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pdfOMB No. 3117‐0016/USITC No. 14‐1‐3324; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
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U.S. PRODUCERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
SUGAR FROM MEXICO
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by JANUARY 28, 2015
See last page for filing instructions.
The information called for in this questionnaire is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in
connection with its countervailing and antidumping investigations concerning sugar from Mexico (Inv. Nos. 701‐TA‐513
and 731‐TA‐1249 (Final)). 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 firm’s possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)).
Name of firm
Address
City
State
Zip Code
Website
Has your firm produced sugar (as defined on next page) at any time since October 1, 2011?
NO
(Sign the certification below and promptly return only this page of the questionnaire to
the Commission)
YES
(Complete all parts of the questionnaire, and return the entire questionnaire to the
Commission)
Return questionnaire via the U.S. International Trade Commission Drop Box by clicking on the
following link: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: SUGAR)
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
Fax:
Email address
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 2
PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background. This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on March 28, 2014 by the
American Sugar Coalition (“ASC”). The ASC members are: American Sugar Cane League, Thibodaux, LA;
American Sugarbeet Growers Association, Washington, DC; American Sugar Refining, Inc., West Palm
Beach, FL; Florida Sugar Cane League, Washington, DC; Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company,
Puunene, HI; Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers, Inc., Santa Rosa, TX; Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of
Florida, Belle Glade, FL; and United States Beet Sugar Association, Washington, DC. Countervailing and
antidumping duties may be assessed on the subject imports as a result of these proceedings if the
Commission makes an affirmative determination of injury, threat, or material retardation, and if the U.S.
Department of Commerce makes an affirmative determination of subsidization and/or dumping.
Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this proceeding are available at
http://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/731_ad_701_cvd/investigations/2014/sugar/finalphase.htm.
Sugar covered by these investigations as defined by the Department of Commerce scope is raw and
refined sugar of all polarimeter readings derived from sugar cane or sugar beets. The chemical sucrose
gives sugar its essential character. Sucrose is a nonreducing disaccharide composed of glucose and
fructose linked by a glycosidic bond via their anomeric carbons. The molecular formula for sucrose is
C 12 H 22 O 11; the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) International Chemical
Identifier (InChl) for sucrose is 1S/C12H22O11/c13‐l‐4‐6(16)8(18)9(19)11(21‐4)23‐12(3‐
15)10(20)7(17)5(2‐14)22‐12/h4‐11,13‐20H,1‐3H2/t4‐,5‐,6‐,7‐,8+,9‐,10+,11‐,12+/m1/s1; the InChl Key
for sucrose is CZMRCDWAGMRECN‐UGDNZRGBSA‐N; the U.S. National Institutes of Health PubChem
Compound Identifier (CID) for sucrose is 5988; and the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Number of
sucrose is 57‐50‐1.
Sugar described in the previous paragraph includes products of all polarimeter readings described in
various forms, such as raw sugar, estandar or standard sugar, high polarity or semirefined sugar, special
white sugar, refined sugar, brown sugar, edible molasses, desugaring molasses, organic raw sugar, and
organic refined sugar. Other sugar products, such as powdered sugar, colored sugar, flavored sugar,
and liquids and syrups that contain 95 percent or more sugar by dry weight are also within the scope of
these investigations.
The scope of these investigations does not include (1) sugar imported under the Refined Sugar Re‐
Export Programs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture;1 (2) sugar products produced in Mexico that
contain 95 percent or more sugar by dry weight that originated outside of Mexico; (3) inedible
molasses (other than inedible desugaring molasses noted above); (4) beverages; (5) candy; (6) certain
specialty sugars; and (7) processed food products that contain sugar (e.g., cereals). Specialty sugars
excluded from the scope of these investigations are limited to the following: caramelized slab sugar
candy, pearl sugar, rock candy, dragees for cooking and baking, fondant, golden syrup, and sugar
decorations.
Merchandise covered by these investigations is typically imported under the following headings of the
HTSUS: 1701.12.1000, 1701.12.5000, 1701.13.1000, 1701.13.5000, 1701.14.1000, 1701.14.5000,
1701.91.1000, 1701.91.3000, 1701.99.1010, 1701.99.1025, 1701.99.1050, 1701.99.5010,
1701.99.5025, 1701.99.5050, and 1702.90.4000. The tariff classification is provided for convenience
and customs purposes; however, the written description of the scope of these investigations is
dispositive.
1
This exclusion applies to sugar imported under the Refined Sugar Re‐Export Program, the Sugar‐Containing
Products Re‐Export Program, and the Polyhydric Alcohol Program administered by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 3
Raw sugar.—Unrefined sugar destined for further processing.
Refined sugar.—Sugar that is not destined for further processing.
Reporting of information.‐‐ If information is not readily available from your records, provide carefully
prepared estimates. If your firm is completing more than one questionnaire (i.e., a producer, importer,
and/or purchaser questionnaire), you need not respond to duplicated questions.
Confidentiality.‐‐The commercial and financial data furnished in response to this questionnaire that
reveal the individual operations of your firm will be treated as confidential by the Commission to the
extent that such data are not otherwise available to the public and will not be disclosed except as may
be required by law (see 19 U.S.C. '1677f). Such confidential information will not be published in a
manner that will reveal the individual operations of your firm; however, general characterizations of
numerical business proprietary information (such as discussion of trends) will be treated as confidential
business information only at the request of the submitter for good cause shown.
Verification.‐‐The information submitted in this questionnaire is subject to audit and verification by the
Commission. To facilitate possible verification of data, please keep all files, worksheets, and supporting
documents used in the preparation of the questionnaire response. Please also retain a copy of the final
document that you submit.
Release of information.‐‐The information provided by your firm in response to this questionnaire, as
well as any other business proprietary information submitted by your firm to the Commission in
connection with this proceeding, may become subject to, and released under, the administrative
protective order provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. '1677f) and section 207.7 of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR '207.7). This means that certain lawyers and
other authorized individuals may temporarily be given access to the information for use in connection
with this proceeding or other import‐injury proceedings conducted by the Commission on the same or
similar merchandise; those individuals would be subject to severe penalties if the information were
divulged to unauthorized individuals.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
I‐1a.
Page 4
OMB statistics.‐‐Please report below the actual number of hours required and the cost to your
firm of completing this questionnaire.
I‐1b.
Hours
Dollars
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, gathering data, and
completing and reviewing the questionnaire.
We welcome comments regarding the accuracy of this burden estimate, suggestions for
reducing the burden, and any suggestions for improving this questionnaire. Please attach such
comments to your response or send to the Office of Investigations, USITC, 500 E St. SW,
Washington, DC 20436.
TAA information release.‐‐In the event that the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC)
makes an affirmative final determination in this proceeding, do you consent to the USITC's
release of your contact information (company name, address, contact person, telephone
number, email address) appearing on the front page of this questionnaire to the Departments of
Commerce, Labor, and Agriculture, as applicable, so that your firm and its workers can be made
eligible for benefits under the Trade Adjustment Assistance program?
Yes
I‐2.
No
Establishments covered.‐‐Provide the city, state, zip code, and brief description of each
establishment covered by this questionnaire. If your firm is publicly traded, please specify the
stock exchange and trading symbol in the footnote to the table. Firms operating more than one
establishment should combine the data for all establishments into a single report.
“Establishment”‐‐Each facility of a firm involved in the production of sugar, including auxiliary
facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate from) such facilities.
