Final USITC Report on Chinese Quartz Imports June 2019 | Page 89

As shown in table III-13 (combined slab and fab form QSP shipments used for apparent
consumption), from 2015 to 2017, the quantity of U.S. shipments increased by *** percent. The
value of U.S. shipments (which includes the value added to fabrication of imported slabs)
increased overall by *** percent from 2015 to 2017. The average unit value of U.S. shipments
decreased overall by *** percent from 2015 to 2017. During January to September (“interim”)
2018 compared to interim 2017, U.S. shipments based on quantity was *** higher in interim
2018 than in interim 2017, and *** percent higher based on value. Generally over the period,
the value added to imports by the independent fabricators grew faster than the value of
domestic quartz surface products.
U.S. PRODUCERS’ INVENTORIES
Table III-14 presents U.S. slab producers and independent U.S. fabricators’ inventories
for 2015-17, January to September 2017, and January to September 2018. These data show
that U.S. slab producers’ inventories in slab form increased by *** percent from 2015 to 2017,
and were higher by *** percent in interim 2018 compared to interim 2017. U.S. fabricators’
inventories increased overall by *** percent from 2015 to 2017, but were lower by *** percent
in interim 2018 compared to interim 2017.
III-25