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pdfOMB No. 3117‐0016/USITC No. 16‐1‐3499; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
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U.S. PRODUCERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
HOT‐ROLLED STEEL FLAT PRODUCTS
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by June 9, 2016
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 and countervailing duty investigations concerning hot‐rolled steel flat products from
Australia, Brazil, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Kingdom (Inv. Nos. 701‐TA‐545‐547 and 731‐TA‐
1291‐1297 (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 hot‐rolled steel (as defined on next page) at any time since January 1, 2013?
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: HRS)
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, the undersigned, acknowledge that information submitted in response to this request for information and throughout this
investigation or other proceeding may be disclosed to and used:
(i) by the Commission, its employees and Offices, and contract personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the records of this or a
related proceeding, or (b) in internal investigations, audits, reviews, and evaluations relating to the programs, personnel, and
operations of the Commission including under 5 U.S.C. Appendix 3; or
(ii) by U.S. government employees and contract personnel, solely for cybersecurity purposes. I understand that all contract
personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements
Name of Authorized Official Title of Authorized Official
Date
Phone:
Signature
Fax:
Email address
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 2
PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.‐‐This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on August 11, 2015, by AK
Steel Corporation (West Chester, Ohio), ArcelorMittal USA LLC (Chicago, Illinois), Nucor Corporation
(Charlotte, North Carolina), SSAB Enterprises, LLC (Lisle, Illinois), Steel Dynamics, Inc. (Fort Wayne,
Indiana), and United States Steel Corporation (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). Antidumping and
countervailing 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://wwwadmin.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2016/hot_rolled_steel_flat_products_australia_braz
il/final.htm
Hot‐Rolled Steel.‐‐ The products covered by these investigations are certain hot‐rolled, flat‐rolled steel
products, with or without patterns in relief, and whether or not annealed, painted, varnished, or coated
with plastics or other non‐metallic substances. The products covered do not include those that are clad,
plated, or coated with metal. The products covered include coils that have a width or other lateral
measurement (‘‘width’’) of 12.7 mm or greater, regardless of thickness, and regardless of form of coil
e.g., in successively superimposed layers, spirally oscillating, etc.). The products covered also include
products not in coils (e.g., in straight lengths) of a thickness of less than 4.75 mm and a width that is 12.7
mm or greater and that measures at least 10 times the thickness. The products described above may be
rectangular, square, circular, or other shape and include products of either rectangular or non‐
rectangular cross‐section where such cross‐section is achieve subsequent to the rolling process, i.e.,
products which have been ‘‘worked after rolling’’ (e.g., products which have been beveled or rounded at
the edges).
For purposes of the width and thickness requirements referenced above:
(1) Where the nominal and actual measurements vary, a product is within the scope if application of
either the nominal or actual measurement would place it within the scope based on the definitions set
forth above unless the resulting measurement makes the product covered by the existing antidumping1
or countervailing duty2 orders on Certain Cut‐To‐Length Carbon‐Quality Steel Plate Products From the
Republic of Korea (A–580–836; C–580–837), and
(2) where the width and thickness vary for a specific product (e.g., the thickness of certain products with
non‐rectangular crosssection, the width of certain products with non‐rectangular shape, etc.), the
measurement at its greatest width or thickness applies.
Steel products included in the scope of this investigation are products in which: (1) Iron predominates,
by weight, over each of the other contained elements; (2) the carbon content is 2 percent or less, by
1
Notice of Amendment of Final Determinations of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Antidumping Duty
Orders: Certain Cut‐To‐Length Carbon‐Quality Steel Plate Products From France, India, Indonesia, Italy,
Japan and the Republic of Korea, 65 FR 6585 (February 10, 2000).
2
Notice of Amended Final Determinations: Certain Cut‐to‐Length Carbon‐Quality Steel Plate From India
and the Republic of Korea; and Notice of Countervailing Duty Orders: Certain Cut‐To‐Length Carbon‐
Quality Steel Plate From France, India, Indonesia, Italy, and the Republic of Korea, 65 FR 6587 (February
10, 2000).
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 3
weight; and (3) none of the elements listed below exceeds the quantity, by weight, respectively
indicated:
• 2.50 percent of manganese, or
• 3.30 percent of silicon, or
• 1.50 percent of copper, or
• 1.50 percent of aluminum, or
• 1.25 percent of chromium, or
• 0.30 percent of cobalt, or
• 0.40 percent of lead, or
• 2.00 percent of nickel, or
• 0.30 percent of tungsten, or
• 0.80 percent of molybdenum, or
• 0.10 percent of niobium, or
• 0.30 percent of vanadium, or
• 0.30 percent of zirconium.
Unless specifically excluded, products are included in this scope regardless of levels of boron and
titanium.
For example, specifically included in this scope are vacuum degassed, fully stabilized (commonly
referred to as interstitial‐free (IF)) steels, high strength low alloy (HSLA) steels, the substrate for motor
lamination steels, Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS), and Ultra High Strength Steels (UHSS). IF steels
are recognized as low carbon steels with micro‐alloying levels of elements such as titanium and/or
niobium added to stabilize carbon and nitrogen elements. HSLA steels are recognized as steels with
micro‐alloying levels of elements such as chromium, copper, niobium, titanium, vanadium, and
molybdenum. The substrate for motor lamination steels contains micro‐alloying levels of elements such
as silicon and aluminum. AHSS and UHSS are considered high tensile strength and high elongation steels,
although AHSS and UHSS are covered whether or not they are high tensile strength or high elongation
steels.
Subject merchandise includes hot‐rolled steel that has been further processed in a third country,
including but not limited to pickling, oiling, levelling, annealing, tempering, temper rolling, skin passing,
painting, varnishing, trimming, cutting, punching, and/or slitting, or any other processing that would not
otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in the country of
manufacture of the hot‐rolled steel.
