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DRAFT U.S. PRODUCERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
SORBITOL FROM FRANCE
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than MARCH 8, 2010
See page 4 of the Instruction Booklet for filing instructions.
The information called for in this questionnaire is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in
connection with its review of the antidumping duty order concerning sorbitol from France (Inv. No. 731-TA-44 ((Third
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)).
Name of firm
Address
State
City
Zip Code
World Wide Web address
Has your firm produced sorbitol (as defined in the instruction booklet) at any time since January 1, 1982?
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 review in any other import-injury investigations or reviews
conducted by the Commission on the same or similar merchandise.
I acknowledge that information submitted in this questionnaire response and throughout this review 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 review or related proceedings for which this information is submitted, or in internal audits and
investigations relating to the programs and operations of the Commission pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Appendix 3. I understand that all
contract personnel will sign non-disclosure agreements.
Name of Authorized Official
Title of Authorized Official
Phone: (
Date
)
Signature
E-mail address
Fax (
)
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
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.
Support for continuation of order.--Do you support or oppose continuation of the antidumping
duty order currently in place for sorbitol from France?
France
Support
Oppose
Take no position
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 3
PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
I-4.
Ownership.--Is your firm owned, in whole or in part, by any other firm?
No
Yes--List the following information.
Firm name
I-5.
Extent of ownership
Related SUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, which are engaged in importing sorbitol from France into the United States
or which are engaged in exporting sorbitol from France to the United States?
No
Yes--List the following information.
Firm name
I-6.
Address
Address
Affiliation
Related NONSUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, which are engaged in importing sorbitol from countries other than France
into the United States or which are engaged in exporting sorbitol from countries other than France
to the United States?
No
Yes--List the following information.
Firm name and country
Address
Affiliation
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 4
PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
I-7.
Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which
are engaged in the production of sorbitol?
No
Yes—Please list the following information and, if foreign producer(s), ensure
that they complete the Commission’s foreign producer questionnaire
(contact Dana Lofgren, (202) 708-4721 or dana.lofgren@usitc.gov for
copies of that questionnaire).
Firm name
I-8.
Country
Affiliation
Business plan.--In Parts II and IV 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 market conditions for sorbitol?
No
Yes--Please provide the requested documents. If you are not providing the
requested documents, please explain why not.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 5
PART II.—TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Dana Lofgren, Investigator
(202-708-4721, dana.lofgren@usitc.gov). Supply all data requested on a calendar-year basis.
II-1.
Contact information (Trade).--Who should be contacted regarding the requested trade and
related information?
Company contact:
Name and title
(
)
Phone number
E-mail address
NOTE: REPORT YOUR ANSWERS FOR CRYSTALLINE SORBITOL ONLY.
II-2.
Changes in operations.--Please indicate whether your firm has experienced any of the following
changes in relation to the production of sorbitol since January 1, 1982?
(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
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 6
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 sorbitol in the
future?
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 sorbitol (in 1,000 pounds) for 2010 and 2011.
2010
Item
2011
Quantity (1,000 pounds)
Capacity
II-4.
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 sorbitol in the future if the antidumping duty order on sorbitol from
France 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.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 7
PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-5.
Same equipment, machinery, and workers.--Has your firm since 1982 produced, or does your
firm anticipate producing in the future, other products on the same equipment and machinery
used in the production of sorbitol and/or using the same production and related workers employed
to produce sorbitol?
No
Yes--List the following information and report your firm’s combined
production capacity and production of these products and sorbitol in
the periods indicated.
Product
Basis for allocation of capacity and
employment data (indicate if different)
Period
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds)
Item
2007
2008
2009
Overall Production Capacity
Production of:
Sorbitol
Other product 1
Other product 2
II-6.
Constraints on production.--Please describe the constraint(s) that set the limit(s) on your
production capacity.
II-7.
Production shifting.--Is your firm able to switch production between sorbitol and other products
in response to a relative change in the price of sorbitol vis-à-vis the price of other products, using
the same equipment and labor?