Establishments
City, State
Zip (5 digit)
Description
Covered1
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
Additional discussion on establishments consolidated in this questionnaire:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
I‐3.
Petition support.‐‐Does your firm support or oppose the petition?
Support
I‐4.
I‐5.
Page 5
Oppose
Take no position
Ownership.‐‐Is your firm owned, in whole or in part, by any other firm?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
Address
Extent of
ownership
(percent)
Related importers/exporters.‐‐Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, that are engaged in importing sugar from Mexico into the United States or that are
engaged in exporting sugar from Mexico to the United States?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
Address
Affiliation
I‐6.
Related producers.‐‐Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that are
engaged in the production of sugar?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
Address
Affiliation
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 6
PART II.‐‐TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Amy Sherman (202‐205‐
3289, amy.sherman@usitc.gov). Supply all data requested on a crop‐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 sugar since October 1, 2011.
(check as many as appropriate)
(please describe)
plant openings
plant closings
relocations
expansions
acquisitions
consolidations
prolonged shutdowns or
production curtailments
revised labor agreements
other (e.g., technology)
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
II‐3.
Page 7
Alternative products using same machinery.‐‐ Does your firm produce any alternative products
(e.g., other than sugar) on the same equipment and machinery used to produce sugar? (Do not
count by‐products or co‐products such as the production of molasses as an "alternative"
product produced on the same equipment and machinery used to produce sugar for the
purpose of this question‐‐Molasses is a by‐product or a co‐product that results from raw sugar
milling, it is not an alternative product that can be produced on the same machinery and
equipment).
No
Yes‐‐Please describe these alternative products and indicate the amounts of
each of these products produced by your firm in the October 2013 through
September 2014 crop year.
II‐4.
Tolling.‐‐Since October 1, 2011, has your firm been involved in a toll agreement regarding the
production of sugar?
“Toll agreement”‐‐Agreement between two firms whereby the first firm furnishes the raw
materials and the second firm uses the raw materials to produce a product that it then returns
to the first firm with a charge for processing costs, overhead, etc.
No
Yes‐‐Please describe the toll arrangement(s) and name the firm(s) involved:
Your firm refines sugar for other firms (i.e., toller)
Name firm(s) contracted with:
Your firm contracts for the production of refined sugar using another firm’s
machinery and equipment (i.e., tollee)
Name the toll producer(s):
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
II‐5.
Page 8
Foreign trade zones.‐‐
(a)
Firm's FTZ operations.‐‐Does your firm produce sugar in and/or admit sugar into a
foreign trade zone (FTZ)?
“Foreign trade zone” is a designated location in the United States where firms utilize
special procedures that allow delayed or reduced customs duty payments on foreign
merchandise. A foreign trade zone must be designed as such pursuant to the rules and
procedures set forth in the Foreign‐Trade Zones Act.
No
Yes‐‐Describe the nature of your firms operations in FTZs and
identify the specific FTZ site(s).
(b)
Other firms' FTZ operations.‐‐To your knowledge, do any firms in the United States
import sugar into a foreign trade zone (FTZ) for use in distribution of sugar and/or the
production of downstream articles?
No/Don’t know
Yes‐‐Identify the firms and the FTZs.
II‐6.
Importer.‐‐Since October 1, 2011, has your firm imported sugar (refined or raw)?
“Importer” ‐‐The person or firm primarily liable for the payment of any duties on the
merchandise, or an authorized agent acting on his behalf. The importer may be the consignee,
or the importer of record.
No
Yes‐‐COMPLETE AND RETURN A U.S. IMPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
II‐7.
Page 9
Nature of sugar production.—Check all that apply
Sugar milling only (complete questions II‐8 and II‐9, skip questions II‐10 through II‐13, pick
back up at question II‐14)‐‐Primarily relates to firms that mill sugar cane into raw sugar.
Sugar refining only (skip questions II‐8 and II‐9, complete all questions from II‐10
forward).—Relates to firms that process raw or already partially refined sugar into
refined sugar.
Sugar milling and refining (non‐continuous process) (complete all questions). Note that raw
sugar produced, stored, and then shipped for refining should be recorded as “internal
consumption” in question II‐8 and then as production from internal consumption in
question II‐10.
Sugar milling and refining (continuous process) (skip questions II‐8 and II‐9, complete all
questions from II‐10 forward).‐‐A continuous process is typical of sugar beet processing,
but may also apply to certain sugar cane processing operations.
Sugar melting/filtering only (skip questions II‐8 and II‐9, complete all questions from II‐10
forward).
Repackaging.‐‐For the purposes of the data requested in this questionnaire, repacking
operations alone should not be reported in the data in questions II‐8 through II‐16. Data
relating to repackaging only operations should only be reported in this questionnaire in question
II‐17 in relation to your firm's purchases of already refined sugar for resale.
Definitions
“Commercial U.S. shipments” –Shipments made within the United States as a result of an arm’s
length commercial transaction in the ordinary course of business. Report net values (i.e., gross
sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned
goods) in U.S. dollars, f.o.b. your point of shipment.
“Internal consumption” – Product consumed internally by your firm.
“Transfers to related firms” –Shipments made to related domestic firms. Such transactions are
valued at fair market value.
“Related firm” –A firm that your firm solely or jointly owns, manages, or otherwise controls.
Such transactions are valued at fair market value.
“Export shipments” –Shipments to destinations outside the United States, including shipments
to related firms.
“Inventories”‐‐Finished goods inventory, not raw materials or work‐in‐progress.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
II‐8.
Page 10
Production, shipment and inventory data for raw sugar.‐‐Report your firm’s production
capacity, production, shipments, and inventories to the production of raw sugar in its U.S.
establishment(s). U.S. processors with continuous operations resulting in refined sugar as an
end product (e.g., typical of sugar beet processing plants) should not report any data in this grid.
U.S. processors that produce raw sugar as the first step in a non‐continuous process (e.g., typical
of sugar cane production) should first report raw sugar operations here then sugar refining
operation in question II‐10 regardless of whether the firm owns and conducts both production
operations.
Milling Operations / Raw Sugar
Quantity (in 1,000 short tons) and value (in $1,000)
Crop years
Item
2011/12
1
2012/13
2013/14
Average production capacity (quantity) (A)
Beginning‐of‐period inventories (quantity) (B)
Production of raw sugar (quantity) (C)
U.S. shipments of raw sugar:
Commercial U.S. shipments:
Quantity (D)
2 3
Value (E)
Internal consumption:
Quantity (F)
4
Value (G)
Transfers to related firms:
Quantity (H)
4
Value (I)
Forfeitures to the Commodity Credit Corp:
Quantity (J)
Value (K)
5
Export shipments of raw sugar:
Quantity (L)
Value (M)
End‐of‐period inventories (quantity) (N)
1
The production capacity reported is based on operating hours per week, weeks per year.
Please describe the constraint(s) that set the limit(s) on your firm’s capacity to produce the intermediate
product of raw sugar.
2
What was the average polarity of your firm's raw sugar produced in the October 2013 through September
2014 crop year?