All products that meet the written physical description, and in which the chemistry quantities do not
exceed any one of the noted element levels listed above, are within the scope of this investigation
unless specifically excluded. The following products are outside of and/or specifically excluded from the
scope of this investigation:
The following products are outside of and/or specifically excluded from the scope of these
investigations:
Universal mill plates (i.e., hot‐rolled, flat‐rolled products not in coils that have been rolled on
four faces or in a closed box pass, of a width exceeding 150 mm but not exceeding 1250 mm, of
a thickness not less than 4.0 mm, and without patterns in relief);
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 4
Products that have been cold‐rolled (cold‐reduced) after hot‐rolling;3
Ball bearing steels;4
Tool steels;5 and
Silico‐manganese steels;6
The products subject to this investigation are currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
the United States (HTSUS) under item numbers: 7208.10.1500, 7208.10.3000, 7208.10.6000,
7208.25.3000, 7208.25.6000, 7208.26.0030, 7208.26.0060, 7208.27.0030, 7208.27.0060, 7208.36.0030,
7208.36.0060, 7208.37.0030, 7208.37.0060, 7208.38.0015, 7208.38.0030, 7208.38.0090, 7208.39.0015,
7208.39.0030, 7208.39.0090, 7208.40.6030, 7208.40.6060, 7208.53.0000, 7208.54.0000, 7208.90.0000,
7210.70.3000, 7211.14.0030, 7211.14.0090, 7211.19.1500, 7211.19.2000, 7211.19.3000, 7211.19.4500,
7211.19.6000, 7211.19.7530, 7211.19.7560, 7211.19.7590, 7225.11.0000, 7225.19.0000, 7225.30.3050,
7225.30.7000, 7225.40.7000, 7225.99.0090, 7226.11.1000, 7226.11.9030, 7226.11.9060, 7226.19.1000,
7226.19.9000, 7226.91.5000, 7226.91.7000, and 7226.91.8000. The products subject to the
investigation may also enter under the following HTSUS numbers: 7210.90.9000, 7211.90.0000,
7212.40.1000, 7212.40.5000, 7212.50.0000, 7214.91.0015, 7214.91.0060, 7214.91.0090, 7214.99.0060,
7214.99.0075, 7214.99.0090, 7215.90.5000, 7226.99.0180, and 7228.60.6000.The HTSUS subheadings
above are provided for convenience and U.S. Customs purposes only. The written description of the
scope of the investigation is dispositive.
Certain alloy hot‐rolled steel products (“Alloy hot‐rolled steel” or “Alloy within scope hot‐rolled
steel”).‐‐Alloy hot‐rolled steel, a subset of hot‐rolled steel, in which: (1) iron predominates by weight,
over each of the other contained elements; (2) the carbon content is 2 percent or less, by weight; and (3)
one or more of the elements listed below is present in the quantity, by weight, respectively indicated:
• 0.30 ‐ 1.50 percent of aluminum,
• 0.0008 – unlimited percent of boron,
• 0.40 – 1.50 percent of copper,
3
For purposes of this scope exclusion, rolling operations such as a skin pass, levelling, temper rolling or
other minor rolling operations after the hot‐rolling process for purposes of surface finish, flatness, shape
control, or gauge control do not constitute cold‐rolling sufficient to meet this exclusion.
4
Ball bearing steels are defined as steels which contain, in addition to iron, each of the following
elements by weight in the amount specified: (i) Not less than 0.95 nor more than 1.13 percent of
carbon; (ii) not less than 0.22 nor more than 0.48 percent of manganese; (iii) none, or not more than
0.03 percent of sulfur; (iv) none, or not more than 0.03 percent of phosphorus; (v) not less than 0.18
nor more than 0.37 percent of silicon; (vi) not less than 1.25 nor more than 1.65 percent of chromium;
(vii) none, or not more than 0.28 percent of nickel; (viii) none, or not more than 0.38 percent of copper;
and (ix) none, or not more than 0.09 percent of molybdenum.
5
Tool steels are defined as steels which contain the following combinations of elements in the quantity
by weight respectively indicated: (i) More than 1.2 percent carbon and more than 10.5 percent
chromium; or (ii) not less than 0.3 percent carbon and 1.25 percent or more but less than 10.5 percent
chromium; or (iii) not less than 0.85 percent carbon and 1 percent to 1.8 percent, inclusive, manganese;
or (iv) 0.9 percent to 1.2 percent, inclusive, chromium and 0.9 percent to 1.4 percent, inclusive,
molybdenum; or (v) not less than 0.5 percent carbon and not less than 3.5 percent molybdenum; or (vi)
not less than 0.5 percent carbon and not less than 5.5 percent tungsten.
6
Silico‐manganese steel is defined as steels containing by weight: (i) Not more than 0.7 percent of
carbon; (ii) 0.5 percent or more but not more than 1.9 percent of manganese, and (iii) 0.6 percent or
more but not more than 2.3 percent of silicon.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 5
• 0.30 ‐ 1.25 percent of chromium,
• 1.65 – 2.50 percent of manganese,
• 0.08 – 0.80 percent of molybdenum,
• 0.30 ‐ 2.00 percent of nickel,
• 0.06 – 0.10 percent of niobium (also called columbium),
• 0.60 – 3.30 percent of silicon,
• 0.05 – unlimited percent of titanium,
• 0.10 – 0.30 percent of vanadium,
• 0.05 – 0.30 percent of zirconium.
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 ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
I‐1a.
Page 6
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
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.
I‐1b. 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?
No
Yes
I‐2.
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 engaged in the production of hot‐rolled steel, including
auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate from) such
facilities.
Establishments
City, State
Zip (5 digit)
Description
covered1
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
Additional discussion on establishments consolidated in this questionnaire: .
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
I‐3.
Page 7
Petition support.‐‐Does your firm support or oppose the petition?