No
Yes--Please identify the other products, the approximate time and cost
involved in switching, and the minimum relative price change required
for your firm to switch production to or from sorbitol.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 8
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 sorbitol in your U.S. establishment(s) during the
specified periods. (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds) and value (in $1,000)
Calendar year
Item
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
1
Average production capacity
(quantity) (A)
Beginning-of-period inventories
(quantity) (B)
Production (quantity) (C)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
quantity (D)
value (E)
Internal consumption:2
quantity (F)
value (G)
Transfers to related firms:2
quantity (H)
value (I)
Export shipments:3
quantity (J)
value (K)
End-of-period inventories (quantity) (L)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments to distributors
(quantity) (M)
U.S. shipments to end users
(quantity) (N)
Employment data:
Average number of PRWs (number)
(O)
Hours worked by PRWs (1,000
hours) (P)
Wages paid to PRWs (value) (Q)
1
The production capacity (see definitions in instruction booklet) reported is based on operating
hours per week,
weeks per
year. Please describe the methodology used to calculate production capacity, and explain any changes in reported capacity (use
additional pages as necessary).
2
Internal consumption and transfers to related firms should 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:
.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 9
PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-9.
Reconciliation of trade data.--
(a)
Please note that the quantities reported in question II-10 should reconcile as follows in
each period (i.e., in each column):
Reconciliation
B+C–D–F–H–J=L
D+F+H=M+N
(b)
Yes
No--Please
Yes
No--Please
Please note that the quantities reported for end of period inventories should equal the
beginning of period inventories reported in the subsequent calendar year (i.e., line L of
year 2007 should equal line B of year 2008). Do these data reconcile for each adjacent
calendar year?
Yes.
II-10.
Do these data reconcile?
explain
Do these data reconcile?
explain
No--Please explain.
Transfers to 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.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 10
PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-11.
Purchases.--Other than direct imports, has your firm otherwise purchased sorbitol since January
1, 2004? (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)
No
Yes-- Please indicate the reasons for your purchases (if your reasons differ by
source, please elaborate) and report the quantity and value of such
purchases below for the specified periods
Reasons:
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds) and value (in $1,000)
Item
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
PURCHASES FROM U.S.
IMPORTERS1 OF SORBITOL
FROM.—
France:
quantity
value
All other countries:
quantity
value
PURCHASES FROM DOMESTIC
PRODUCERS:2
quantity
value
PURCHASES FROM OTHER
SOURCES:
quantity
Value
1
Please list the name of the importer(s) from which you purchased this product. If your suppliers differ by source, please identify the
source for each listed supplier.
2
Please list the name of the domestic producer(s) from which you purchased this product.
II-12.
Toll production.--Since January 1, 2004, has your firm been involved in a toll agreement (see
definition in the instruction booklet) regarding the production of sorbitol?
No
II-13.
Yes--Name firm(s):
.
FTZ.--Does your firm produce sorbitol in a foreign trade zone (FTZ)?
No
Yes--Identify FTZ(s):
.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 11
PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-14.
Direct imports.--Since January 1, 2004, has your firm imported sorbitol?
No
Yes--COMPLETE AND RETURN A U.S. IMPORTERS’
QUESTIONNAIRE
II-15.
Effect of order.--Describe the significance of the existing antidumping duty order covering
imports of sorbitol from France in terms of its effect on your firm’s production capacity,
production, U.S. shipments, inventories, purchases, employment, revenues, costs, profits, cash
flow, capital expenditures, research and development expenditures, and asset values. You may
wish to compare your firm’s operations before and after the imposition of the order.
II-16.
Likely effect of revocation of order.--Would your firm anticipate any changes in its production
capacity, production, U.S. shipments, inventories, purchases, employment, revenues, costs,
profits, cash flow, capital expenditures, research and development expenditures, or asset values
relating to the production of sorbitol in the future if the antidumping duty order on sorbitol from
France 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
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 12
PART III.—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Address questions on this part of the questionnaire to Justin Jee (202-205-3186, justin.jee@usitc.gov).
NOTE: REPORT YOUR ANSWERS FOR CRYSTALLINE SORBITOL ONLY.
III-1.
Contact information (Financial).--Who should be contacted regarding the requested financial
information?