3
Please list any by‐products or co‐products that get produced during your firm's raw sugar milling operations
(e.g., molasses) and the quantity of such production in the most recent October 2013 through September 2014
crop year:
4
Internal consumption and transfers to related firms must be valued at fair market value. In the event that
your firm uses 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:
5
Identify your firm’s principal export markets:
.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 11
Reconciliation of shipments, production, and inventory.‐‐Generally, the data reported for the end‐of‐
period inventories (i.e., line N) should be equal to the beginning‐of‐period inventories (i.e., line B), plus
production (i.e., line C), less total shipments including forfeitures (i.e., lines D, F, H, J, and L). Please
ensure that any differences are not due to data entry errors in completing this form, but rather actually
reflect your firm’s records; and also provide any likely explanations for any differences (e.g., theft, loss,
damage, record systems issues, etc.) if they exist.
Crop years
Reconciliation
2011/12
B + C – D – F – H – J – L – N = should equal zero ("0")
or provide an explanation.1
2012/13
0
2013/14
0
0
1
Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are
nonetheless accurate. Note that the typical molasses by‐product or co‐product that results from raw sugar
production should not impact this reconciliation, as all molasses data should be removed from the data
reported in this question.
II‐9. Raw material inputs for milling/raw sugar operations.‐‐Please indicate the share of October 2013‐
September 2014 production of raw sugar your firm produced from each of the following.
Share of 2013/14 crop
Estimated source of raw sugar production
(percent)
Share raw sugar produced from.‐‐
Own firm's farming operations of sugar cane
Purchases of sugar cane.‐‐
Domestic
Imported
Subtotal, purchased sugar cane
1
Member‐owner provided sugar cane
2
Other sources or sugar cane
Total (should sum to 100.0%)
1
2
This raw sugar milling your firm done for cooperative member owners.
Please describe these sources.‐‐ .
%
%
%
0.0
%
%
%
0.0
%
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 12
II‐10. Production, shipment and inventory data for refined sugar.‐‐Report your firm’s production
capacity, production, shipments, and inventories related to the production of all refined sugar
(regardless the agricultural input) in its U.S. establishment(s). U.S. processors with continuous
operations resulting in refined sugar as an end product (e.g., typical of sugar beet processing
plants) should only report data in this grid. U.S. processors that produce raw sugar as the first
step in a non‐continuous process (e.g., typical of sugar cane production) should only report their
sugar refining operations in this grid.
Refining or Processing Operations / Refined Sugar
Primary Input
Sugar Beet
Raw Sugar from sugar cane mill
Quantity (1,000 short tons raw value) and value (in $1,000)
Crop years
Item
2011/12
1
2012/13
2013/14
Average production capacity (quantity) (O)
Beginning‐of‐period inventories (quantity) (P)
from others' agricultural operations (e.g., co‐op) (R)
from purchases of domestic grown sugar crops (S)
from internal consumption of raw sugar production reported in
previous grid (T)
from purchases of domestic raw sugar and/or refined sugar
requiring additional processing (U)4
0
0
0
from purchases/imports of Mexican sugar of a polarity less than
99.4 and destined for further processing (W)
from purchases/imports of Mexican sugar of a polarity between
99.4 and 99.6 and destined for further processing (X)
from purchases/imports of Mexican sugar of a polarity greater
than 99.6 and destined for further processing (Y)
from purchases/imports of nonsubject sugar of a polarity less
than 99.4 and destined for further processing (Z)
from purchases/imports of nonsubject sugar of a polarity
between 99.4 and 99.6 and destined for further processing (AA)
from purchases/imports of nonsubject sugar of a polarity
greater than 99.6 and destined for further processing (AB)
0
0
0
0
0
0
Production of refined sugar (quantity):
from own agricultural operations (Q)2
3
from domestic sources (V)
from import sources (AC)
Total production, refined sugar (AD)
1
The production capacity reported is based on operating
hours per week, weeks per year. Please
describe the constraint(s) that set the limit(s) on your firm’s capacity to produce refined sugar.
2
Excludes Co‐op production. Your firm actually grows the input (sugar beet) or produces the raw sugar (sugar
cane).
3
Production of refined sugar on another entity's input. This is the line to report Co‐op production.
4
Repacking operations should not be included as production.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 13
II‐10. Production, shipment and inventory data for refined sugar.‐‐Continued
Quantity (1,000 short tons raw value) and value (in $1,000)
Crop years
Item
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
5
U.S. shipments of refined sugar:
Commercial U.S. shipments
Quantity (AE)
Value (AB)
Internal consumption
Quantity (AF)
6
Value (AG)
Transfers to related firms:
Quantity (AH)
6
Value (AI)
Forfeitures to the Commodity Credit Corp:
Quantity (AJ)
Value (AK)
Export shipments of refined sugar:
Quantity (AL)
5
Value (AM)
7
End‐of‐period inventories (quantity) (AN)
5
Shipments of sugar based only on repacking operations should be exluded from this grid.
Internal consumption and transfers to related firms must be valued at fair market value. In the event
that your firm uses 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:
7
Identify your firm’s principal export markets:
Reconciliation of inventory, production, and shipments.‐‐Generally, the data reported for end‐
of‐period inventories should be equal to beginning of period inventories, plus production, less
total shipments. The following "data check" calculates this reconcilation directly in the MS Word
form. If the calculated fields below return values other than zero (i.e., “0”), the data need to be
revised prior to submission to the Commission or the reasons for the differences must be
explained (e.g., theft, loss, damage, record systems issues, et cetera).
Crop years
6
Reconciliation item
P + AD – AE – AF – AH – AJ – AL – AN = 0 (revise or explain if
not equal to zero)1
1
2011/12
0
2012/13
2013/14
0
Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are
nonetheless accurate.
0
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 14
II‐11. Non‐beet sugar refining operations.‐‐If your firm is a sugar refiner that uses raw sugar, semi‐
refined sugar, or refined sugar as its primary raw material input in further refining operations,
(a)
Please check the specific operations included in your firm's refining operations. (check
all that apply)
Liquification
Filtration
Affination
Clarification
Absorption
Crystalization
Drying/Granulization
Other (Describe: )
(b)
Please describe your firm's ability to switch between the various sources of inputs for
refined sugar production as reported in the previous question (e.g., lines Q through U,
W, and X).
(c)
If your firm uses multiple input sources for its refined sugar production (e.g., more than
one of lines Q through U, W, and X), please list the reasons for the use of these multiple
input sources.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 15
II‐12. Channels of distribution refined sugar.‐‐ Report your firm’s commercial U.S. shipments of
refined sugar by channel of distribution and end use market segment.
Quantity (in 1,000 short tons raw value) and value (in $1,000)
Crop years
Item
2011/12
Channels of distribution:
Commercial U.S. shipments of refined
sugar:
To distributors (quantity) (AO)
2012/13
2013/14
To grocery chains (quantity) (AP)
To restaurants and restaurant chains
(quantity) (AQ)
To industrial end users (quantity) (AR)
To U.S. refiners (quantity) (AS)
To U.S. melt houses (quantity) (AT)
Channel reconcilation.‐‐The data reported for channels of distribution should be equal to
commercial shipments in the refined sugar grid. The following "data check" calculates this
reconcilation directly in the MS Word form. If the calculated fields below return values other
than zero (i.e., “0”), the data need to be revised prior to submission to the Commission.
Crop years
Reconciliation
2011/12
AO + AP + AQ + AR + AS +AT– AE = zero
("0"), if not revise.
2012/13
0
2013/14
0
0
II‐13. Polarity data.‐‐Please provide data on the average polarity of the input and output of your
refining operations in the October 2013 through September 2014 crop year.
Crop year
Item
2013/14
1
Average polarity of inputs used in production
2
Average polarity of commmercial U.S. shipments
1
If the average polarity of the inputs to your firm's refining operations differed significantly
based on the source of the input, please describe that here:
.
