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pdfOMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 15-4-3411; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
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FOREIGN PRODUCERS’/EXPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
SILICOMANGANESE FROM AUSTRALIA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by December 11, 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 antidumping investigation concerning silicomanganese from Australia (Inv. No. 731-TA-1269
(Final)). The information requested in the questionnaire is requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of
1930, title VII.
Name of firm
Address
Website
Has your firm produced or exported silicomanganese (as defined on next page) at any time since January 1,
2012?
Data reported in this questionnaire relate to:
Australia
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 Commission Drop Box by clicking on the following
link: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: SIMN)
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
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Silicomanganese
Page 2
PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background. This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on February 19, 2015, by
Felman Production LLC, Letart, West Virginia. 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 dumping. Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this proceeding are
available at http://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2015/silicomanganese_australia/final.htm.
Silicomanganese. The scope of this investigation covers all forms, sizes and compositions of
silicomanganese, except low-carbon silicomanganese, including silicomanganese briquettes, fines, and
slag. Silicomanganese is a ferroalloy composed principally of manganese, silicon, and iron, and normally
contains much smaller proportions of minor elements, such as carbon, phosphorus, and sulfur.
Silicomanganese is sometimes referred to as ferrosilicon manganese. Silicomanganese generally
contains by weight not less than 4 percent iron, more than 30 percent manganese, more than 8 percent
silicon and not more than 0.2 percent phosphorus. Silicomanganese is properly classifiable under
subheading 7202.30.0000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”).
Low-carbon silicomanganese is excluded from the scope of this investigation. It is sometimes referred to
as ferromanganese-silicon. The low-carbon silicomanganese excluded from this investigation is a
ferroalloy with the following chemical specifications by weight: minimum 55 percent manganese,
minimum 27 percent silicon, minimum 4 percent iron, maximum 0.10 percent phosphorus, maximum
0.10 percent carbon, and maximum 0.05 percent sulfur. Low-carbon silicomanganese is classifiable
under HTSUS subheading 7202.30.0000. The HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and
customs purposes. The written description of the scope is dispositive.
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,
purchaser and/or foreign producer 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.
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Silicomanganese
Page 3
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.
I-1.
OMB statistics.--Please report below the actual number of hours required and the cost to your
firm of completing this questionnaire.
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
25 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.
I-2.
Establishments covered.--Provide the name and address of establishment(s) covered by this
questionnaire. If your firm is publicly traded, please specify the stock exchange and trading
symbol.
“Establishment”-- Each facility of a firm in Australia involved in the production or export of
silicomanganese, including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not
physically separate from) such facilities. Firms operating more than one establishment in
Australia should combine the data for all establishments into a single report.
I-3.
Related U.S. producers.--Does your firm or any related firm produce, have the capability to
produce, or have any plans to produce silicomanganese in the United States or other countries?
No
Yes--Please name the firm(s) and country(ies) below and, if U.S. producer(s),
ensure that they complete the Commission’s producer questionnaire.
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Silicomanganese
I-4.
Related U.S. importers.--Does your firm or any related firm import or have any plans to import
silicomanganese into the United States?
No
I-5.
2
3
4
5
Yes--Please name the firm(s) below and ensure that they complete the
Commission’s importer questionnaire.
U.S. importers.--Please provide the names, street addresses (not P.O. boxes), contacts,
telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of the FIVE largest U.S. importers of your firm’s
silicomanganese in 2014.
Importer’s name
1
Page 4
Contact
person
Email
Telephone
Street address (not
P.O. box), city, state,
and zip code
Street Address
,
City State Zip Code
Street Address
,
City State Zip Code
Street Address
,
City State Zip Code
Street Address
,
City State Zip Code
Street Address
,
City State Zip Code
Share of
your
firm’s
2014 U.S.
exports
(%)
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Silicomanganese
Page 5
PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Michael Szustakowski (202205-3169, mgs@usitc.gov). Supply all data requested on a calendar-year basis.
II-1.
Contact information.-- Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which
Commission staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted
in part II.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Fax
II-2.
Changes in operations.--Please indicate whether your firm has experienced any of the following
changes in relation to the production of silicomanganese since January 1, 2012. Please include
as an attachment to this questionnaire any contemporary business records (e.g., marketing
plans, business plans, management reports, presentations) documenting the reasons for any of
the following changes in operations.
(check as many as appropriate)
plant openings
plant closings
relocations
expansions
acquisitions
consolidations
prolonged shutdowns or
production curtailments
revised labor agreements
other (e.g., technology)
(please describe)
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Silicomanganese
Page 6
Anticipated changes in operations.--Does your firm anticipate any changes in the character of
its operations or organization (as noted above) relating to the production of silicomanganese in
the future?