Company contact:
Name and title
(
)
Phone number
III-2.
(
)
Fax number
E-mail address
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 subject merchandise:
2.
3.
4.
Does your firm prepare profit/loss statements for the subject merchandise:
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 (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
sorbitol, 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
finding 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.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 13
PART IV.—PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS--Continued
III-5.
Other products.--Please list any other products you produced in the facilities in which you
produced sorbitol, and provide the share of net sales accounted for by these other products in your
most recent fiscal year.
Products
III-6.
Raw materials from related firms.--Does your company receive inputs (raw materials, labor,
energy, or any other services) used in the production of sorbitol from any related company whose
financial statements are ultimately consolidated with the financial statements of your firm?
Yes--Continue to question III-7 below
III-7.
Share of sales
No--Continue to question III-9 below
Inputs from related firms.--In the space provided below, identify the inputs used in the
production of sorbitol that your firm receives from related parties whose financial statements are
consolidated with the financial statements of your firm.
Input
Related party
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 14
PART IV.—PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS--Continued
III-8.
Inputs from related firms at cost.--All intercompany profit on inputs purchased from related
parties that is eliminated pursuant to formal financial statement consolidation should also be
eliminated from the costs reported to the Commission in question III-10 (i.e., costs reported in
question III-10, to the extent that they reflect inputs purchased from related parties, 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
III-9.
No—Please contact Justin Jee (202-205-3186, justin.jee@usitc.gov).
Nonrecurring charges.--For each period for which financial results are reported in question III10, please indicate in the schedule below the specific nonrecurring charges, the particular
expense/cost line items from question III-11 where the associated charges are included, a brief
description of the charges, and the associated values (in $1,000). Nonrecurring charges would
include, but are not limited to, items such as asset write-offs and accelerated depreciation due to
restructuring of the company’s sorbitol operations. (In the far left column, please provide a brief
description of each nonrecurring charge and indicate the particular expense line items where the
associated charges are included in question III-10).
2004
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
2005
Fiscal years ended-2006
2007
2008
2009
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 15
PART IV.—PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS--Continued
III-10. Operations on sorbitol.--Report the revenue and related cost information requested below on the
sorbitol operations of your U.S. establishment(s).1 Do not report resales of products. Note that
internal consumption and transfers to related firms must be valued at fair market value and
purchases from related firms must be at cost.2 Provide data for your six most recently completed
fiscal years in chronological finding from left to right. If your firm was involved in tolling
operations (either as the toller or as the tollee) please contact Justin Jee (202-205-3186), before
completing this section of the questionnaire. Please be sure to reconcile financial data in this Part
with trade/shipment data (including exports) in Part II, Trade and Related Information.
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds) and value (in $1,000)
Item
Net sales quantities:3
Commercial sales
Internal consumption
Transfers to related firms
Total net sales quantities
Net sales values:3
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
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)
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
Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act
5
funds received
All other income items
All other income or expenses, net
Net income or (loss) before income taxes
Depreciation included above
1
Include only sales (whether domestic or export) and costs related to your U.S. manufacturing operations.
Please indicate the amount of profits or (losses) on inputs from related firms that were eliminated pursuant question III-8.
3
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 internal consumption and transfers to related firms.
5
Please report funds received under this act in the period(s) in which they were received. Do not report these funds as an offset
to operating expenses.
2
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 16
PART IV.—PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS--Continued
III-11. Asset values.--Report the total assets associated with the production, warehousing, and sale of
sorbitol. If your firm does not maintain some or all of the specific asset data in the normal course
of business, please estimate it based upon some rational 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 six most recently completed fiscal years in chronological finding from left to right.
Value (in $1,000)
Fiscal year ended-Item
2004
2005
2006
2007
ASSETS associated with the production, warehousing, and sale of product:
1. Current assets:
2008
2009
A. Cash and equivalents
B. Accounts receivable, net
C. Inventories
D. All other current
E. Total current (lines 1.A..1.D)
2. Non current assets:
Property, plant, and equipment (PPE):
A. Original cost of PPE
B. Less: Accumulated depreciation
C. Equals: Book value of PPE
D. All other non-current
E. Total non-current (lines 2.C +2.D)
3. Total assets (lines 1.E and 2.E)
III-12. Capital expenditures and research and development (R&D) expenditures.--Report your
firm’s capital expenditures and research and development expenditures on sorbitol. Provide data
for your six most recently completed fiscal years in chronological order from left to right.