2
If the average polarity of the outputs of your firm's refining operations differed significantly
based on the type of product produced, please describe that here:
.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 16
All Producers
II‐14. Related firms.‐‐If your firm reported transfers to related firms in question II‐8 and/or II‐9, 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‐15. Sugar melting.—Does your firm primarily produce liquid sugar?
No
Yes‐‐Please provide descriptions of the following
(a)
Source and extent of firm’s capital and investment.
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Quantity and type of inputs sourced in the United States.
Describe the nature of your production‐related activities in the United States to produce
sugar.
Technical expertise involved in U.S. production activity.
Any other costs and activities in the United States directly leading to the production of
sugar.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 17
II‐16. Employment data.‐‐Report your firm’s employment‐related data related to the production of
sugar and provide any explanation for any trends in these data.
“Production Related Workers” (PRWs) includes working supervisors and all nonsupervisory
workers (including group leaders and trainees) engaged in fabricating, processing, assembling,
inspecting, receiving, storage, handling, packing, warehousing, shipping, trucking, hauling,
maintenance, repair, janitorial and guard services, product development, auxiliary production
for plant’s own use (e.g., power plant), recordkeeping, and other services closely associated with
the above production operations.
Average number employed may be computed by adding the number of employees, both full
time and part time, for the 12 pay periods ending closest to the 15th of the month and divide
that total by 12.
“Hours worked” includes time paid for sick leave, holidays, and vacation time. Include overtime
hours actually worked; do not convert overtime pay to its equivalent in straight time hours.
“Wages paid” –Total wages paid before deductions of any kind (e.g., withholding taxes, old‐age
and unemployment insurance, group insurance, union dues, bonds, etc.). Include wages paid
directly by your firm for overtime, holidays, vacations, and sick leave.
Crop years
Item
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
Average number of PRWs (number)
In relation to raw sugar operations
In relation to refined sugar operations
Hours worked by PRWs (1,000 hours)
In relation to raw sugar operations
In relation to refined sugar operations
Wages paid to PRWs (value)
In relation to raw sugar operations
In relation to refined sugar operations
Explanation of trends:
Note.‐‐Report employment data parallel to treatement accorded to trade data in questions II‐8
and II‐10; Non‐continuous operations should report raw sugar employment data separately
from refining operations; while continuous operations should report all employment data in the
refined sugar operations line items.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 18
II‐17. Purchases.‐‐Other than direct imports, has your firm otherwise purchased sugar since October
1, 2011?
“Purchase” – A transaction to buy product from a U.S. corporate entity such as another U.S.
producer, a U.S. distributor, or a U.S. firm that has directly imported the product.
“Direct import” –A transaction to buy from a foreign producer where your firm is the importer
of record or consignee.
No
Yes‐‐Report such purchases below and explain the reasons for your firms'
purchases:
(Quantity in 1,000 short tons, value in $1,000)
Crop years
Item
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
PURCHASES OF SUGAR FOR FURTHER PROCESSING:
Purchases from U.S. importers1 of sugar from—
Mexico:
Quantity
Value
All other countries:
Quantity
Value
Purchases from domestic producers
Quantity
2
Value
3
PURCHASES OF SUGAR FOR RE‐SALE (NOT FOR FURTHER PROCESSING) :
Purchases from U.S. importers1 of sugar from—
Mexico:
Quantity
Value
All other countries:
Quantity
Value
Purchases from domestic producers
Quantity
Value
1
2
Please list the name of the importer(s) from which your firm purchased this product. If your
firm’s import suppliers differ by source, please identify the source for each listed supplier. .
2
Please list the name of the producer(s) or other U.S. distributor(s) from which your firm
purchased this product.
.
3
Inclusive of repackaging operations.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 19
II‐18. Other explanations.‐‐If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part II
that did not provide a narrative 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 the data in this section, including but not limited to technical issues with the MS Word
questionnaire.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 20
PART III.‐‐FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Address questions on this part of the questionnaire to Charles Yost (202‐205‐3432,
charles.yost@usitc.gov).
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 firm’s financial accounting system.
A.
When does your firm’s fiscal year end (month and day)?
If your firm’s fiscal year changed during the data‐collection period, explain:
B.1. Describe the lowest level of operations (e.g., plant, division, company‐wide) for
which financial statements are prepared that include sugar:
2. Does your firm prepare profit/loss statements for sugar:
Yes
No
3. 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
4. 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 sugar, 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 firm’s cost accounting system (e.g., standard
cost, job order cost, etc.).
III‐4.
Allocation basis.‐‐Briefly describe your firm’s allocation basis, if any, for COGS, SG&A, and
interest expense and other income and expenses.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
III‐5.
Page 21
Other products.‐‐Please list the products your firm produced in the facilities in which your firm
produced sugar, and provide the share of net sales accounted for by these other products in
your firm’s most recent fiscal year.
Products
III‐6.
Share of sales
Sugar
%
%
%
%
%
Does your firm purchase inputs (raw materials, labor, energy, or any other services) used in the
production of sugar from any related parties?
Yes‐‐Continue to question III‐7.
III‐7.
No‐‐Continue to question III‐9.
Inputs from related parties.—Please identify the inputs used in the production of the subject
product that your firm purchases from related parties. For “Share of total COGS” please report
this information by relevant input on the basis of your most recently completed fiscal year. For
“Input valuation” please describe the basis, as recorded in the company’s own accounting
system, of the purchase cost from the related party; e.g., the related party’s actual cost, cost
plus, negotiated transfer price to approximate fair market value.
Input
Input valuation
Related party
Share of total COGS
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
III‐8.
Page 22
Inputs purchased from related parties.‐‐Please confirm that the inputs purchased from related
parties, as identified in III‐7, were reported in financial results on sugar (questions III‐11, III‐12,
and/or III‐13) in a manner consistent with your firm’s accounting books and records.
Yes
No‐‐In the space below, please report the valuation basis of inputs purchased from related
parties as reported in table III‐9.
III‐9.
Nonrecurring items (charges and gains) included in reported sugar financial results.‐‐For each
annual and interim period for which financial results are reported in questions III‐11 and III‐12,
please specify all material (significant) nonrecurring items (charges and gains) in the schedule
below, the specific line items in questions III‐11 and III‐12 where the nonrecurring items are
included, a brief description of the relevant nonrecurring items, and the associated values (in
$1,000), as reflected in questions III‐11 and III‐12; i.e., if an aggregate nonrecurring item has
been allocated to questions III‐11 and III‐12, only the allocated value amount included in
questions III‐11 and III‐12should 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 sugar financial results in questions III‐11 and III‐12.
Crop years
Item
Nonrecurring item: In this column please provide a
brief description of each nonrecurring item and
indicate the specific line item in questions III‐11 and
III‐12 where the nonrecurring item is included.
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
Nonrecurring item: In these columns please
report the amount (in $1,000) of the relevant
nonrecurring item reported in questions III‐11
and III‐12.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 23
III‐10a. Nature of sugar production.—Does your firm partake in the following operations?
Sugar milling only (complete question III‐11, skip question III‐12)2
Sugar refining only (skip question III‐11, complete question III‐12)
Sugar milling and refining (continuous or noncontinuous process) (skip question III‐11,
complete question III‐ 12).3 Note: For firms with noncontinuous processes, a consolidated
income statement should be reported in question III‐12.