Country
Support
Oppose
Take no position
Australia (Antidumping)
Brazil (Antidumping)
Brazil (Countervailing)
Japan (Antidumping)
Korea (Antidumping)
Korea (Countervailing)
The Netherlands (Antidumping)
Turkey (Antidumping)
Turkey (Countervailing)
The United Kingdom (Antidumping)
I‐4.
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)
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
I‐5.
I‐6.
Page 8
Related importers/exporters.‐‐Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, that are engaged in importing hot‐rolled steel from Australia, Brazil, Japan, Korea, the
Netherlands, Turkey, or the United Kingdom into the United States or that are engaged in
exporting hot‐rolled steel from Australia, Brazil, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey, or the
United Kingdom to the United States?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
Address
Affiliation
Related producers.‐‐Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that are
engaged in the production of hot‐rolled steel?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
Address
Affiliation
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 9
PART II.‐‐TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Justin Enck (202‐205‐3363,
Justin.enck@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 hot‐rolled steel since January 1, 2013.
(check as many as appropriate)
(please describe, including the time period and volume
affected)
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 ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 10
II‐3a. Production using same machinery.‐‐ Please report your firm’s production of products made on
the same equipment and machinery used to produce hot‐rolled steel, and the combined
production capacity on this shared equipment and machinery in the periods indicated.
“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).
“Production” – All production in your U.S. establishment(s), including production consumed
internally within your firm and production for another firm under a toll agreement.
Quantity (in short tons)
Calendar years
Item
Overall production capacity
Production of:
Hot‐rolled steel1
2
Other products
Total
1
2
2013
2014
January‐March
2015
2015
2016
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Data entered for production of hot‐rolled steel will populate here once reported in question II‐7.
Please identify these products: .
II‐3b. Operating parameters.‐‐The production capacity reported in II‐3a is based on operating hours
per week, weeks per year.
II‐3c. Capacity calculation.‐‐Please describe the methodology used to calculate overall production
capacity reported in II‐3a, and explain any changes in reported capacity.
II‐3d. Production constraints.‐‐Please describe the constraint(s) that set the limit(s) on your firm’s
production capacity.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 11
II‐3e. Product shifting.—
(i)
Is your firm able to switch production (capacity) between hot‐rolled steel and other
products using the same equipment and/or labor?
No
Yes‐‐ (i.e., have produced other products or are able to produce other
products). Please identify other actual or potential products: .
(ii)
Please describe the factors that affect your firm’s ability to shift production capacity
between products (e.g., time, cost, relative price change, etc.), and the degree to which
these factors enhance or constrain such shifts.
II‐4.
Tolling.‐‐Since January 1, 2013, has your firm been involved in a toll agreement regarding the
production of hot‐rolled steel?
“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
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
II‐5.
Page 12
Foreign trade zones.‐‐
(a)
Firm's FTZ operations.‐‐Does your firm produce hot‐rolled steel in and/or admit hot‐
rolled steel 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 hot‐rolled steel into a foreign trade zone (FTZ) for use in distribution of hot‐
rolled steel and/or the production of downstream articles?
No/Don’t know
Yes‐‐Identify the firms and the FTZs.
II‐6.
Importer.‐‐Since January 1, 2013, has your firm imported hot‐rolled steel?
“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 ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
II‐7.
Page 13
Production, shipment and inventory data.‐‐Report your firm’s production capacity, production,
shipments, and inventories related to the production of hot‐rolled steel in its U.S.
establishment(s) during the specified periods.
“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).
“Production” – All production in your U.S. establishment(s), including production consumed
internally within your firm and production for another firm under a toll agreement.
“U.S. commercial 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.
Note: As requested in Part I of this questionnaire, please keep all supporting documents/records
used in the preparation of the trade data, as Commission staff may contact your firm regarding
questions on the trade data. The Commission may also request that your company submit copies
of the supporting documents/records (such as production and sales schedules, inventory records,
etc.) used to compile these data.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
II‐7.
Page 14
Production, shipment and inventory data.‐‐
Quantity (in short tons) and value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item
2013
2014
1
Average production capacity (quantity) (A)
Beginning‐of‐period inventories (quantity)
(B)
January‐March
2015
2015
Production (quantity) (C)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (D)2
Value (E)
Internal consumption:
Quantity (F)
3
Value (G)
Transfers to related firms:
Quantity (H)
3
Value (I)
2016
4
Export shipments:
Quantity (J)
Value (K)
4
End‐of‐period inventories (quantity) (L)
1
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 .
2
Of your data reported for U.S. commercial shipments in 2015 above, please indicate the quantity (in short tons) your
firm sold in 2015 that was:
3
Grade X‐70 hot‐rolled coil in thicknesses over 0.625”: short tons.
Hot‐rolled coil with a tensile strength of 585 Mega Pascal to 779 Mega Pascal, used for automotive parts: short
tons.
Hot‐rolled coil with a tensile strength of 780 Mega Pascal or more, used for automotive parts: short tons.
High Strength Low Alloy Steel with minimum 50 ksi yield strength, greater than 0.500” in thickness and/or greater than
72” wide: short tons.
Steel with 100 ksi yield strength, greater than 65” wide and/or greater than 0.375” thickness: short tons.
Steel with 100 ksi yield strength, up to and including 0.375” thickness with Charpy impact value of at least 20 ft/lb at
minus 40 degrees F in transverse test direction: short tons.
High Strength Low Alloy grade 70 steel, thin gauge (maximum 0.078”) meeting gauge tolerances not greater than
0.004“ total through the entire coil (head to tail): short tons.
Battery Quality Hot Band – Hot‐rolled, continuously cast steel sheet in coil suitable for further processing and the
ultimate manufacture of battery cans. The steel shall be ultra‐clean, with individual particles of non‐metallic
inclusions not greater than 1 micron (0.000039”) and clusters or groups of non‐metallics not exceeding 5 microns
(0.000197”) in length. Scale shall be completely removable by hydrochloric acid pickling, the resulting surfaces being
free of digs, scratches, pits, gouges and slivers. The steel shall have a low crown, with a symmetrical profile of 0.0020”
maximum: short tons.