Fiscal year
2004
Capital expenditures
R & D expenses
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 17
PART IV.—PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS--Continued
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Clark Workman (202-2053248, clark.workman@usitc.gov)
IV-1.
Contact information (Price).--Who should be contacted regarding the requested pricing and
related information?
Company contact:
Name and title
(
)
Phone number
E-mail address
NOTE: REPORT YOUR ANSWERS FOR CRYSTALLINE SORBITOL ONLY.
PRICE DATA
This section requests quarterly quantity and value data, f.o.b. your U.S. point of shipment, for your
commercial shipments to unrelated U.S. customers during 2007–2009 of the following products produced
by your firm.
Product 1.--Crystalline sorbitol coarse powder: 1800 lb. or 1 metric ton (2205 lbs) super sack for
food or pharmaceutical use.
Product 2.--Crystalline sorbitol coarse powder: 300 lb. drum for food or pharmaceutical use.
Product 3.--Crystalline sorbitol coarse powder: 50 lb. bag or box for food or pharmaceutical use.
Product 4.--Crystalline sorbitol granular: 200 lb. drum for food or pharmaceutical use.
Please report sales on a delivered basis to your final customer, including U.S.-inland transportation costs
to your customer’s facility. Please note that total dollar values should reflect the FINAL NET amount
(i.e., should be net of all deductions for discounts or rebates). See instruction booklet for details.
NOTE: REPORT YOUR ANSWERS FOR CRYSTALLINE SORBITOL ONLY.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 18
PART IV.—PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS--Continued
IV-2.
Pricing data.---Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 produced and sold by
your firm.
Period of shipment
(Quantity in pounds, value in dollars)
Product 1
Quantity
Value
Product 2
Quantity
Value
2004:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2005:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2006:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2007:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2008:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2009:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
1
Net values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of
returned goods), delivered to your customers’ U.S. facility (include U.S-inland transportation costs).
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:
Product 1:
Product 2:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 19
PART IV.—PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS--Continued
IV-2.
Pricing data. --Continued
Period of shipment
(Quantity in pounds, value in dollars)
Product 3
Quantity
Value
Product 4
Quantity
Value
2004:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2005:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2006:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2007:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2008:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2009:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
1
Net values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of
returned goods), delivered to your customers’ U.S. facility (include U.S-inland transportation costs).
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:
Product 1:
Product 2:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 20
PART IV.—PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS--Continued
IV-3.
Price setting.-- How does your firm determine the prices that it charges for sales of sorbitol
(check all that apply)? If your firm issues price lists, please include a copy of a recent price list
with your submission. If your price list is large, please only submit some sample pages.
Transaction by transaction
Contracts
Set price lists
Other--Please describe:
IV-4.
Discount policy.-- Please indicate and describe your firm’s discount policies (check all that
apply).
Quantity discounts
Annual total volume discounts
No discount policy
Other--Please describe:
IV-5.
IV-6.
Pricing terms for sorbitol.-(a)
What are your firm’s typical sales terms for its U.S.-produced sorbitol (e.g., 2/10 net 30
days)?
.
(b)
On what basis are your prices of domestic sorbitol usually quoted? (check one)
F.o.b.--Please specify point:
Delivered
Contract versus spot.--Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of its U.S.-produced
sorbitol in 2009 were on a (1) long-term contract basis (multiple deliveries for more than 12
months), (2) short-term contract basis (multiple deliveries up to and including 12 months), and (3)
spot sales basis (for a single delivery)?
Type of sale
Long-term contracts
Short-term contracts
Spot sales
Share of sales (percent)
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 21
PART IV.—PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS--Continued
IV-7.
IV-8.
Long-term contact provisions.--If you sell on a long-term contract basis, please answer the
following questions with respect to provisions of a typical long-term contract.