Sugar melting/filtering only (skip question III‐11, complete question III‐12)
III‐10b. Nature of sugar production.—Accounting treatment of raw material costs and payments to
cooperative members (cooperative distributions):
(1) If your firm purchases sugar cane or sugar beets in commercial transactions with unrelated
parties, the purchase costs of either domestic or foreign origin raw materials should be
reported on the line for raw material costs in questions III‐11 and III‐12; .
(2) If your firm is an agricultural cooperative, processing cane raws and/or sugar beets report
the purchase cost of raw materials (if any) separately from distributions to patrons in
questions III‐11 and III‐12 below.
(3) If your firm is a member of an agricultural cooperative (reporting data for question III‐12),
which makes patronage distributions to its members, report the total receipts of sugar cane
and sugar beets from your members, and the aggregate acreage your members harvested
below. Report the distributions to your member patrons in either question III‐11 or III‐12.
Please describe how those distributions are calculated in question III‐13.
Crop years
Item
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
Delivery by coop members to miller or processor/refiner of sugar cane or sugar beets:
Sugar cane (1,000 short tons)
Sugar beet (1,000 short tons)
Harvested acres:
Sugar cane cooperatives (acres)
Sugar beet cooperatives (acres)
2
3
Primarily relates to firms that mill sugar cane into raw sugar.
A continuous process is typical of sugar beet processing, but may also apply to certain sugar cane processing operations.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 24
III‐11. Milling operations on sugar.‐‐Report the revenue and related cost information requested below
on the sugar milling operations of your firm’s U.S. establishment(s).1 2 Do not report resales of
purchased sugar. Note that internal consumption and transfers to related firms must be valued
at fair market value. Input purchases from related parties should be consistent with and based
on information in the firm’s accounting books and records.
Quantity (in 1,000 short tons raw value) and value (in $1,000)
Crop years
Item
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
3
Net sales quantities:
Commercial sales (“CS”)
Internal consumption (“IC”)
Transfers to related firms (“Transfers”)
Total net sales quantities
0
0
0
3
Net sales values:
Commercial sales (“CS”)
Internal consumption (“IC”)
Transfers to related firms (“Transfers”)
Total net sales values
0
0
0
4
Cost of goods sold (COGS):
Raw materials.‐‐
Domestic origin
Foreign origin
Patronage distributions
Subtotal, raw materials
0
Direct labor
Other factory costs
Total COGS
Gross profit or (loss)
Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses:
Selling expenses
Total SG&A expenses
Operating income (loss)
Other expenses and income:
Interest expense
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
All other expense items
All other income items4
Net income or (loss) before income taxes
Depreciation/amortization included above
0
0
General and administrative expenses
1
0
0
0
0
Data to be related in this grid relates primarily to firms that mill sugar cane into raw sugar for sale to refiners.
2
Include only sales (whether domestic or export) and costs related to your U.S. manufacturing operations.
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 CS, IC, and Transfers, as well as export shipments in question II‐8. If your firm offsets COGS by
byproduct revenue (e.g., bagasse), report it in COGS, otherwise report byproduct revenues and coproduct revenues (net of cost) as other income.
Report as other income payments received from government programs, including (as applicable) crop insurance proceeds, federal crop disaster
payments, CCC loans forfeited, and agricultural program payments.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 25
III‐12. Processor/Refiner operations on sugar.‐‐Report the revenue and related cost information
requested below on the sugar refining operations of your firm’s U.S. establishment(s).1 2 Do not
report resales of products. Note that internal consumption and transfers to related firms must
be valued at fair market value. Input purchases from related parties should be consistent with
and based on information in the firm’s accounting books and records.
Quantity (in 1,000 short tons raw value) and value (in $1,000)
Crop years
Item
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
3
Net sales quantities:
Commercial sales (“CS”)
Internal consumption (“IC”)
Transfers to related firms (“Transfers”)
Total net sales quantities
0
0
0
3
Net sales values:
Commercial sales (“CS”)
Internal consumption (“IC”)
Transfers to related firms (“Transfers”)
Total net sales values
0
0
0
4
Cost of goods sold (COGS):
Raw materials.‐‐
Domestic origin
Foreign origin
Patronage distributions
Subtotal, raw materials
0
Direct labor
Other factory costs
Total COGS
Gross profit or (loss)
Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses:
Selling expenses
Total SG&A expenses
Operating income (loss)
Other expenses and income:
Interest expense
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
All other expense items
4
All other income items
Net income or (loss) before income taxes
Depreciation/amortization included above
0
0
General and administrative expenses
1
0
0
0
0
Firms that produce refined sugar should report their data here, inclusive of all continuous operations. Any firm that first produces, stores, and
then ships raw sugar should report separate data on milling operations in question III‐11 that then feed into this grid (per question III‐10b‐2).
2
Include only sales (whether domestic or export) and costs related to your U.S. manufacturing operations.
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 CS, IC, and Transfers, as well as export shipments in question II‐10. If your firm offsets COGS by
byproduct revenue, report it in COGS, otherwise report byproduct revenues and coproduct revenues (e.g., animal feeds), net of cost, as other
income. Report as other income payments received from government programs, including (as applicable) crop insurance proceeds, federal crop
disaster payments, CCC loans forfeited, and agricultural program payments.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 26
III‐13. Distributions to patrons.—If your firm is an agricultural coop, please describe the basis on which
distributions to patrons are calculated in questions III‐11 and III‐12.
III‐14. Financial data reconciliation.‐‐The calculable line items from questions III‐11 and III‐12 (i.e.,
total net sales quantities and values, total COGS, gross profit (or loss), total SG&A, and net
income (or loss)) have been calculated from the data submitted in the other line items. Do the
calculated fields return the correct data according to your firm's financial records ignoring non‐
material differences that may arise due to rounding?
Yes No‐‐If the calculated fields do not show the correct data, please double check the
feeder data for data entry errors and revise.
Also, check signs accorded to the post operating income line items; the two
expense line items should report positive numbers (i.e., expenses are
positive and incomes or reversals are negative‐‐instances of the latter
should be rare in those lines) while the income line item also in most
instances should have its value be a positive number (i.e., income is positive,
expenses or reversals are negative).
If after reviewing and potentially revising the feeder data your firm has
provided, the differences between your records and the calculated fields
persist please identify and discuss the differences in the space below.
III‐15. Data consistency and reconciliation.‐‐ Please note the quantities and values reported in
questions III‐11 and III‐12 should reconcile with the data reported in questions II‐8 and/or II‐10,
respectively, including export shipments, as long as they are reported on the same crop year
basis.
Do the data in questions III‐11 and III‐12 reconcile with data in questions II‐8 and/or II‐10?
Yes
No
If no, please explain.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 27
III‐16. Financial performance in prior periods.—Report the selected indicators for your firm’s financial
performance for operations of your firm’s U.S. establishment(s) for the specified periods. These data
should be consistent with the data reported in questions III‐11 and/or III‐12.
Quantity (in 1,000 short tons raw value) and value (in $1,000)
Crop years
Item
2008/09
2009/10
Total net sales quantities:
Total net sales values:
Operating profit or loss:
Distributions to coop patrons:
2010/11
III‐17. Asset values.‐‐Report the total assets (i.e., both current and long‐term assets) associated with
the production, warehousing, and sale of sugar. If your firm does not maintain some or all of the
specific asset information necessary to calculate total assets for sugar 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 firm’s cost allocations in the previous question. Provide data
as of the end of your firm’s three most recently completed fiscal years.
