
for reporting guidelines).

I-3.

Ownership.--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
(percent)

Related SUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, that import ferrovanadium from China and/or South Africa into the United
States or that export ferrovanadium from China and/or South Africa to the United States?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Address

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium

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PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
I-5.

Related NONSUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, that import ferrovanadium from countries other than China and/or South
Africa into the United States or that export ferrovanadium from countries other than China and/or
South Africa to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-6.

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that
produce ferrovanadium?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-7.

Address

Address

Affiliation

Business plan.--Does your company or any related firm have a business plan or any internal
documents that describe, discuss, or analyze expected market conditions for ferrovanadium?

No

Yes

If yes, please provide these documents. If you are not providing
the requested documents, please explain why not.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium

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

II-1.

Purchases.—
(a)

Please estimate your firm’s total U.S. purchases of ferrovanadium in 2013. (Do not
include imports for which your firm was the importer of record; such imports should be
reported in your U.S. importer’s questionnaire).
Quantity (pounds of contained vanadium)

(b)

Estimate the percentage of the quantity of your firm’s purchases of ferrovanadium in
2013 that were produced in each of the specified countries.
Ferrovanadium produced in:

Share of quantity of 2013 purchases

United States
Grade 40-60% ferrovanadium

%

Grade 75-85% ferrovanadium

%

Other grades of ferrovanadium

%

China
Grade 40-60% ferrovanadium

%

Grade 75-85% ferrovanadium

%

Other grades of ferrovanadium

%

South Africa
Grade 40-60% ferrovanadium

%

Grade 75-85% ferrovanadium

%

Other grades of ferrovanadium

%

1

Other countries
Grade 40-60% ferrovanadium

%

Grade 75-85% ferrovanadium

%

Other grades of ferrovanadium

%

Total (should sum to 100.0%)
1

Please identify these countries:

100 %

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium

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PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued
II-2.

Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
ferrovanadium from different sources have changed since January 1, 2008.
Source of
purchases

Did not Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated
purchase

Explanation for
trend

United States

China

South Africa

All other
countries

II-3.

Purchases from one country only.--If your firm has purchased ferrovanadium from only one
country, please explain the reasons for doing so.

II-4.

Supplier identification.-- Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for ferrovanadium since
January 1, 2008. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of
ferrovanadium that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2013.

No.

Supplier’s name

City and state

Share of quantity of
2013 purchases

1

%

2

%

3

%

4

%

5

%

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium

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

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of ferrovanadium
(check all that apply)?
End user
(iron
and/or
steel
producer)

End user
(other than
iron and/or
steel
producer)

Distributor

Other

Describe other

If your firm is a distributor of ferrovanadium, please answer questions III-2 and III-3.
III-2.

Competition for sales.--Do you compete for sales to your customers with the manufacturers or
importers from which you purchase ferrovanadium?
No

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Types of customers.--What are the major types of consumers to which you sell ferrovanadium?

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
If your firm is an end user of ferrovanadium, please answer questions III-4 and III-5.
III-4.

End uses.--List the top 3 products you make using ferrovanadium and estimate the percent of
your total production cost that is accounted for by ferrovanadium and by other inputs (such as
labor, energy, and other raw materials).
Share of total cost in each of the product(s) you
produce accounted for by
Product(s) you produce

III-5.

Ferrovanadium

Other inputs

Total

%

+

%

= 100%

%

+

%

= 100%

%

+

%

= 100%

Demand for end use products.-(a)

Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating ferrovanadium changed
since January 1, 2008?
Increased

(b)

No change

Decreased

Fluctuated

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for ferrovanadium?
No

Yes

Explain

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-6.

Changes in end uses.-- Have there been any changes in the end uses of ferrovanadium since
January 1, 2008? Do you anticipate any future changes?
Changes in end
uses

No

Yes

Explain

Changes since
2008
Anticipated
changes

III-7.

Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for ferrovanadium?
No

Yes--Please fill out the table.

End use in which this
substitute is used

Substitute

Have changes in the price of this
substitute affected the price for
ferrovanadium?
No

Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.

III-8.