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: .
4
Identify your firm’s principal export markets: .
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 15
RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, PRODUCTION, AND INVENTORY.‐‐Generally, the data reported for the
end‐of‐period inventories (i.e., line L) 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, F, H, and J). 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.
Calendar years
Reconciliation
B + C – D – F – H – J – L = should equal
zero ("0") or provide an explanation.1
1
2013
2014
0
January‐March
2015
0
2015
0
2016
0
Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are nonetheless accurate: .
0
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
II‐8.
Page 16
Channels of distribution.‐‐ Report your firm’s commercial U.S. shipments by channel of
distribution.
Quantity (in short tons) and value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item
2013
Channels of distribution:
Commercial U.S. shipments:
To steel service centers
and/or distributors (quantity)
(M)1
To end users (quantity) (N)
2
2014
January‐March
2015
2015
2016
1
In 2015, what estimated share of your firm's reported commercial shipments to steel service centers and/or distributors
were in the following likely end use applications:
Share of total
Distributor/service center likely end use
(percent)
Tubular goods producers
Automotive and other transportation equipment
manufacturers
Construction/structural applications
Appliances, machinery and parts
Other end uses/unknown
Total (should sum to 100.0 percent)
0.0
Identify the other end uses: .
2
Please estimate the share of your firm’s U.S. commercial shipments to end users in 2015 that were for the following end‐
use applications:
Share of total
End user likely end use
(percent)
Tubular goods producers
Automotive and other transportation equipment
manufacturers
Construction/structural applications
Appliances, machinery and parts
Other end uses/unknown
Total (should sum to 100.0 percent)
0.0
Identify the other end uses: .
Calendar years
Reconciliation
M + N – D = zero ("0"), if not revise.
2013
2014
0
January‐March
2015
0
2015
0
0
2016
0
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
II‐9.
Page 17
Employment data.‐‐Report your firm’s employment‐related data related to the production of
hot‐rolled steel 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. For the January to March periods, calculate similarly and divide by 3.
“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.
Calendar years
Item
2013
2014
January‐March
2015
2015
2016
Average number of PRWs
(number)
Hours worked by PRWs
(1,000 hours)
Wages paid to PRWs ($1,000)
Explanation of trends:
II‐10. Related firms.‐‐If your firm reported transfers to related firms in question II‐8, please indicate
the nature of the relationship between your firm and the related firms (e.g., joint venture,
wholly owned subsidiary), whether the transfers were priced at market value or by a non‐
market formula, whether your firm retained marketing rights to all transfers, and whether the
related firms also processed inputs from sources other than your firm.
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 18
II‐11. Purchases.‐‐Other than direct imports, has your firm otherwise purchased hot‐rolled steel since
January 1, 2013?
“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, exporter, or selling agent 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 short tons)
Calendar years
Item
Purchases from U.S.
importers1 of hot‐rolled steel
from—
Australia
2013
2014
January‐March
2015
2015
2016
Brazil
Japan
Korea
The Netherlands
Turkey
The United Kingdom
Canada (nonsubject)
All other sources
Purchases from domestic
producers2
Purchases from other
sources2
1
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 U.S. distributor(s) from which your firm purchased this product:
.
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
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II‐12. Captive production use.—Please report the share of your firm’s 2015 internal consumption
and/or transfers to related firms, for the uses identified below. These data should reconcile with the
2015 quantities reported in question II‐7 (lines F+H).
Internal consumption
Transfers to related firms
2015
2015
Products
(short tons)
(short tons)
Sold as hot‐rolled steel
N/A
1
Unusable/not further processed
Hot‐rolled plate (cut to length plate from
coil‐4.75 mm and greater in thickness)
Pipe and tubular products
Cold‐rolled sheet and strip
Coated steel
Tin mill products
2
Processed into other products
Total
0
0
1
Please describe these products:
2
Please identify these products:
.
.
RECONCILIATION OF INTERNAL CONSUMPTION. TRANSFERS, AND U.S. COMMERCIAL SHIPMENTS.—The
sum of the data reported above should be equal to the 2015 data reported for internal consumption,
transfers, and U.S. commercial shipments. Please ensure that the reconciliation checks below are
returning zero ("0")
Calendar years
Reconciliation
Internal consumption (line F in II‐7) reconcilation
2013
2014
2015
0
Transfers to related parties (line H in II‐7)
reconcilation
0
II‐13. 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.
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 20
PART III.‐‐FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Address questions on this part of the questionnaire to David Boyland (202‐708‐4725,
David.Boyland@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
below:
B.1. Describe the lowest level of operations (e.g., plant, division, company‐wide) for
which financial statements are prepared that include hot‐rolled steel:
2. Does your firm prepare profit/loss statements for hot‐rolled steel:
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: As requested in Part I of this questionnaire, please keep all supporting documents/records
used in the preparation of the financial data, as Commission staff may contact your firm
regarding questions on the financial data. The Commission may also request that your company
submit copies of the supporting documents/records (financial statements, including internal
profit‐and‐loss statements for the division or product group that includes hot‐rolled steel, as well
as specific statements and worksheets) used to compile these data.
III‐3.
Cost accounting system.‐‐Briefly describe your firm’s cost accounting system (e.g., standard
cost, job order cost, etc.).
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 21
III‐4a. Allocation basis.‐‐Briefly describe your firm’s allocation basis, if any, for COGS, SG&A, and
interest expense and other income and expenses.