II-3.
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 the response a specific projection of your firm’s
capacity to produce silicomanganese (in short tons) for 2015 and
2016.
Product shifting.--Please provide answers to each of the following questions relating to your
firm’s ability to shift production between silicomanganese and other products.
II-4.
(a)
In relation to furnaces not dedicated 100 percent to the production of silicomanganese,
please provide the following information on the other products produced in those
furnaces (if more than four products, list the largest).
Product(s)
Costs and timeframes involved in switching
production to/from SiMn
Est. share of furnace
fleet’s production time
dedicated to product1
(share)
1. Ferromanganese
2.
3.
4.
1
Provide an estimated share that represents how much of the annual average total production
hours of all of your firm’s furnaces relates to the production of the listed product in a given year. For
example, report 25 percent of ferromanganese if in a year 500 hours are dedicated to ferromanganese
and 1500 hours are dedicated to silicomanganese.
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Silicomanganese
Page 7
II-4. Product shifting.--Continued
Additional discussion:
(b)
In relation to those furnaces dedicated 100 percent to the production of
silicomanganese since January 1, 2012, could these furnaces be converted to the
production of products other than silicomanganese?
No
(c)
Yes.--And at what cost/time constraint?
Does your firm own or operate furnaces not reported in question II-4 at all (i.e., not
involved in silicomanganese production during the period) that could be converted to
the production of silicomanganese?
No
Yes.--And at what cost/time constraint?
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Silicomanganese
II-5a.
Page 8
Production capacity using same machinery.-- Please report your firm’s production capacity of
products made on the same equipment and machinery used to produce silicomanganese, and
the combined production capacity on this shared equipment and machinery in the periods
indicated.
“Average production capacity” or “capacity” – The level of production that your
establishment(s) could reasonably have expected to attain during the specified periods. Assume
normal operating conditions (i.e., using equipment and machinery in place and ready to
operate; normal operating levels (hours per week/weeks per year) and time for downtime,
maintenance, repair, and cleanup; and a typical or representative product mix). In other words,
capacity dedicated to specific products.
“Overall production capacity” or “capacity” – The level of production that your
establishment(s) could reasonably have expected to attain during the specified periods. Assume
normal operating conditions (i.e., using equipment and machinery in place and ready to
operate; normal operating levels (hours per week/weeks per year) and time for downtime,
maintenance, repair, and cleanup). In other words, capacity for the overall furance's productive
operations in a period. Overall prodcution capacity is the sum of the average production
capacities reported for the individual products produced on the same machinery as
silicomaganese.
First define each of the individual furances your firm used to produce silicomanganese since
January 2012. Then reporte the average production capacity for those those furances in the
specified periods.
Label
Furance A
Furance B
Furance C
Furance D
Short name
Description
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Silicomanganese
Page 9
Production capacity using same machinery.—Continued
II-5a.
(Quantity in short tons)
Calendar years
Item
2012
2013
January-September
2014
2014
2015
CAPACITY DATA ONLY
Average silicomanganese
(SiMn) production capacity
Furnace A
Furnace B
Furnace C
Furnace D
Average production
1
capacity for "SiMn"
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Furnace B
0
0
0
0
0
Furnace C
0
0
0
0
0
Furnace D
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Average other products
1
production capacity
Furnace A
Furnace B
Furnace C
Furnace D
Average production
capacity for "other
products"
Overall production capacity
Furnace A
Overall production
capacity
1
2
Data reported here on a furnace by furnace basis will populate into question II-12.
Please identify these products:
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Silicomanganese
Page 10
Production capacity using same machinery.--Continued
II-5b.
“Production” – All production in your U.S. establishment(s) of products made on the same
equipment and machinery used to produce silicomanganese, including production consumed
internally within your firm and production for another firm under a toll agreement.
Calendar years
Item
2012
2013
January-September
2014
2014
2015
Capacity (in short tons)
Overall production
capacity1
0
0
0
0
0
Production (in short tons)
Production of:
Silicomanganese2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Ferromanganese
Other products
Total3
1
Data reported on overall production capacity will populate here once reported in question II-5a.
Production of silicomanganese will populate here once reported in question II-12.
3
Please ensure that total production (reported here) on the machinery and equipment used to produce
silicomanganese does not exceed the overall production capacity.
2
II-5c.
Operating parameters.--The production capacity reported in II-5a is based on operating
per week,
weeks per year.
II-5d.
Capacity calculation.--Please describe the methodology used to calculate overall production
capacity reported in II-5a, and explain any changes in reported capacity.
II-5e.
