BHP Billiton Limited&nbsp;Business Reports

Nonmetallic Mineral Mining & Quarrying Industry Report

Overview

The nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying industry in the US includes about 3,300 companies with annual revenues of about $22 billion. Major companies include Vulcan Materials, Martin Marietta Materials, and subsidiaries of foreign firms such as Lehigh Hanson and Oldcastle Materials. The industry is fragmented, with many small firms serving local geographic markets.

SIC: 1411, 1499, 1481, 1479, 1422, 1423, 1429, 1442, 1446, 1455, 1459, 1474, 1475

NAICS: 212311, 213115, 212399, 212393, 212312, 212313, 212319, 212321, 212322, 212324, 212325, 212391, 212392

Sample Questions & Answers

Local construction activity, which can be highly cyclical, determines demand for nonmetallic mineral mining companies.About 50 percent of US demand is for private commercial and residential construction projects. Job growth and vacancy rates...

About half of nonmetallic mining demand is driven by public works' spending on highways and public buildings. Local projects depend on government budgets and priorities, which can change with each election. Because publicly funded projects depend on...

To read this full Call Prep Question and others, purchase the full report.

General Report Description

Save valuable research time, increase confidence on sales calls, and get the competitive edge to win more business with Hoover's Industry Report. Proprietary editorial analysis synthesizes hundreds of sources into an easy-to-digest format so that you can quickly understand a client's business challenges. Insight into critical business issues, industry trends and opportunities, and financial benchmarks is an integral part of each report.

Sections Included in Report

Industry Overview
Quarterly Industry Update
Business Challenges
Trends and Opportunities
Call Preparation Questions
Financial Information
Industry Forecast
Website and Media Links
Glossary of Acronyms

Industry Report Highlights:

Recent Developments
Stay up to date on crucial industry news that may affect your strategy.
Trends & Opportunities
Identify avenues for expansion and get prospects thinking about growth opportunities that justify investing in your product.
Call Preparation Questions
Gain instant rapport with prospects during your sales calls using done-for-you call preparation questions.
Industry Forecast
Identify growth and integrate projections in your own business planning.

Business Challenges
Engage your prospects with solution selling that makes their life easier by first understanding their pain points.
Executive Insight
Identify the correct decision maker and tailor your presentation to his or her needs, and maximize the effectiveness of your pitch.
Financial Information
Increase your credibility and support your presentations by adding verifiable industry metrics.
Web Links & Acronyms
Speak the Prospect's language by demonstrating an understanding of industry trade associations and jargon.

Nonmetallic Mineral Mining & Quarrying Industry Report

Petroleum & Petroleum Products Wholesalers Industry Report

Overview

The US petroleum wholesale distribution industry includes about 5,700 companies with annual revenue of about $765billion. Revenue can vary significantly from year to year with the price of crude oil. Major companies include Getty Petroleum Marketing, Global Partners, Mansfield Oil, Statoil Marketing & Trading, and World Fuel Services. The industry is concentrated: the 50 largest companies generate more than 70 percent of revenue.

SIC: 5171, 5172

NAICS: 424710, 424720

Sample Questions & Answers

How is the company mitigating relatively flat demand for petroleum?

US gas consumption has been essentially flat in recent years and is expected to decline. Demand for heating oil has decreased as homeowners switch to natural gas. Concerns about foreign fuel dependency, the fear of dramatic price spikes, and...

How does the company protect itself from fluctuating petroleum prices and supplies?

Because of changing crude oil prices, constraints in refining capacity, and changing retail demand, wholesale prices for heating oil and gas often vary 50 percent during the year. Rapid changes in product costs require wholesalers to frequently...

To read this full Call Prep Question and others, purchase the full report.

General Report Description

Save valuable research time, increase confidence on sales calls, and get the competitive edge to win more business with Hoover's Industry Report. Proprietary editorial analysis synthesizes hundreds of sources into an easy-to-digest format so that you can quickly understand a client's business challenges. Insight into critical business issues, industry trends and opportunities, and financial benchmarks is an integral part of each report.

Sections Included in Report

Industry Overview
Quarterly Industry Update
Business Challenges
Trends and Opportunities
Call Preparation Questions
Financial Information
Industry Forecast
Website and Media Links
Glossary of Acronyms

Industry Report Highlights:

Recent Developments
Stay up to date on crucial industry news that may affect your strategy.
Trends & Opportunities
Identify avenues for expansion and get prospects thinking about growth opportunities that justify investing in your product.
Call Preparation Questions
Gain instant rapport with prospects during your sales calls using done-for-you call preparation questions.
Industry Forecast
Identify growth and integrate projections in your own business planning.