Changes in substitutes.-- Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that
can be substituted for ferrovanadium since January 1, 2008? Do you anticipate any future
changes?
Changes in
substitutes
Changes since
2008
Anticipated
changes

No Yes

Explain

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-9.

Demand trends.-- Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United States
(if known) for ferrovanadium has changed since January 1, 2008, and how you anticipate demand
will change in the future. Explain any trends and describe the principal factors that have affected,
and that you anticipate will affect, these changes in demand.

Market

Overall
No
increase change

Overall
decrease

Fluctuate
with no
clear trend

Explanation and factors

Demand since 2008
Within
the United
States
Outside
the United
States
Anticipated future demand
Within
the United
States
Outside
the United
States

III-10. 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 supply (including
production capacity and capacity utilization) and demand in (1) the United States, (2) each of the
other major producing/consuming countries, including China and/or South Africa, and (3) the
world as a whole. Of particular interest is such data from 2008 to the present and forecasts.
III-11. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of ferrovanadium in the U.S. market changed since
January 1, 2008? Do you anticipate any future changes?
Availability in the U.S.
market
Changes since 2008:
U.S.-produced product
Subject imports
Nonsubject imports
Anticipated changes:
U.S.-produced product
Subject imports
Nonsubject imports

Please explain, noting the countries and reasons for
No Yes the changes.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium

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

III-12. Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2013 purchases of ferrovanadium that required ferrovanadium
produced in the United States.

Purchases that did not require domestic product
Purchases that were required by law or regulation to be domestic
product (e.g., government purchases under “Buy American”
provisions)
Purchases that were not required by law or regulation, but were
required by your customers to be domestic product
Purchases that were required to be domestic product for other
reasons (explain:
)
Total (should sum to 100.0%)

Estimated
percentage of
your firm’s total
2013 purchases of
ferrovanadium
%

%
%

100

%
%

III-13. Conditions of competition.-(a) Is the ferrovanadium market subject to business cycles (other than general economy-wide
conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to ferrovanadium?

Check all that apply.

Please describe.
Skip to question III-14.

No
Yes-Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes-Other distinctive
conditions of competition

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

Yes

If yes, describe.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-14. Decisions based on producer, country-of-origin, grade, or other considerations.--How often
does your firm, and if you know, do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving
ferrovanadium based on its producer, country of origin, grade (e.g., grade 40-60% ferrovanadium
vs. grade 75-85% ferrovanadium), and other considerations (e.g., silicon, nickel, molybdenum
content)?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, explain.

Decision based on producer
Your firm
Your
customers
Decision based on country of origin
Your firm
Your
customers
Decision based on product grade
(e.g., grade 40-60% ferrovanadium vs. grade 75-85% ferrovanadium)
Your firm
Your
customers
Decision based on other considerations
(e.g., silicon, nickel, molybdenum content)
Your firm
Your
customers

III-15. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply ferrovanadium
since January 1, 2008 (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

If yes, please describe.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-16. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently do you make purchases of ferrovanadium (check one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

Do you expect this purchasing frequency to change in the next two years?
No

Yes

If yes, explain.

III-17. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase? Between
and
firms.
III-18. Supplier negotiations.--Do your purchases of ferrovanadium usually involve negotiations
between supplier and purchaser?

No

Yes

If yes, explain the factors you generally negotiate and note whether
your firm quotes competing prices during negotiations.

III-19. Change in suppliers.--Have you changed suppliers since January 1, 2008?

No

Yes

If yes, please list the supplier(s), whether the firm was added or
dropped, the reasons for the change.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-20. New suppliers.-(a)

Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have entered the
market since January 1, 2008?
No

(b)

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms.

Do you expect new ferrovanadium suppliers to enter the U.S. market?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain.

III-21. Supplier qualification.--Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell ferrovanadium to your firm?
If yes, provide the following information.



No

The number of days to qualify a new supplier.
A general description of the certification or qualification process. Also, a brief
description of the factors that you consider when qualifying a new supplier (e.g., quality
of product, reliability of supplier, etc.).