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)
Crop years
Item
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
Total assets (net)—
Miller
Total assets (net)—
Processor/Refiner
Explanation of asset trends:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 28
III‐18a. Capital expenditures and research and development expenses.‐‐Report your firm’s capital
expenditures and research and development expenses on sugar. Provide data for your firm’s
three most recently completed fiscal years, and for the specified interim periods.
Value (in $1,000)
Crop years‐‐
Item
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
Capital expenditures
Miller
Processor/Refiner
Research and development
expenses
Miller
Processor/Refiner
III‐18b. Capital expenditures.‐‐Please indicate the nature, focus, and significance of your firm’s capital
expenditures on the subject product.
III‐19. Effects of imports.‐‐Since October 1, 2011, 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 sugar from
Mexico?
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, reduction or limitation on amount of working capital
provided by bank or other financial institution
Lowering of credit rating
Problem related to the issue of stocks or bonds
Other (specify):
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 29
III‐20. Anticipated effects of imports.‐‐Does your firm anticipate any negative effects due to imports of
sugar from Mexico?
No
Yes
If yes, my firm anticipates negative effects as follows:
III‐21. Other explanations.‐‐If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part III
that did not provide a narrative 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 the data in this section, including but not limited to technical issues with the MS Word
questionnaire.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 30
PART IV.‐‐PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from John Benedetto (202‐205‐
3270, john.benedetto@usitc.gov).
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 monthly and value data for your firm’s commercial shipments to
unrelated U.S. customers since October 1, 2011 of the following products produced by your firm
your firm (question IV‐2a). Question IV‐2b requests information on your firm’s contracts for
products 1 and 2A.
Product 1.—Sugar, less than 99.6 polarity, sold to sugar refiners.
Product 2A.—Sugar, 99.9 polarity and above, sold to industrial producers of food, beverages
or other sugar‐containing‐products (e.g., General Mills, Mars, Coca Cola, Kraft).
Product 2B.—Sugar, 99.6‐99.89 polarity, sold to industrial producers of food, beverages or
other sugar‐containing‐products (e.g., General Mills, Mars, Coca Cola, Kraft).
Product 2C.—Sugar, 99.4‐99.59 polarity, sold to industrial producers of food,
beverages or other sugar‐containing‐products (e.g., General Mills, Mars, Coca Cola, Kraft).
Product 3A.—Branded refined sugar sold in packages of 50 lbs. or less to grocery chains (e.g.,
Safeway, Harris Teeter, Walmart, Costco).
Product 3B.—Private label refined sugar sold in packages of 50 lbs. or less to grocery chains
(e.g., Safeway, Harris Teeter, Walmart, Costco).
Product 4.‐‐ Refined sugar sold in packages of 50 kgs. (110.23 lbs.) or less to institutional
and/or food service providers (e.g., Sysco, restaurant chains, bakeries, schools, hospitals,
prisons).
Product 5A.‐‐ Sugar, 99.9 polarity and above, sold in packages of 50 kgs. (110.23 lbs.) or less to
distributors (i.e., companies such as Batory Foods that buy sugar to resell to the
industrial trade for use as an ingredient).
Product 5B.‐‐ Sugar, 99.6‐99.89 polarity, sold in packages of 50 kgs. (110.23 lbs.) or less to
distributors (i.e., companies such as Batory Foods that buy sugar to resell to the
industrial trade for use as an ingredient).
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 31
Product 5C.‐‐ Sugar, 99.4‐99.59 polarity, sold in packages of 50 kgs. (110.23 lbs.) or less to
distributors (i.e., companies such as Batory Foods that buy sugar to resell to the
industrial trade for use as an ingredient).
Product 6A.‐‐ Sugar, 99.9 polarity and above, sold in bulk to distributors (i.e., companies such
as Batory Foods).
Product 6B.‐‐ Sugar, 99.6‐99.89 polarity, sold in bulk to distributors (i.e., companies such as
Batory Foods).
Product 6C.‐‐ Sugar, 99.4‐99.59 polarity, sold in bulk to distributors (i.e., companies such as
Batory Foods).
Please note that values for IV‐2a should be f.o.b., U.S. point of shipment and should not
include U.S.‐inland transportation costs. Values should reflect the final net amount paid to
your firm (i.e., should be net of all deductions for discounts or rebates).
However, prices for table IV‐2b should be delivered prices, but still net of all deductions for
discounts or rebates
During October 2011‐September 2014, did your firm produce and sell to unrelated U.S.
customers any of the above listed products (or any products that were competitive with these
products)?
Yes.‐‐Please complete the following pricing data tables as appropriate.
No.‐‐Skip to question IV‐3.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 32
IV‐2a. Pricing data.‐‐Report below the monthly price data1 for pricing products2 produced and sold by
your firm.
Report data in actual hundred‐weight and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in hundred-weight, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2A
Product 2B
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value Quantity
Value
Product 2C
Month of shipment
Quantity
Value
2011:
October
November
December
2012:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2013:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2014:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
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 firm’s U.S. point of shipment.
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part IV.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 33
IV‐2a. Pricing data.‐‐Report below the monthly price data1 for pricing products2 produced and sold by
your firm.
Report data in actual hundred‐weight and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in hundred-weight, value in dollars)
Product 3A
Product 3B
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Product 4
Month of shipment
Quantity
Value
2011:
October
November
December
2012:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2013:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2014:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
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 firm’s U.S. point of shipment.
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part IV.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 34
IV‐2a. Pricing data.‐‐Report below the monthly price data1 for pricing products2 produced and sold by
your firm.
Report data in actual hundred‐weight and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in hundred-weight, value in dollars)
Product 5A
Product 5B
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Product 5C
Month of shipment
Quantity
Value
2011:
October
November
December
2012:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2013:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2014:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
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 firm’s U.S. point of shipment.
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part IV.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 35
IV‐2a. Pricing data.‐‐Report below the monthly price data1 for pricing products2 produced and sold by
your firm.
Report data in actual hundred‐weight and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in hundred-weight, value in dollars)
Product 6A
Product 6B
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Product 6C
Month of shipment
Quantity
Value
2011:
October
November
December
2012:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2013:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2014:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
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 firm’s U.S. point of shipment.
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part IV.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 36
Note.‐‐If your firm’s product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with
the specified product, provide a description of your firm’s product. Also, please explain any anomalies
in your firm’s reported pricing data.
Product 1:
Product 2A, 2B, 2C:
Product 3A, 3B:
Product 4:
Product 5A, 5B, 5C:
Product 6A, 6B, 6C:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 37
IV‐2b. Contract data for Products 1.‐‐Report below the contract information for your firm’s contracts
in the October 2011 through September 2014 time period for sales of pricing product 1 of
domestically produced sugar.
(Quantity in hundred‐weight, price in dollar per hundred‐weight)
Product 1
Contract Date
Contract
Quantity
Delivery Period
Delivered
quantity
Net Delivered
Price
Futures
Basis
(Contract
Month)
Point of
shipment
Point of
delivery
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 38
IV‐2c. Contract data for Products 2A.‐‐Report below the contract information for your firm’s contracts
in the October 2011 through September 2014 time period for sales of both pricing product 2A of
domestically produced sugar.
