Saccharin from China - USITC

The combined quantity of purchases by the responding 13 firms from the United States, China andnonsubject sources are shown in table II-2.Table II-2Saccharin: Quantity of purchases (in thousands of pounds) reported by U.S. purchasers, 2003-08YearPurchase source2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008United States 724.9 567.8 1,051.8 470.2 496.4 144.0China 40.9 5.1 21.9 10.9 5.8 1,112.9Nonsubject countries 2,176.3 3,105.8 3,170.3 2,884.7 3,184.1 3,022.7Total 2,942.1 3,678.7 4,244 3,365.8 3,686.32 4,279.6Source: Compiled from data submitted in response to Commission questionnaires.In order to evaluate the effects of the antidumping duty order on imports from China, purchaserswere asked whether they had bought saccharin produced in China before 2003 and if so, whether theirpurchasing pattern had changed since that time. Of the 13 purchasers that responded, 9 answered thatthey had not purchased the Chinese product prior to 2003 and 4 answered that they had purchasedChinese-produced saccharin prior to 2003. Of the four firms that had purchased the Chinese product priorto 2003, two reported that they had discontinued purchases of the Chinese products because of the orderand two reported that they had reduced purchases of the Chinese product. 6Factors Affecting Purchasing DecisionsWhen asked to rank the three most important factors involved in purchasing decisions, the 11purchasers that responded consistently reported availability, price, and quality as the most importantfactors (table II-3). Other factors mentioned included traditional supplier and supply assurance.Table II-3Saccharin: Ranking of factors used in purchasing decisions as reported by U.S. purchasersNumber of firms reportingFactorNumber one factor Number two factor Number three factorAvailability 3 5 2Price 3 1 7Quality 3 4 2Other 1 2 1 01 Other factors include supply assurance and traditional supplier.Source: Compiled from data submitted in response to Commission questionnaires.6One purchaser, ***, the manufacturer of *** reported that it discontinued purchases from China after the orderwent into effect, but began purchasing Chinese-produced saccharin again in 2008.II-4