III‐4b. Allocation changes.‐‐Please describe how changes in the production or sales of products other
than hot‐rolled steel by your firm have impacted the allocations of fixed costs, such as other
factory costs, and SG&A expenses to hot‐rolled steel. Please take into account products not only
from the facilities in which your firm produced hot‐rolled steel, but also relevant firm‐wide
production.
III‐5.
Other products.‐‐Please list the products your firm produced in the facilities in which your firm
produced hot‐rolled steel, and provide the share of net sales accounted for by these products in
your firm’s most recent fiscal year.
Products
III‐6.
Share of sales
Hot‐rolled steel
%
Cold‐rolled steel
%
Coated (corrosion‐resistant) steel
%
Tin mill products
%
Other:
%
Does your firm purchase inputs (raw materials, labor, energy, or any services) used in the
production of hot‐rolled steel from any related suppliers (e.g., inclusive of transactions between
related firms, divisions and/or other components within the same company)?
Yes‐‐Continue to question III‐7.
No‐‐Continue to question III‐9.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
III‐7.
Page 22
Inputs from related suppliers.‐‐Please identify the inputs used in the production of hot‐rolled
steel that your firm purchases from related suppliers and that are reflected in table III‐9 and III‐
10. 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 your company’s own accounting system, of the purchase cost from the related
supplier; e.g., the related supplier’s actual cost, cost plus, negotiated transfer price to
approximate fair market value.
Input
Related supplier
Share of total COGS
Input valuation as recorded in the firm’s accounting books and records
III‐8.
Inputs purchased from related suppliers.‐‐Please confirm that the inputs purchased from
related suppliers, as identified in III‐7, were reported in the financial results on hot‐rolled steel
(III‐9 and III‐10) 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
suppliers as reported in table III‐9 and III‐10.
Complete table III‐9 (financial results on hot‐rolled steel with the value of transfers and internal
consumption based on constructed fair market value) using the instructions that follow.
III‐9. Operations on hot‐rolled steel with internal consumption and transfers to related parties
valued based on constructed fair market value ‐‐Estimating the fair market value of internal
consumption and transfers to related firms: If there are no differences between the hot‐rolled
steel sold commercially and the hot‐rolled steel internally consumed or transferred to related
parties, the per‐unit sales values of the internally consumed or transferred hot‐rolled steel
should be estimated to be the same as the per unit sales value of the commercially sold
hot‐rolled steel. If there are differences (such as from product mix, physical, or quality
differences) between the hot‐rolled steel sold commercially and the hot‐rolled steel either
internally consumed or transferred, the per‐unit sales values of this internally consumed or
transferred hot‐rolled steel should be adjusted to reflect those differences. In either case, the
cost of producing the internally consumed or transferred product should reflect the costs in
your firm’s accounting records. SG&A expense should be allocated to internal consumption and
transfers using a reasonable estimation basis.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
III‐9.
Page 23
Operations on hot‐rolled steel with internal consumption and transfers to related parties
valued based upon constructed fair market value‐‐Report the revenue and related cost information
requested below on the hot‐rolled steel operations of your U.S. establishment(s).1 Include both
domestic and export sales of the hot‐rolled steel your firm produced, but do not report the resale of
purchased hot‐rolled steel. Note that internal consumption and transfers to related firms must be
valued at fair market value. Input purchases from related suppliers should be consistent with and
based on information in the firm’s accounting books and records. Provide data for your firm’s three
most recently completed fiscal years in chronological order from left to right and for the specified
interim period. If your firm was involved in tolling operations (either as the toller or as the tollee),
please contact David Boyland at (202) 708‐4725 before completing this section of the questionnaire.
Quantity (in short tons) and value (in $1,000)
Fiscal years ended‐‐
Item
Net sales quantities:2
Commercial sales (“CS”)
2013
2014
January‐March
2015
2015
2016
Internal consumption (“IC”)
Transfers to related firms (“Transfers”)
0
0
0
0
0
Internal consumption
Transfers to related firms
0
0
0
0
0
Direct labor
Other factory costs
Total net sales quantities
2
Net sales values:
Commercial sales
Total net sales values
3
Cost of goods sold (COGS):
Raw materials
Total COGS
0
0
0
0
0
Gross profit or (loss)
0
0
0
0
0
Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A)
expenses:
Selling expenses
General and administrative expenses
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
All other expense items
All other income items
Total SG&A expenses
Operating income (loss)
Other expenses and income:
Interest expense
Net income or (loss) before income taxes
Depreciation/amortization included above
0
0
0
0
0
1 Include only sales (whether domestic or export and inclusive of CS, IC, and Transfers) and costs related to your U.S.
manufacturing operations.
2
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.
3
COGS (whether for domestic or export sales) should include costs associated with CS, IC, and Transfers.
Note ‐‐ The table above contains calculations that will appear when you have entered data in the MS Word
form fields.
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 24
III‐10. Operations on hot‐rolled steel ‐‐ U.S. commercial sales and exports only (“open market
sales”)‐‐Report the revenue and related cost information requested below on the hot‐rolled
steel operations of your U.S. establishment(s).1 Include both domestic and export commercial
sales of the hot‐rolled steel your firm produced, but do not report the resale of purchased hot
rolled steel. Input purchases from related suppliers should be consistent with and based on
information in the firm’s accounting books and records. Provide data for your firm’s three most
recently completed fiscal years in chronological order from left to right and for the specified
interim periods. If your firm was involved in tolling operations (either as the toller or as the
tollee) please contact David Boyland at (202) 708‐4725 before completing this section of the
questionnaire.
Quantity (in short tons) and value (in $1,000)
Fiscal years ended‐‐
Item
2013
2014
January‐March
2015
2015
2016
2
Net sales quantities:
Commercial sales (“CS”)
Total net sales quantities
Net sales values:2
Commercial sales
Total net sales values
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
Cost of goods sold (COGS):
Raw materials
Direct labor
Other factory costs
Total COGS
0
0
0
0
0
Gross profit or (loss)
0
0
0
0
0
Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A)
expenses:
Selling expenses
General and administrative expenses
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
All other expense items
All other income items
0
0
0
0
0
Total SG&A expenses
Operating income (loss)
Other expenses and income:
Interest expense
Net income or (loss) before income taxes
Depreciation/amortization included above
1 Include only commercial sales (whether domestic or export) and costs related to your U.S. manufacturing operations.
2
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.