(Quantity in hundred‐weight, price in dollar per hundred‐weight)
Product 2A
Contract Date
Contract
Quantity
Delivery Period
Delivered
quantity
Net Delivered
Price
Futures
Basis
(Contract
Month)
Point of
shipment
Point of
delivery
IV‐2d. Pricing data methodology.—Please describe the method and the kinds of documents/records
that were used to compile your price data.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
IV‐3.
Page 39
Price setting.‐‐
(a)
How does your firm determine the prices that it charges for sales of sugar (check all that
apply)? If your firm issues price lists, please submit sample pages of a recent list.
Transaction
by
transaction
Set
price
lists
Contracts
Other
If other, describe
(b)
If your firm uses futures prices for price setting or hedging purposes, please explain how
these prices are used. Your response should include reference to exchange prices,
hedging costs, transportation costs, import tariffs, and any other relevant factors.
(c)
IV‐4.
Please specify the percentage of your purchases that have prices fixed at time of
purchase %, between the time of purchase and the time of delivery % and
the time of delivery %.
Discount policy.‐‐ Please indicate and describe your firm’s discount policies (check all that
apply).
Quantity
discounts
Annual
total
volume
discounts
IV‐5.
(a)
Describe
What are your firm’s typical sales terms for its U.S.‐produced sugar?
Other
Pricing terms.‐‐
Net 30
days
No
discount
policy
(b)
Net 60
days
2/10 net
30 days
Other
Other (specify)
On what basis are your firm’s prices of domestic sugar usually quoted (check one)?
Delivered
F.o.b.
If f.o.b., specify point
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
IV‐6.
Page 40
Contract versus spot.‐‐Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of its U.S.‐produced sugar
in the 2013/14 crop year was on a (1) long‐term contract basis, (2) annual contract basis, (3) 6
month up to 12 month contract basis, (4) short‐term contract basis, and (5) spot sales basis?
Long‐term
contracts
(multiple
deliveries for
more than 12
months)
Share of
your
2013/2014
crop year
sales
%
Annual
contracts
(multiple
deliveries for
12 months)
%
Type of sale
6‐12 month
contracts
(multiple
deliveries for 6
months up to 12
months)
%
Short‐term
contracts
(multiple
deliveries for
less than 6
months)
%
Spot sales
(for a single
delivery)
(a) Please indicate the percent of your sugar delivered in crop year 2013/14 that was sold:
Sold.‐‐
More than one year prior to harvest (for cane
growers or beet farmers) or production (sugar
mills, beet processors, cane refiners)
%
Between six months and one year prior to harvest
or production
%
Between one week and six months before harvest
or production
%
At the time of, or a week before or a week after
harvest or production
%
More than one week after harvest or production
%
Total (should sum to 100.0%)
Share of crop
year
2013/14
sales
(percent)
0.0
%
Total
(should
sum to
100.0%)
0.0 %
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 41
(b) Please indicate the percentage of your crop year 2013/2014 crop or production that was
sold:
Sold.‐‐
Before June 2013
%
June 2013
%
July 2013
%
August 2013
%
September 2013
%
October 2013
%
November 2013
%
December 2013
%
January 2014
%
February 2014
%
March 2014
%
April 2014
%
May 2014
%
After May 2014
%
Total (should sum to 100.0%)
Share of crop
year 2013/14
production
(percent)
0.0
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
IV‐7.
Page 42
Contract provisions.— Please fill out the table regarding your firm’s typical sales contracts for
sugar (or check “not applicable” if your firm does not sell on a long‐term and/or short‐term
contract basis).
Typical sales
contract provisions
Average contract
duration
Item
Short‐term contracts
(multiple deliveries
for less than 12
months)
Annual contracts
(multiple
deliveries for 12
months)
Long‐term contracts
(multiple deliveries for
more than 12 months)
# of days
365
Price renegotiation
(during contract
period)
Yes
No
Price tied to futures
contract
Yes
No
Quantity
Price
Both
Yes
No
Fixed quantity
and/or price
Meet or release
provision
Not applicable
IV‐8.
Lead times.‐‐What is your firm’s share of sales both from inventory and produced to order and
what is the typical lead time between a customer’s order and the date of delivery for your firm’s
sales of its U.S.‐produced sugar?
Share of
2013/14 crop Lead time (average
year sales
number of days)
Source
From inventory
%
Produced to order
%
Total (should sum to 100.0%)
0.0 %
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
IV‐9.
Page 43
Shipping information.‐‐
(a)
(b)
(c)
What is the approximate percentage of the total delivered cost of sugar that is
accounted for by U.S. inland transportation costs? percent
Who generally arranges the transportation to your firm’s customers’ locations?
Your firm Purchaser (check one)
Indicate the approximate percentage of your firm’s sales of sugar that are delivered the
following distances from its production facility.
Distance from production facility
Share
Within 100 miles
%
101 to 1,000 miles
%
Over 1,000 miles
%
Total (should sum to 100.0%)
0.0 %
V‐10. Geographical shipments.‐‐ In which U.S. geographic market area(s) has your firm sold its U.S.‐
produced sugar since October 1, 2011 (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, and VI, among others.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 44
IV‐11. End uses.‐‐List the end uses of the sugar that your firm manufactures. For each end‐use
product, what percentage of the total cost is accounted for by sugar and other inputs?
Share of total cost of end use product
accounted for by
Sugar
End use product
Other inputs
Total
(should sum to
100.0% across)
%
%
0.0 %
%
%
0.0 %
%
%
0.0 %
IV‐12. Substitutes.‐‐ Can other products be substituted for sugar?
No
Yes‐‐Please fill out the table.
Substitute
End use in which this
substitute is used
Have changes in the prices of this substitute
affected the price for sugar?
No Yes
1.
2.
3.
Explanation
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 45
IV‐13. Demand trends.‐‐ Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for sugar has changed since October 1, 2011. Explain any trends and describe
the principal factors that have affected these changes in demand.
Market
Overall
No
Overall
increase change decrease
Fluctuate
with no
clear trend
Explanation and 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 sugar since October 1, 2011?
No
Yes
If yes, please describe and quantify if possible.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 46
IV‐15. Conditions of competition.‐‐
(a) Is the sugar market subject to business cycles (other than general economy‐wide
conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to sugar? If yes, describe.
Check all that apply.
Please describe.
No
Skip to question IV‐15(c)
Yes‐Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes‐Trends in world sugar
prices relative to U.S.
prices (e.g. whether U.S.
prices are above the loan
rate)
Yes‐Trends in refining
capacity
Yes‐Trends in acreage
planted
Yes‐Trends in usage of
GMO seeds
Yes‐Trends in world’s use
of biofuels
Yes‐Other distinctive
conditions of competition
(e.g. weather, government
policies)
(b) If yes, have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
sugar since October 1, 2011?
No
Yes
If yes, describe.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 47
(c) Please describe your interaction with the U.S. government in the areas of data collection,
monitoring, and information sharing regarding supply and demand in the U.S. sugar
market.
Please answer the following questions based on your firm’s experience.
(d) How does the U.S. government influence U.S. prices for raw and refined sugar?
(e) How does the U.S. government interact with U.S. producers of raw and refined sugar?
IV‐16. Supply constraints.‐‐Has your firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply sugar since
October 1, 2011 (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.
IV‐17. Raw materials.‐‐How have the prices of the raw materials used to produce sugar changed since
October 1, 2011?