Yes

Number
of days Process and factors

III-22. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2008, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their ferrovanadium with your firm or have any producers 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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium

Page 14

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-23. Major purchasing factors.-- Please list, in order of their importance, the three major factors
your firm considers in deciding from whom to purchase ferrovanadium (examples include
availability, extension of credit, contracts, price, quality, range of supplier’s product line,
traditional supplier, etc.).
1.
2.
3.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decisions:

III-24. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for ferrovanadium.

Factor

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs

III-25. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of ferrovanadium?

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-26. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the ferrovanadium
that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-27. Price leaders.— 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 is not necessarily the lowest-priced supplier.
Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the ferrovanadium market since
January 1, 2008.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

III-28. Changes in U.S. industry.-(a)

Please identify and discuss any improvements/changes in the U.S. ferrovanadium
industry since January 1, 2008 and explain the factors, including the orders under review,
that were responsible for each improvement/change.

(b)

Please discuss any improvements/changes that you anticipate in the future in the U.S.
ferrovanadium industry. Identify the time period and causes for these
improvements/changes.

III-29. Effect of revocation.--What do you think will be the likely effects of any revocation of the
antidumping duty order for imports of ferrovanadium from China and/or South Africa? As
appropriate, please discuss any potential effects of revocation of the antidumping duty order on
(1) the future activities of your firm and (2) the U.S. market as a whole. Please note the future
time period to which you are referring.
(1) Activities of
your firm
(2) Entire U.S.
market

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium

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PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS
IV-1.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin for ferrovanadium for which your
firm has actual marketing/pricing knowledge.
United States

IV-2.

China

South Africa

Other countries (specify)

Interchangeability.--Is ferrovanadium 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

South Africa

Other countries

United States
China
South Africa

For any country-pair producing ferrovanadium which is sometimes or never interchangeable,
please identify the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium

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PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued
IV-3.

Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between ferrovanadium produced
in the United States and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s purchases 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

South Africa

Other countries

United States
China
South Africa

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

IV-4.

Availability of merchandise.--Are certain grades (vanadium-contents)/types/sizes of
ferrovanadium available only from certain country sources?

No

IV-5.

Yes

If yes, please identify the countries and the grades (vanadiumcontents)/types/sizes.

Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased ferrovanadium from one source
although a comparable product was available from another country source at a lower price, please
explain your reasons for doing so (please specify by country).

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium

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PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued
IV-6. Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how ferrovanadium
produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV compares with
ferrovanadium produced in each of the other countries you identified.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.

Inferior

Comparable

product from
United States
compared to
product from

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

product from
United States
compared to
product from
South Africa

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

product from
United States
compared to
product from
China

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1

A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has
lower prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium

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PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued
IV-6.

Continued.

If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.

Inferior

Comparable

product from
China
compared to
product from

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

product from
China
compared to
product from
South Africa

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

product from
United States
compared to
product from

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1

A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has
lower prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium

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PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued
IV-6.

Continued.

If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.

Inferior

Comparable

product from
South Africa
compared to
product from

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

product from
South Africa
compared to
product from

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

product from
China
compared to
product from

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1

A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has
lower prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Ferrovanadium

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PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued
IV-7.

Minimum quality.--How often does ferrovanadium from the following countries meet minimum
quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Don’t
know

United States
China
South Africa
Other:
Other:

IV-8.

Change in price.-(a)

Since January 1, 2008, has there been a change in the price of ferrovanadium? If so, has
the price of U.S.-produced ferrovanadium changed more or less than the price of
imported ferrovanadium from China and/or South Africa?
No change in price.
Prices have changed by the same amount.
Price of U.S.-produced ferrovanadium has changed relative to the price of
ferrovanadium from China.
Price of U.S.-produced ferrovanadium has changed relative to the price of
ferrovanadium from South Africa.

(b)

If the price of U.S.-produced ferrovanadium has changed relative to the price of
ferrovanadium from China and/or South Africa, the price of U.S.-produced
ferrovanadium is now relatively
Higher

Lower
than those from China.
than those from South Africa.

IV-9.

Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question that did
not provide a narrative response box, please note the question number and the explanation in the
space provided below. Please also use this space to highlight any issues your firm had in
providing data, including but not limited to technical issues with the MS Word questionnaire.