3
COGS (whether for domestic or export sales) should include costs associated with CS.
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 25
III‐11. Financial data reconciliation.‐‐The calculable line items from questions III‐9 and III‐10 (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‐12a. Nonrecurring items (charges and gains) included in reported hot‐rolled steel financial results.‐‐
For each annual and interim period for which financial results are reported in tables III‐9 or III‐
10, please specify all material (significant) nonrecurring items (charges and gains) in the
schedule below, the specific table III‐9 or III‐10 line item where the nonrecurring items are
included, a brief description of the relevant nonrecurring items, and the associated values (in
$1,000). If an aggregate nonrecurring item has been allocated to table III‐9 or III‐10, only the
allocated value amount included in table III‐9 or III‐10 should be reported in the schedule below.
Note: The Commission’s objective here is to gather information only on material (significant)
nonrecurring items which impacted the reported financial results in table III‐9 or III‐10.
Fiscal years ended‐‐
2013
2014
January‐March
2015
2015
2016
Nonrecurring item: In this column please provide a brief
Nonrecurring item: In these columns please report the amount of the relevant
description of each nonrecurring item and indicate the
nonrecurring item reported in table III‐9 or III‐10.
specific line item in table III‐9 or III‐10 where the nonrecurring
item is classified.
Value ($1,000)
1. III‐9 , classified as
2. III‐9 , classified as
3. III‐9 , classified as
4. III‐9 , classified as
5. III‐10 , classified as
6. III‐10 , classified as
7. III‐10 , classified as
8. III‐10 , classified as
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
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III‐12b. Classification of identified nonrecurring items (charges and gains) in the accounting books and
records of the company.‐‐If non‐recurring items were reported in table III‐12a above, please
identify where your company recorded these items in your accounting books and records in the
normal course of business.
III‐13. Asset values.‐‐Report the total net assets (i.e., both current and long‐term assets) associated
with the production, warehousing, and sale of hot‐rolled steel. If your firm does not maintain
some or all of the specific asset information necessary to calculate total assets for hot‐rolled
steel in the normal course of business, please estimate this information based upon a method
(such as production, sales, or costs) that is consistent with relevant cost allocations in table III‐9.
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 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)
Fiscal years ended‐‐
Item
2013
2014
1
Total assets (net)
1
III‐14.
2015
Describe
Capital expenditures and research and development expenses.‐‐Report your firm’s capital
expenditures and research and development expenses for hot‐rolled steel. Provide data for
your firm’s three most recently completed fiscal years and for the specified interim periods.
Value (in $1,000)
Fiscal years ended‐‐
Item
2013
1
Capital expenditures
Research and development expenses
1
2014
January‐March
2015
2015
2016
2
Please describe the nature, focus, and significance of your firm’s capital expenditures on hot‐rolled steel:
2
Please describe the nature, focus, and significance of your firm’s R&D expenses related to hot‐rolled steel:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 27
III‐15. Data consistency and reconciliation.‐‐Please indicate whether your firm’s financial data for
questions III‐9, III‐10, III‐13, and III‐14 are based on a calendar year or on your firm’s fiscal year:
Calendar year
Fiscal year Specify fiscal year
Please note the quantities and values reported in question III‐9 and III‐10 should reconcile with
the data reported in question II‐7 (including export shipments) as long as they are reported on
the same calendar year basis.
Do these data in question III‐9 and III‐10 reconcile with data in question II‐7?
Yes
No
If no, please explain.
III‐16a. Effects of imports on investment.‐‐Since January 1, 2013, has your firm experienced any actual
negative effects on its return on investment or the scale of capital investments as a result of
imports of hot‐rolled steel from Australia, Brazil, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the
United Kingdom?
No
Yes‐‐My firm has experienced actual negative effects as follows:
(check as many as appropriate)
(please describe)
Cancellation, postponement,
or rejection of expansion
projects
Denial or rejection of
investment proposal
Reduction in the size of
capital investments
Return on specific
investments negatively
impacted
Other
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
III‐16b. Does your firm’s response differ by country?
Page 28
No
Yes
If yes, indicate which country and why:
III‐17a. Effects of imports on growth and development.‐‐Since January 1, 2013, has your firm
experienced any actual negative effects on its growth, ability to raise capital, or existing
development and production efforts (including efforts to develop a derivative or more advanced
version of the product) as a result of imports of hot‐rolled steel from Australia, Brazil, Japan,
Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Kingdom?
No
Yes‐‐My firm has experienced actual negative effects as follows:
(check as many as appropriate)
(please describe)
Rejection of bank loans
Lowering of credit rating
Problem related to the issue
of stocks or bonds
Ability to service debt
Other
III‐17b. Does your firm’s response differ by country?
No
Yes
If yes, indicate which country and why:
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 29
III‐18a. Anticipated effects of imports.‐‐Does your firm anticipate any negative effects due to imports of
hot‐rolled steel from Australia, Brazil, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United
Kingdom?
No
Yes
If yes, my firm anticipates negative effects as follows:
III‐18b. Does your firm’s response differ by country?
No
Yes
If yes, indicate which country and why:
III‐19. 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. The space below may also be used to provide supplemental
information (e.g., gross assets and accompanying contextual information) that you consider
important for purposes of evaluating the company’s financial condition. Finally, 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.
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 30
PART IV.‐‐ PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS
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 quarterly quantity and value data for your firm’s commercial shipments
to unrelated U.S. customers since January 1, 2013 of the following products produced by your
firm. As indicated below, please separate sales to distributors and service centers from sales to
end users.