Fluctuate
with no
clear Explain, noting how raw material price changes
Overall
No
Overall
trend have affected your firm’s selling prices for sugar.
increase change decrease
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 48
IV‐18. Interchangeability.‐‐Is sugar 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
United States
Mexico
Mexico
All Other Countries
For any country‐pair producing sugar 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. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 49
IV‐19. Factors other than price.‐‐Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between sugar 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
United States
Mexico
Mexico
All Other Countries
For any country‐pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s purchases of sugar, identify the country‐pair and report the advantages or
disadvantages imparted by such factors:
IV‐20. Global sugar prices.—
Please describe the trends in global sugar prices since October 1, 2011. Please attach any data
that your firm has on global sugar prices.
Please describe the relationship between U.S. and global sugar prices, i.e., how are the prices of
U.S. sugar related to global sugar prices?
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 50
IV‐21. Raw sugar, refined sugar, and estandar.‐‐
(a) If you are a sugar refiner or industrial user, can you use raw sugar, estandar, semi‐refined
and/or fully refined sugar interchangeably in one or all of the same applications?
No
Yes
If yes, please describe the specific applications.
(b) If the answer to question IV‐21(a) is yes, please indicate the sugars of different polarities
that you have used interchangeably.
raw sugar and estandar
estandar and semi‐ or fully refined sugar
semi‐refined and fully refined sugar
all types
(c) If you are a sugar refiner or industrial user and when sugar suitable for use in your or your
customers’ application is available from domestic sources, Mexico or a third country, will
you typically pay a premium for sugar from any of these different sources of supply?
No
Yes
If yes, please indicate the source of the sugar for which you will pay a
premium price and the amount of the premium you are typically willing to
pay.
(d) Has the availability of Mexican sugar in the United States had a material impact on the
price of sugar in the U.S. market over the crop years 2011/2012, 2012/2013, and
2013/2014?
No
Yes
If yes, please describe the impact and, in particular, whether Mexican
sugar placed downward pressure on U.S. producer prices.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 51
IV‐22. Customer identification.‐‐List the names and contact information for your firm’s 10 largest U.S.
customers for sugar since October 1, 2011. Indicate the share of the quantity of your firm’s total
shipments of sugar that each of these customers accounted for in crop year 2013/14.
Customer’s name
City
State
Share of 2013/14 crop year
sales (%)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 52
IV‐23. Competition from imports
(a)
Lost revenue.‐‐Since October 1, 2011: To avoid losing sales to competitors selling sugar
from Mexico, did your firm:
No
Yes
Reduce prices
Roll back announced price increases
(b)
Lost sales.‐‐Since October 1, 2011: Did your firm lose sales of sugar to imports of sugar
from Mexico?
No
Yes
(c)
If you indicated “yes” to any of the above, you can provide the Commission with
additional information by downloading and completing the lost sales/lost revenues
worksheet at http://usitc.gov/trade_remedy/question.htm. Note that the Commission
may contact the firms named to verify the allegations reported. Please do not resubmit
allegations provided previously.
Is your firm submitting the lost sales/lost revenues worksheet?
No—Please explain.
Yes—Please complete the worksheet and submit via the Commission dropbox.
https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: SUGAR)
IV‐24. Other explanations.‐‐If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part
IV 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 the data in this section, including but not limited to technical issues with
the MS Word questionnaire.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 53
PART V.‐‐ALTERNATIVE PRODUCT INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Amy Sherman (202‐205‐
3289, amy.sherman@usitc.gov).
V‐1. HFCS Production.‐‐Since October 1, 2011, has your firm produced high fructose corn syrup
(HFCS)?
HFCS.‐‐A sweetener made from corn composed of either 42 percent or 55 percent fructose.
No
Yes‐‐COMPLETE AND RETURN A SEPARATE HFCS PRODUCER QUESTIONNAIRE
All firms (i.e., whether or not producers of HFCS) should respond to the following:
V‐2
Comparability of types of sweetener products.‐‐For each of the following indicate whether
refined sugar and HFCS are: fully comparable or the same, i.e., have no differentiation between
them; mostly comparable or similar; somewhat comparable or similar; never or not‐at‐all
comparable or similar; or no familiarity with products.
(a)
Characteristics and Uses.‐‐ The differences and similarities in the physical
characteristics and end uses between refined sugar and HFCS.
Mostly
Somewhat
Not at all
Fully comparable
comparable
comparable
comparable
NA/no familiarity
Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
characteristics and uses:
(b)
Interchangeability.‐‐The ability to substitute refined sugar and HFCS in the same
application.
Fully
interchangeable
Mostly
interchangeable
Somewhat
interchangeable
Not at all
interchangeable
NA/no
familiarity
Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of
their interchangeability:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
V‐2
Page 54
Comparability of types of sweetener products.‐‐Continued
(c)
Manufacturing facilities, production processes, and production employees.‐‐ Whether
refined sugar and HFCS are manufactured in the same facilities, from the same inputs,
on the same machinery and equipment, and using the same employees.
Fully the same
Mostly the same
Somewhat the
same
Not at all the
same
NA/no familiarity
Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
manufacturing processes:
(d)
Channels of distribution.‐‐ Channels of distribution/market situation through which
refined sugar and HFCS are sold (i.e., sold direct to end users, through distributors,
etc.).
Fully comparable
Mostly
comparable
Somewhat
comparable
Not at all
comparable
NA/no familiarity
Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
channels of distribution:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
V‐2
Page 55
Comparability of types of sweetener products.‐‐Continued
(e)
Customer and producer perceptions.‐‐Perceptions as to the differences and/or
similarities in refined sugar and HFCS in the market (e.g., sales/marketing practices).
Fully comparable
Mostly
comparable
Somewhat
comparable
Not at all
comparable
NA/no familiarity
Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
customer and producer perceptions:
(f)
Price.‐‐Whether prices are comparable or differ between refined sugar and HFCS.
Fully comparable
Mostly
comparable
Somewhat
comparable
Not at all
comparable
NA/no familiarity
Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
prices:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire – Sugar
Page 56
HOW TO FILE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the Commission’s
website at: http://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2014/sugar_mexico/final.htm.
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the questionnaire
document. Please submit the completed questionnaire using one of the methods
noted below. If your firm is unable to complete the MS Word questionnaire or
cannot use one of the electronic methods of submission, please contact the
Commission for further instructions.
• Upload via Secure Drop Box.—Upload the MS Word questionnaire along with a scanned copy
of the signed certification page (page 1) through the Commission’s secure upload facility:
Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/ Pin: SUGAR
• E‐mail.—E‐mail your questionnaire to amy.sherman@usitc.gov; include a scanned copy of the
signed certification page (page 1). Please note that submitting your questionnaire by e‐mail may
subject your firm’s business proprietary information to transmission over an unsecure
environment and to possible disclosure. If you choose this option, the Commission warns you
that any risk involving possible disclosure of such information is assumed by the submitter and
not by the Commission.
If your firm does not produce this product, please fill out page 1, print, sign, and submit a
scanned copy to the Commission.
Parties to this proceeding.—If your firm is a party to this proceeding, you are required to serve
a copy of the completed questionnaire on parties to the proceeding that are subject to
administrative protective order (see 19 CFR '207.7). A list of such parties may be obtained from
the Commission’s Secretary (202‐205‐1803). A certificate of service must accompany the
completed questionnaire you submit (see 19 CFR '207.7). Service of the questionnaire must be
made in paper form.
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Title | Microsoft Word - Sugar (F) US Producer Questionnaire |
| Author | amy.sherman |
| File Modified | 2015-01-08 |
| File Created | 2015-01-08 |