Production constraints.--Please describe the constraint(s) that set the limit(s) on your firm’s
production capacity.
hours
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Silicomanganese
II-6.
Event
Event 1
Event 2
Event 3
Event 4
Event 5
Event 6
Event 7
Event 8
Event 9
Event 10
Event 11
Event 12
Event 13
Event 14
Event 15
Event 16
Page 11
Furnace availability.—If your firm idled or ceased producing silicomanganese on any of its furnaces
for any reason, please specify below, for each furnace, the period(s) it was offline and the amount of
affected capacity.
Furnace affected
Period(s) offline
(day/month/year day/month/year)
Reason(s) for being
offline
Quantity of unused
SiMn capacity
(short tons)
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Silicomanganese
Page 12
II-7.
Share of sales.--What percentage of your firm’s total sales in its most recent fiscal year was
represented by sales of silicomanganese?
percent
II-8.
Firm's estimated share of production in Australia.--Please estimate the percentage of total
production of silicomanganese in the country specified on the certification page accounted for by
your firm’s production in 2014.
percent
II-9.
Firm's estimated share of country's exports.--Please estimate the percentage of total exports to
the United States of silicomanganese from the country specified on the certification page
accounted for by your firm’s exports in 2014.
percent
II-10.
Inventories in the United States.--Has your firm, since 2012, maintained any inventories of
silicomanganese in the United States (not including inventories held by firms identified in
question I-3)?
“Inventories”--Finished goods inventory, not raw materials or work in progress.
No
Yes--Report the quantity of such end-of-period inventories below.
Quantity (in short tons)
Calendar year
Item
2012
2013
January-September
2014
2014
Inventory
II-11.
Third country trade actions.--Is the silicomanganese exported by your firm subject to
antidumping/countervailing duty/safeguard findings, remedies, or proceedings?
No
Yes--List the products(s), countries affected, and the date of such
findings/remedies/proceedings.
2015
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Silicomanganese
II-12.
Page 13
Trade data.--Report your firm’s production capacity, production, shipments, and inventories
related to the production of silicomanganese in your establishment(s) in Australia during the
specified periods.
Do not submit data by manufacturing facility if they are in the same country. If your firm has
multiple manufacturing establishments within one country, you are required to combine data
for those establishments within one foreign producer questionnaire response.
Do not submit data on multiple countries combined. The establishments reported here should
all be located in the country of the firm’s address reported on the certification page.
Multinational companies with production in multiple subject countries should submit separate
foreign producer questionnaire responses for each subject country.
“Shipments”--Shipments of products produced in your establishment(s) in Australia. Quantities
reported should be net of returns.
“Home market commercial shipments”--Shipments, other than internal consumption and
transfers to related firms, within Australia.
“Home market internal consumption/transfers to related firms”--Shipments made to
related firms in Australia, including product consumed internally by your firm.
“Export shipments”--Shipments to destinations outside Australia, including shipments
to related firms.
“Inventories”--Finished goods inventory, not raw materials or work-in-progress.
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Silicomanganese
II-12.
Page 14
Trade data--Continued.
Quantity (in short tons)
Projections1
Actual experience
Calendar year
Item
2012
2013
January-September
2014
2014
2015
Calendar year
2015
2016
2
Average production capacity (A)
Beginning-of-period inventories
(B)
Production (C)
Home market shipments:
Internal consumption/
transfers (D)
Commercial shipments (E)
Exports to the United States (F)
Exports to all other markets3 (G)
Total exports (H)
(should equal F+G)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total shipments (I)
(should equal D+E+F+G)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
End-of-period inventories (J)
1
Please explain the basis for your firm’s projections.
.
The production capacity 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.
.
3
Identify principal other export markets.
.
2
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Silicomanganese
II-12.
Page 15
Trade data.—Continued.
RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, PRODUCTION, AND INVENTORY.--Generally, the data reported
for the end-of-period inventories (i.e., line J) should be equal to the beginning-of-period
inventories (i.e., line B), plus production (i.e., line C), less total shipments (i.e., lines D, E, F, and
G). 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.
Actual experience
JanuarySeptember
Calendar year
Item
2012
2013
Projections
2014
2014
2015
Calendar year
2015
2016
B + C – D – E – F –G – J =
should equal zero ("0")
or provide an
explanation.1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are
nonetheless accurate.
II-13.
0
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
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Silicomanganese
Page 16
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/title_7/2015/silicomanganese_australia/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: SIMN
• E-mail.—E-mail your questionnaire to mgs@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 did not produce or export 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 | Foreign producer questionnaire |
| Subject | Title 7 investigations |
| Author | Martinez, Keysha |
| File Modified | 2015-10-29 |
| File Created | 2015-10-29 |