Final USITC Report on Chinese Quartz Imports June 2019 | Page 32
`
granite colors to softer whites, greys, and creams. 5 U.S. producer and importer *** stated that
manufacturers in China, Spain, and Israel have made substantial improvements in design
aesthetics and the number of colors available.
Overall, apparent U.S. consumption in 2017 was *** percent higher than in 2015.
Apparent U.S. consumptions was *** percent higher in January‐September 2018 than in
January‐September2017.
U.S. PURCHASERS
The Commission received 46 usable questionnaire responses from firms that had
purchased quartz surface products since January 2015. 6 Eighteen responding purchasers are
fabricators or retailers, 17 are distributors, 10 are builders or contractors, 1 sources products
for retail clients, 1 is a turnkey countertop service provider for multifamily and hospitality
construction, and 1 is a millwork supplier. Thirty‐six purchasers reported purchasing quartz
surface slabs and 19 purchasers reported purchasing fabricated quartz surface products. Large
purchasers of quartz surface products include ***, in order of quantity purchased during
January 2015‐September 2018. 7 8
5
Importer *** noted that white‐based colors are more expensive to produce but are priced lower in
the marketplace.
6
Of the 46 responding purchasers, 22 purchased the domestic quartz surface products, 38 purchased
imports of the subject merchandise from China, and 17 purchased imports of quartz surface products
from other sources. One purchaser, ***, did not provide purchase data but responded to the other
questions in the U.S. purchaser questionnaire.
7
Purchasers *** purchased only quartz slabs; purchaser *** purchased predominantly quartz slabs,
and the remaining *** percent of its purchases were fabricated product; and purchasers *** purchased
only fabricated quartz surface products.
8
Purchaser *** reported purchases only for January‐September 2018. It reported purchases of
fabricated quartz surface products from unknown sources.
II‐2