(a)
What is the average duration of a contract?
(b)
Can prices be renegotiated during the contract period?
(c)
Does the contract fix quantity, price, or both?
(d)
Does the contract have a meet or release provision?
Yes
Quantity
No
Price
Yes
Both
No
Short-term contract provisions.--If you sell on a short-term contract basis, please answer the
following questions with respect to provisions of a typical short-term contract.
(a)
What is the average duration of a contract?
(b)
Can prices be renegotiated during the contract period?
(c)
Does the contract fix quantity, price, or both?
(d)
Does the contract have a meet or release provision?
Yes
Quantity
No
Price
Yes
Both
No
IV-9. Long-term contact bids.-- Please identify the three largest long term contracts (more than 12
months) on which your firm submitted bids for delivery of sorbitol during 2007-09 and complete
the information requested in the table below.
Customer
Name
Length of
contract
(months)
Quantity
(pounds)
Your
firm’s
price
quote
(dollars
per
pound)
Date of
your firm’s
quote
Winning
price
quote
(dollars
per
pound)
Name of winning
bidder
Delivery
date
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 22
PART IV.—PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS--Continued
IV-10. Short-term contact bids.-- Please identify the three largest short term contracts (12 months or
less) on which your firm submitted bids for delivery of sorbitol during 2007-09 and complete the
information requested in the table below.
Length of
contract
(months)
Customer
Name
Quantity
(pounds)
Your
firm’s
price
quote
(dollars
per
pound)
Date of
your firm’s
quote
Winning
price
quote
(dollars
per
pound)
Name of winning
bidder
IV-11. Lead times.--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 sorbitol?
Source
Share of sales in 2009
Lead time
From inventory
Produced to order
Total
100 %
IV-12. Shipping information.-(a)
What is the approximate percentage of the total delivered cost of sorbitol that is
accounted for by U.S. inland transportation costs?
percent.
(b)
Who generally arranges the transportation to your customers’ locations? (check one)
Your firm or
purchaser
(c)
What proportion of your sales are delivered within 100 miles of your production facility?
percent. Within 101 to 1,000 miles?
percent. Over 1,000 miles?
percent.
Delivery
date
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 23
PART IV.—PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS--Continued
IV-13. Geographical shipments.-- What is the geographic market area in the United States served by
your firm’s sorbitol? (check all that apply)
Geographic area
√ if applicable
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.
IV-14. End uses.--Describe the end uses of the sorbitol that you manufacture. For each end-use product,
what percentage of the total cost is accounted for by sorbitol?
End use
Share of total cost (percent)
IV-15. Changes in end uses.--Have there been any changes in the end uses of sorbitol since the
imposition of the finding in 1982?
No
Yes— Please describe any changes in end uses of sorbitol.
IV-16. Anticipated changes in end uses.--Do you anticipate any changes in terms of the end uses of
sorbitol in the future?
No
Yes--Please describe and identify the time period.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 24
PART IV.—PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS--Continued
IV-17. Substitutes.--Please list in order of importance any products that may be substituted for sorbitol.
For each possible substitute product, please list the applications, describe the degree of
substitutability, and indicate whether changes in the price of the substitute affect the price for
sorbitol.
Substitute
Application(s) and degree
Have changes in the prices of this
of substitutability
substitute affected the price for sorbitol?
1.
No
Yes--Please explain.
2.
No
Yes--Please explain.
3.
No
Yes--Please explain.
4.
No
Yes--Please explain.
5.
No
Yes--Please explain.
IV-18. Changes in substitutes.--Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that
can be substituted for sorbitol since the imposition of the finding in 1982?
No
Yes--Please explain.
IV-19. Anticipated changes in substitutes.--Do you anticipate any changes in terms of the
substitutability of other products for sorbitol in the future?
No
Yes--Please describe.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 25
PART IV.—PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS--Continued
IV-20. Raw materials.--To what extent have changes in the prices of raw materials affected your firm’s
selling prices for sorbitol since the imposition of the finding in 1982? Also discuss any
anticipated changes in your raw material costs in the future.
IV-21. 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 U.S.-produced sorbitol in the U.S.
market since the imposition of the finding in 1982?