Product 1.‐‐Hot‐rolled carbon steel plate in coils, as‐rolled (unprocessed), not pickled or temper‐
rolled, not high strength, produced to AISI‐1006‐1025 grade (including, but not
limited to, ASTM A36), 0.187" through 0.625" in nominal or actual thickness, 40"
through 72" in width.
Product 2.‐‐Hot‐rolled carbon steel sheet in coils, commercial quality, SAE 1006‐1015 or ASTM
A1011 equivalent, not high‐strength, not pickled and oiled, not temper‐rolled,
0.090" through 0.171" in nominal or actual thickness, 40" to 72" in width.
Product 3.‐‐Hot‐rolled carbon steel sheet in coils, commercial quality SAE 1006‐1015 or ASTM
A1011 equivalent, pickled and oiled, temper‐rolled, not high strength, 0.090"
through 0.171" in nominal or actual thickness, 40" to 72" in width.
Product 4.‐‐Hot rolled steel plate in coils, high strength low alloy, for conversion to API PSL 2 X‐
70, 0.250 to 0.750, 50” to 77” in width.
Please note that values 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).
During January 2013‐March 2016, 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 table as appropriate.
No.‐‐Skip to question IV‐3.
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
IV‐2.
Page 31
Price data.—Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 produced and sold by
your firm.
SALES TO DISTRIBUTORS AND SERVICE CENTERS
Report data in actual short tons and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
Product 1
Quantity
Value
(Quantity in short tons, value in dollars)
Product 2
Product 3
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Product 4
Period of shipment
Quantity
Value
2013:
January‐March
April‐June
July‐September
October‐
December
2014:
January‐March
April‐June
July‐September
October‐
December
2015:
January‐March
April‐June
July‐September
October‐
December
2016:
January‐March
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.
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 2:
Product 3:
Product 4:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
IV‐2.
Page 32
Price data.‐‐ Continued. Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 produced
and sold by your firm.
SALES TO END USERS
Report data in actual short tons and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
Product 1
Quantity
Value
(Quantity in short tons, value in dollars)
Product 2
Product 3
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Product 4
Quantity
Value
Period of shipment
2013:
January‐March
April‐June
July‐September
October‐
December
2014:
January‐March
April‐June
July‐September
October‐
December
2015:
January‐March
April‐June
July‐September
October‐
December
2016:
January‐March
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.
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 2:
Product 3:
Product 4:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 33
Pricing data methodology.—Please describe the method and the kinds of documents/records
that were used to compile your price data.
Note: As requested in Part I of this questionnaire, please keep all supporting documents/records used in
the preparation of the price data, as Commission staff may contact your firm regarding questions on the
price data. The Commission may also request that your company submit copies of the supporting
documents/records (such as sales journal, invoices, etc.) used to compile these data.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
IV‐3.
Page 34
Price setting.‐‐ How does your firm determine the prices that it charges for sales of hot‐rolled
steel (check all that apply)? If your firm issues price lists, please submit sample pages of a
recent list.
Transaction
by
transaction
Contracts
IV‐4.
Set
price
lists
Other
If other, describe
Discount policy.‐‐ Please indicate and describe your firm’s discount policies (check all that
apply).
Quantity
discounts
Annual
total
volume
discounts
IV‐5.
Other
Describe
Pricing terms.‐‐
(a)
What are your firm’s typical sales terms for its U.S.‐produced hot‐rolled steel?
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 hot‐rolled steel usually quoted (check
one)?
Delivered
F.o.b.
If f.o.b., specify point
IV‐6. Contract versus spot.‐‐Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of its U.S.‐produced hot‐
rolled steel in 2015 was on a (1) long‐term contract basis, (2) annual contract basis, (3) short‐
term contract basis, and (4) spot sales basis?
Type of sale
Short‐term
Long‐term
Annual
Total
contracts
contracts
Spot sales
contracts
(should
(multiple
(multiple
(for a single
(multiple
sum to
deliveries for
deliveries for
delivery)
deliveries for 12
100.0%)
less than 12
more than 12
months)
months)
months)
Share of 2015
%
%
%
% 0.0 %
sales
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
IV‐7.
Page 35
Contract provisions.‐‐Please fill out the table regarding your firm’s typical sales contracts for
U.S.‐produced hot‐rolled steel (or check “not applicable” if your firm does not sell on a long‐
term, short‐term and/or annual contract basis).
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)
Average contract
duration
No. of
days
365
Price renegotiation
(during contract
period)
Yes
No
Quantity
Price
Both
Yes
No
Typical sales
contract provisions
Fixed quantity
and/or price
Meet or release
provision
Not applicable
IV‐8.
Lead times.‐‐What is your firm’s share of sales 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 hot‐rolled steel?
Share of 2015
Source
sales
Lead time (days)
From inventory
%
Produced to order
%
Total (should sum to 100.0%)
0.0 %
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
IV‐9.
Page 36
Shipping information.‐‐
(a)
What is the approximate percentage of the total delivered cost of U.S.‐produced hot‐
rolled steel that is accounted for by U.S. inland transportation costs? percent
(b)
Who generally arranges the transportation to your firm’s customers’ locations?
Your firm Purchaser (check one)
(c)
Indicate the approximate percentage of your firm’s sales of hot‐rolled steel 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%)
(d)
0.0 %
Did your firm ship hot‐rolled steel to the Pacific Coast (CA, OR, and/or WA) from any of
your mills? If so, did your firm encounter any difficulties (e.g. availability of rail cars)
and/or additional costs?
No
Yes
If yes, please explain
IV‐10. Geographical shipments.‐‐ In which U.S. geographic market area(s) has your firm sold its U.S.‐
produced hot‐rolled steel since January 1, 2013 (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.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 37
IV‐11. End uses.—
(a) List the end uses of the hot‐rolled steel that your firm manufactures and sells commercially.
