Final USITC Report on Chinese Quartz Imports June 2019 | Page 213

Operations on quartz surface products
Table VII-4 presents information on the quartz surface products operations of the
responding producers and resellers in China. During 2015-17 Chinese capacity to produce
quartz surface products increased by 61.8 percent and production increased by 85.5 percent. 6 7
During January-September 2018 capacity was 18.5 million square feet greater than during
January-September 2017. Capacity utilization increased by 10.9 percentage points from 2015-
17 and was 3.2 percentage points higher during the 2018 interim period compared the 2017
interim period. In addition, end-of-period inventories increased by 55.1 percent during 2015-
17. Exports to the United States as a share of total shipments increased by *** percentage
points, while exports to other markets decreased by *** percentage points. 8
6
At the Commission’s hearing, a representative from Arizona Tile (***) indicated that Chinese
producers use a different (from Breton technology), handmade manufacturing process. “The Chinese
manufacturers create handmade natural-looking quartz products, including beautiful large white vein
marble and quartzite looks.” Hearing transcript, pp. 200-201 (Huarte).
7
At the Commission’s hearing, a representative from the China Stone Material Association (CSMA)
stated Chinese producers do not use Breton technology. Hearing transcript, p. 208 (Jingfen).
8
Despite the increase in exports as a share of total shipments to the United States by *** percentage
points from 2015 to 2017, the quantity of exports of quartz surface products from China to the United
States *** during the same period.
VII-9