Business Challenges
Engage your prospects with solution selling that makes their life easier by first understanding their pain points.
Executive Insight
Identify the correct decision maker and tailor your presentation to his or her needs, and maximize the effectiveness of your pitch.
Financial Information
Increase your credibility and support your presentations by adding verifiable industry metrics.
Web Links & Acronyms
Speak the Prospect's language by demonstrating an understanding of industry trade associations and jargon.

Petroleum & Petroleum Products Wholesalers Industry Report

Metal Ore Mining Industry Report

Overview

The US metal ore mining industry includes about 200 companies with combined annual revenue of about $28 billion. Major companies include Cliffs Natural Resources, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX), Newmont Mining, Southern Copper, and Coeur d'Alene Mines. Metal ore mining is highly concentrated: the largest 10 gold companies account for 95 percent of revenue.

SIC: 1011, 1021, 1031, 1041, 1044, 1061, 1081, 1094

NAICS: 212291, 212234, 213114, 212299, 212231, 212222, 212221, 212210

Sample Questions & Answers

How does the company manage cyclical demand?

Demand for metal ore is sensitive to cyclical demand from the construction, electronics, electrical, transportation, and jewelry industries. Demand for gold and silver is also affected by speculative pressures. During the recession of the late 2000s,...

How is the company affected by swings in metal prices?

Given the high fixed costs of mining, industry profitability can be sharply affected by changes in metal prices. Over the past 10 years, iron ore has fluctuated as much as 19 percent in a year, copper 80 percent, and gold 35 percent. From 2005 to...

To read this full Call Prep Question and others, purchase the full report.

General Report Description

Save valuable research time, increase confidence on sales calls, and get the competitive edge to win more business with Hoover's Industry Report. Proprietary editorial analysis synthesizes hundreds of sources into an easy-to-digest format so that you can quickly understand a client's business challenges. Insight into critical business issues, industry trends and opportunities, and financial benchmarks is an integral part of each report.

Sections Included in Report

Industry Overview
Quarterly Industry Update
Business Challenges
Trends and Opportunities
Call Preparation Questions
Financial Information
Industry Forecast
Website and Media Links
Glossary of Acronyms

Industry Report Highlights:

Recent Developments
Stay up to date on crucial industry news that may affect your strategy.
Trends & Opportunities
Identify avenues for expansion and get prospects thinking about growth opportunities that justify investing in your product.
Call Preparation Questions
Gain instant rapport with prospects during your sales calls using done-for-you call preparation questions.
Industry Forecast
Identify growth and integrate projections in your own business planning.

Business Challenges
Engage your prospects with solution selling that makes their life easier by first understanding their pain points.
Executive Insight
Identify the correct decision maker and tailor your presentation to his or her needs, and maximize the effectiveness of your pitch.
Financial Information
Increase your credibility and support your presentations by adding verifiable industry metrics.
Web Links & Acronyms
Speak the Prospect's language by demonstrating an understanding of industry trade associations and jargon.

Metal Ore Mining Industry Report

Primary Metals Manufacturing Industry Report

Overview

The US primary metals industry includes about 3,500 companies with combined annual sales of about $250 billion. Large companies include Nucor and US Steel (steel); Alcoa (aluminum); and Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold. The US industry is concentrated: the 50 largest companies generate more than 60 percent of revenue.

SIC: 3316, 3317, 3321, 3324, 3325, 3331, 3334, 3339, 3341, 3351, 3353, 3354, 3355, 3356, 3363, 3364, 3365, 3366, 3369, 2819, 3312, 3313, 3315

NAICS: 331423, 331491, 331492, 331511, 331512, 331513, 331521, 331522, 331524, 331525, 331528, 331422, 331421, 331419, 331316, 331319, 331411, 331315, 331111, 331112, 331210, 331221, 331222, 331311, 331312, 331314

Sample Questions & Answers

What is the company's strategy for dealing with cyclical changes in metal demand?

Demand for primary metals depends on the health of the US manufacturing sector, particularly the manufacture of motor vehicles, metal products, and machinery, and commercial construction. Demand can be highly cyclical: during the late 2000s recession,...

How is foreign competition affecting the company?

Imports of primary metals, mainly raw steel and steel products, often depress US metals prices. Volume varies from year to year, but imports typically account for 30 percent or more of the US market. Import quotas and tariffs can be imposed when...

To read this full Call Prep Question and others, purchase the full report.

General Report Description

Save valuable research time, increase confidence on sales calls, and get the competitive edge to win more business with Hoover's Industry Report. Proprietary editorial analysis synthesizes hundreds of sources into an easy-to-digest format so that you can quickly understand a client's business challenges. Insight into critical business issues, industry trends and opportunities, and financial benchmarks is an integral part of each report.