No
Yes--Please note the time period(s) of any such changes, the factors(s)
involved, and the impact such changes had on your shipment volumes
and prices.
IV-22. Availability of supply (U.S.-produced).-(a)
Do you anticipate any changes in terms of the availability of U.S.-produced sorbitol 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.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 26
PART IV.—PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS--Continued
IV-23. Availability of “nonsubject” import supply.--Has the availability of NONSUBJECT sorbitol
(i.e., sorbitol imported from countries other than France) changed since the imposition of the
finding in 1982?
No
Yes--Please explain.
IV-24. Shifting sales.--Describe how easily your firm can shift its sales of sorbitol between the U.S.
market and alternative country markets. In your discussion, please describe any contracts, other
sales arrangements, or other constraints that would prevent or retard your firm from shifting
sorbitol between the U.S. and alternative country markets within a 12-month period.
IV-25. Product changes.--Have there been any significant changes in the product range, product mix or
marketing (including sales over the internet) of sorbitol since the imposition of the finding in
1982?
No
Yes--Please describe and quantify if possible.
IV-26. Anticipated product changes.--Do you anticipate any changes in terms of the product range,
product mix, or marketing (including sales over the internet) of sorbitol in the future?
No
Yes--Please identify, including the time period.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 27
PART IV.—PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS--Continued
IV-27. Demand trends.-(a)
How has the demand within the United States for sorbitol changed since the imposition of
the finding in 1982? What principal factors affect changes in demand?
Increased
(b)
No Change
Decreased
Fluctuated
How has the demand outside the United States (if known) for sorbitol changed since the
imposition of the finding in 1982? What principal factors affect changes in demand?
Increased
No Change
Decreased
Fluctuated
IV-28. Anticipated demand trends.-(a)
Do you anticipate any future changes in sorbitol demand within the United States?
No
(b)
Yes--Please describe and identify the time period.
Do you anticipate any future changes in sorbitol demand outside the United States?
No
Yes--Please describe and identify the time period.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 28
PART IV.—PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS--Continued
IV-29. Price comparisons.--Please compare market prices of sorbitol in U.S. and non-U.S. markets, if
known. Provide specific information as to time periods and regions for any price comparisons.
IV-30. 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 sorbitol supply (including production
capacity and capacity utilization) and demand in (1) the United States, (2) each of the other major
producing/consuming countries, including France, and (3) the world as a whole. Of particular
interest is historical data and forecasts for the future.
IV-31. Barriers to trade.--Are your exports of sorbitol subject to any tariff or non-tariff barriers to trade
in other countries?
No
Yes--Please list the countries and describe any such barriers and any
significant changes in such barriers that have occurred since the
imposition of the finding in 1982, or that are expected to occur in the
future.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 29
PART IV.—PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS--Continued
IV-32. Interchangeability.--Is sorbitol produced in the United States and in other countries
interchangeable (i.e., can they physically be used in the same applications)? Please indicate
below, using “A” to indicate that the products from a specified country-pair are always
interchangeable, “F” to indicate that the products are frequently interchangeable, “S” to indicate
that the products are sometimes interchangeable, “N” to indicate that the products are never
interchangeable, and “0” to indicate no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair.1
Country-pair
France
Other countries
United States
France
1
For any country-pair producing sorbitol which is sometimes or never interchangeable, please explain
the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire - Sorbitol
Page 30
PART IV.—PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS--Continued
IV-33. Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (i.e., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between sorbitol produced in the
United States and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s sales of the products?
Please indicate below, using “A” to indicate that such differences are always significant, “F” to
indicate that such differences are frequently significant, “S” to indicate that such differences are
sometimes significant, “N” to indicate that such differences are never significant, and “0” to
indicate no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair.1
Country-pair
France
Other countries
United States
France
1
For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant factor in
your firm’s sales of sorbitol, identify the country-pair and report the advantages or disadvantages
imparted by such factors:
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Title | Microsoft Word - USProducerQ.doc |
| Author | fred.ruggles |
| File Modified | 2010-01-27 |
| File Created | 2010-01-27 |