Final USITC Report on Chinese Quartz Imports June 2019 | Page 47
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consumers are also demanding quartz surface products in new home purchases. U.S. producer
*** stated that it has invested heavily in educating consumers about the benefits of quartz
surface products. Similarly, importer *** stated that the increased demand is partly attributed
to the dramatically increased marketing and merchandising spent since 2015.
Table II-4
Quartz surface products: Firms’ responses regarding U.S. demand and demand outside the
United States
Item
Increase
No change
Decrease
Fluctuate
Demand in the United States
U.S. producers
17
1
1
---
Importers
69
1
6
4
Purchasers
39
3
---
1
Demand outside the United States
U.S. producers
10
1
1
1
Importers
33
4
---
6
Purchasers
11
2
---
2
Source: Compiled from data submitted in response to Commission questionnaires.
Substitute products
Natural stones such as marble, granite, and quartzite are substitutes for quartz surface
products. Quartz surface products are reportedly gaining in market share against substitute
countertop products such as granite. 30 The majority of responding firms reported that marble,
granite, and quartzite are substitutes for quartz surface products used for kitchen and
bathroom countertops applications. 31 The majority of responding firms indicated that changes
in the prices of marble, granite, and quartzite do not affect the price for quartz surface
30
Conference transcript, pp. 133‐135 (Ginsburg). Importer *** reported that granite is the single
largest substitute for quartz surface products. *** U.S. producers’ questionnaire response, section IV‐
12; joint respondents’ prehearing brief, pp. 1, 16, 22.
31
Three purchasers also indicated that these three products are also a substitute for quartz surface
products used in flooring and shower walls.
II‐17