Sections Included in Report

Industry Overview
Quarterly Industry Update
Business Challenges
Trends and Opportunities
Call Preparation Questions
Financial Information
Industry Forecast
Website and Media Links
Glossary of Acronyms

Industry Report Highlights:

Recent Developments
Stay up to date on crucial industry news that may affect your strategy.
Trends & Opportunities
Identify avenues for expansion and get prospects thinking about growth opportunities that justify investing in your product.
Call Preparation Questions
Gain instant rapport with prospects during your sales calls using done-for-you call preparation questions.
Industry Forecast
Identify growth and integrate projections in your own business planning.

Business Challenges
Engage your prospects with solution selling that makes their life easier by first understanding their pain points.
Executive Insight
Identify the correct decision maker and tailor your presentation to his or her needs, and maximize the effectiveness of your pitch.
Financial Information
Increase your credibility and support your presentations by adding verifiable industry metrics.
Web Links & Acronyms
Speak the Prospect's language by demonstrating an understanding of industry trade associations and jargon.

Primary Metals Manufacturing Industry Report

Petroleum Refining Industry Report

Overview

About 150 petroleum refineries operate in the US, owned by about 90 companies, with combined annual revenue of about $725 billion. Large refiners include Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Phillips 66 (spun off from ConocoPhillips in May 2012), Valero, and BP's US-based subsidiaries. Annual revenue fluctuates substantially because of the shifting price of crude oil. The industry is highly concentrated: the eight largest refiners hold about 70 percent of all US refining capacity.

SIC: 2911

NAICS: 324110

Sample Questions & Answers

What changes in crude oil supplies and prices is the company anticipating?

The average refinery cost of crude oil in the US is volatile: prices can change 50 percent within a year. Imports provide about half of US crude oil consumption and are vulnerable to political disruptions, such as regime changes and unrest in the...

How has the company managed flat demand for petroleum products?

US gas consumption is expected to remain flat over the next few decades, according to the Energy Information Administration. Demand for heating oil has decreased as homeowners have switched to natural gas. Volatile price swings and concerns about...

To read this full Call Prep Question and others, purchase the full report.

General Report Description

Save valuable research time, increase confidence on sales calls, and get the competitive edge to win more business with Hoover's Industry Report. Proprietary editorial analysis synthesizes hundreds of sources into an easy-to-digest format so that you can quickly understand a client's business challenges. Insight into critical business issues, industry trends and opportunities, and financial benchmarks is an integral part of each report.

Sections Included in Report

Industry Overview
Quarterly Industry Update
Business Challenges
Trends and Opportunities
Call Preparation Questions
Financial Information
Industry Forecast
Website and Media Links
Glossary of Acronyms

Industry Report Highlights:

Recent Developments
Stay up to date on crucial industry news that may affect your strategy.
Trends & Opportunities
Identify avenues for expansion and get prospects thinking about growth opportunities that justify investing in your product.
Call Preparation Questions
Gain instant rapport with prospects during your sales calls using done-for-you call preparation questions.
Industry Forecast
Identify growth and integrate projections in your own business planning.

Business Challenges
Engage your prospects with solution selling that makes their life easier by first understanding their pain points.
Executive Insight
Identify the correct decision maker and tailor your presentation to his or her needs, and maximize the effectiveness of your pitch.
Financial Information
Increase your credibility and support your presentations by adding verifiable industry metrics.
Web Links & Acronyms
Speak the Prospect's language by demonstrating an understanding of industry trade associations and jargon.

Petroleum Refining Industry Report

Wholesale Sector Industry Report

Overview

The wholesale distribution industry in the US includes about 300,000 companies with combined annual sales of about $5 trillion. Large distributors include SYSCO (foods); McKesson (drugs); and Avnet (electronics). Distributors specialize by product. The industry is highly fragmented: the 50 largest distributors generate about 25 percent of industry revenue.

SIC: 5012, 5013, 5014, 5015, 5021, 5023, 5031, 5032, 5033, 5039, 5043, 5044, 5045, 5046, 5047, 5048, 5049, 5051, 5052, 5063, 5064, 5065, 5072, 5074, 5075, 5078, 5082, 5083, 5084, 5192, 5193, 5194, 5198, 5085, 5087, 5088, 5091, 5092, 5093, 5094, 5099, 5111, 5112, 5113, 5122, 5131, 5136, 5137, 5139, 5141, 5142, 5143, 5144, 5145, 5146, 5147, 5148, 5149, 5153, 5154, 5159, 5162, 5169, 5171, 5172, 5181, 5182, 5191

NAICS: 424480, 424490, 424510, 424520, 424590, 424610, 424690, 424710, 424720, 424810, 424820, 424910, 424920, 424930, 424940, 424950, 424990, 425110, 423310, 423320, 423330, 423390, 423410, 423420, 423430, 423440, 423450, 423460, 423490, 423510, 423520, 423610, 423620, 423690, 423710, 423720, 423730, 423740, 423810, 423820, 423830, 423840, 423850, 423860, 423910, 425120, 423110, 423120, 423130, 423140, 423210, 423220, 423920, 423930, 423940, 423990, 424110, 424120, 424130, 424210, 424310, 424320, 424330, 424340, 424410, 424420, 424430, 424440, 424450, 424460, 424470

Sample Questions & Answers

How do changes in interest rates affect the company's profits?