For each end‐use product, what percentage of the total cost is accounted for by hot‐rolled
steel and other inputs?
Share of total cost of end use product
accounted for by
Total
(should sum to
End use product
100.0% across)
(commercial sales)
Hot‐rolled steel
Other inputs
%
%
0.0 %
%
%
0.0 %
%
%
0.0 %
(b) For the hot‐rolled steel that your firm consumes internally or transfers to related firms,
what percentage of the total cost of end use products is accounted for by hot‐rolled steel
and other inputs?
Share of total cost of end use product
accounted for by
Total
End use product
(should sum to
(internal consumption or
100.0% across)
transfers to a related firm)
Hot‐rolled steel
Other inputs
Hot‐rolled plate (CTL plate
from coil‐4.75 mm and
greater in thickness)
%
%
0.0 %
Pipe and tubular products
%
%
0.0 %
Cold‐rolled steel
%
%
0.0 %
Coated products
%
%
0.0 %
Tin mill products
%
%
0.0 %
Other products
%
%
IV‐12. Substitutes.‐‐ Can other products be substituted for hot‐rolled steel?
No
Yes‐‐Please fill out the table.
0.0 %
Substitute
End use in which this
substitute is used
Have changes in the price of this substitute
affected the price for hot‐rolled steel?
No Yes
1.
2.
3.
Explanation
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 38
IV‐13. Demand trends.—
(a) Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United States (if known)
for hot‐rolled steel has changed since January 1, 2013. 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
(b) Describe any changes in downstream product demand that have affected changes in
demand for hot‐rolled steel in the U.S. market since January 1, 2013.
Market
Explanation and factors
Change in demand for
oil‐country tubular
goods
Change in demand for
other downstream
products
IV‐14. Product changes.‐‐Have there been any significant changes in the product range, product mix,
or marketing of hot‐rolled steel since January 1, 2013?
No
Yes
If yes, please describe and quantify if possible.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 39
IV‐15. Conditions of competition.‐‐
(a) Is the hot‐rolled steel market subject to business cycles (other than general economy‐wide
conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to hot‐rolled steel? If yes,
describe.
Check all that apply.
Please describe.
No
Skip to question IV‐16.
Yes‐Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes‐Other distinctive
conditions of competition
(b) If yes, have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
hot‐rolled steel since January 1, 2013?
No
Yes
If yes, describe.
IV‐16. Supply constraints.‐‐Has your firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply hot‐rolled steel
since January 1, 2013 (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, weather‐related
effects, extended delivery times on quoted prices, etc.)?
No
Yes
If yes, please describe.
IV‐17. Raw materials.‐‐How have hot‐rolled steel raw materials prices and energy prices changed since
January 1, 2013? If prices fluctuated, please describe the changes in each year.
Prices
Fluctuate Explain, noting how raw material price
changes have affected your firm’s
with no
Overall
No
Overall
selling prices for hot‐rolled steel.
increase change decrease clear trend
Raw
materials
Energy
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 40
IV‐18. Interchangeability.‐‐Is hot‐rolled steel 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
Aus‐
Brazil Japan
tralia
Country‐pair
U.S.
Korea
Nether‐
lands
Turkey
UK
Canada
Other
countries
Australia
Brazil
Japan
Korea
Netherlands
Turkey
UK
Canada
For any country‐pair producing hot‐rolled steel that is sometimes or never interchangeable,
identify the country‐pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 41
IV‐19. Factors other than price.‐‐Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between hot‐rolled steel
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
Aus‐
Brazil Japan
tralia
Country‐pair
U.S.
Korea
Nether‐
lands
Turkey
UK
Canada
Other
countries
Australia
Brazil
Japan
Korea
Netherlands
Turkey
UK
Canada
For any country‐pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s sales of hot‐rolled steel, identify the country‐pair and report the
advantages or disadvantages imparted by such factors:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 42
IV‐20. Customer identification.‐‐List the names and contact information for your firm’s 10 largest U.S.
customers for hot‐rolled steel since January 1, 2013. Indicate the share of the quantity of your
firm’s total shipments of hot‐rolled steel that each of these customers accounted for in 2015.
Customer’s name
City
State
Share of 2015 sales
(%)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Business Proprietary
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 43
IV‐21. Competition from imports
(a)
Lost revenue.‐‐Since January 1, 2013: To avoid losing sales to competitors selling hot‐
rolled steel from Australia, Brazil, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United
Kingdom, did your firm:
No
Yes
(b)
Reduce prices
Roll back announced price increases
Lost sales.‐‐Since January 1, 2013: Did your firm lose sales of hot‐rolled steel to imports
of this product from Australia, Brazil, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the
United Kingdom?
No
Yes
IV‐22. 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 ‐ Hot‐Rolled Steel (Final)
Page 44
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://wwwadmin.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2016/hot_rolled_steel_flat_pro
ducts_australia_brazil/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: HRS
• E‐mail.—E‐mail the MS Word questionnaire to Justin.enck@usitc.gov; include a scanned copy of the
signed certification page (page 1). Submitters are strongly encouraged to encrypt nonpublic documents
that are electronically transmitted to the Commission to protect your sensitive information from
unauthorized disclosure. The USITC secure drop‐box system and the Electronic Document Information
System (EDIS) use Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140‐2 cryptographic algorithms to
encrypt data in transit. Submitting your nonpublic documents by a means that does not use these
encryption algorithms (such as by email) may subject your firm’s nonpublic information to unauthorized
disclosure during transmission. If you choose a non‐encrypted method of electronic transmission, the
Commission warns you that the risk of such possible unauthorized disclosure is assumed by you 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, it is 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 - US producer questionnaire |
| Author | justin.enck |
| File Modified | 2016-05-03 |
| File Created | 2016-05-03 |