Because many distributors finance their inventories, they're sensitive to interest rates. On average, distributors hold inventory equal to 35 days sales, but machinery distributors may hold products for more than 50 days. Food and petroleum product...

How much business has the company lost due to retailers buying directly from manufacturers?

Big retailers like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and Costco buy much of their merchandise directly from manufacturers, bypassing distributors. Because they buy in large quantity and operate their own warehouse systems, these retailers don't need distributors.

To read this full Call Prep Question and others, purchase the full report.

General Report Description

Save valuable research time, increase confidence on sales calls, and get the competitive edge to win more business with Hoover's Industry Report. Proprietary editorial analysis synthesizes hundreds of sources into an easy-to-digest format so that you can quickly understand a client's business challenges. Insight into critical business issues, industry trends and opportunities, and financial benchmarks is an integral part of each report.

Sections Included in Report

Industry Overview
Quarterly Industry Update
Business Challenges
Trends and Opportunities
Call Preparation Questions
Financial Information
Industry Forecast
Website and Media Links
Glossary of Acronyms

Industry Report Highlights:

Recent Developments
Stay up to date on crucial industry news that may affect your strategy.
Trends & Opportunities
Identify avenues for expansion and get prospects thinking about growth opportunities that justify investing in your product.
Call Preparation Questions
Gain instant rapport with prospects during your sales calls using done-for-you call preparation questions.
Industry Forecast
Identify growth and integrate projections in your own business planning.

Business Challenges
Engage your prospects with solution selling that makes their life easier by first understanding their pain points.
Executive Insight
Identify the correct decision maker and tailor your presentation to his or her needs, and maximize the effectiveness of your pitch.
Financial Information
Increase your credibility and support your presentations by adding verifiable industry metrics.
Web Links & Acronyms
Speak the Prospect's language by demonstrating an understanding of industry trade associations and jargon.

Wholesale Sector Industry Report

Coal Mining Industry Report

Overview

The US coal mining industry includes about 650 mining companies and about 250 exploration and mining support companies with combined annual revenue of about $39 billion. Major US companies include Alpha Natural Resources, Arch Coal, CONSOL Energy, and Peabody Energy. The US industry is concentrated: the top four companies account for about half of sales. About 1 billion short tons of coal are produced annually in the US, according to the Energy Information Administration.

SIC: 1221, 1222, 1231, 1241

NAICS: 212111, 212112, 212113, 213113

Sample Questions & Answers

What strategies does the company use to mitigate shifts in customer demand and economic conditions?

Demand for coal is dependent upon the demand for electricity, which depends on the health of the US economy. The electric power sector accounts for more than 90 percent of US coal consumption. Many new power plants, however, are built to use natural...

How does the company protect itself from price volatility?

Coal prices are linked to prices for alternative energy sources, including oil and natural gas. Coal prices are generally more stable than other prices, but can change by 20 percent or more in a year. To be competitive, coal must be priced less than...

To read this full Call Prep Question and others, purchase the full report.

General Report Description

Save valuable research time, increase confidence on sales calls, and get the competitive edge to win more business with Hoover's Industry Report. Proprietary editorial analysis synthesizes hundreds of sources into an easy-to-digest format so that you can quickly understand a client's business challenges. Insight into critical business issues, industry trends and opportunities, and financial benchmarks is an integral part of each report.

Sections Included in Report

Industry Overview
Quarterly Industry Update
Business Challenges
Trends and Opportunities
Call Preparation Questions
Financial Information
Industry Forecast
Website and Media Links
Glossary of Acronyms

Industry Report Highlights:

Recent Developments
Stay up to date on crucial industry news that may affect your strategy.
Trends & Opportunities
Identify avenues for expansion and get prospects thinking about growth opportunities that justify investing in your product.
Call Preparation Questions
Gain instant rapport with prospects during your sales calls using done-for-you call preparation questions.
Industry Forecast
Identify growth and integrate projections in your own business planning.

Business Challenges
Engage your prospects with solution selling that makes their life easier by first understanding their pain points.
Executive Insight
Identify the correct decision maker and tailor your presentation to his or her needs, and maximize the effectiveness of your pitch.
Financial Information
Increase your credibility and support your presentations by adding verifiable industry metrics.
Web Links & Acronyms
Speak the Prospect's language by demonstrating an understanding of industry trade associations and jargon.

Coal Mining Industry Report