Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Our market risk sensitive instruments and positions have inherent risks including potential loss from adverse changes in commodity prices, RINs prices, and interest rates.
Commodity Price Risk
The Petroleum Segment, as a manufacturer of refined petroleum products, and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Segment, as a manufacturer of nitrogen fertilizer products, all of which are commodities, have exposure to market pricing for products sold in the future. In order to realize value from our processing capacity, a positive spread between the cost of raw materials and the value of finished products must be achieved (i.e., gross margin or crack spread). The physical commodities that comprise our raw materials and finished goods are typically bought and sold at a spot or index price that can be highly variable.
The Petroleum Segment uses a crude oil purchasing intermediary, Vitol, Inc., to purchase the majority of its non-gathered crude oil inventory for the refineries, which allows it to take title to and price its crude oil at locations in close proximity to the refineries, as opposed to the crude oil origination point, reducing its risk associated with volatile commodity prices by shortening the commodity conversion cycle time. The commodity conversion cycle time refers to the time elapsed between raw material acquisition and the sale of finished goods. In addition, the Petroleum Segment seeks to reduce the variability of commodity price exposure by engaging in hedging strategies and transactions that will serve to protect gross margin as forecasted in the annual operating plan. With regard to its hedging activities, the Petroleum Segment may enter into, or has entered into, derivative instruments which serve to (1) lock in or fix a percentage of the anticipated or planned gross margin in future periods when the derivative market offers commodity spreads that generate positive cash flows, (2) hedge the value of inventories in excess of minimum required inventories, and (3) manage existing derivative positions related to a change in anticipated operations and market conditions.
RFS Compliance Price Risk
As a producer of transportation fuels from crude oil, the Petroleum Segment is required to blend biofuels into the products it produces or purchase RINs in the open market in lieu of blending to meet the mandates established by the EPA. The Petroleum Segment is exposed to market risk related to volatility in the price of RINs needed to comply with the RFS that are not otherwise generated through blending of renewable fuels in our refining and marketing operations. To mitigate the impact of this risk on the Petroleum Segment’s results of operations and cash flows, the Petroleum Segment blends ethanol and biodiesel to the extent possible. Additionally, in December 2020, the Board approved full funding for the development of a RDU at our Wynnewood Refinery, which we estimate will result in the generation of approximately 180 million RINs each year. We continually monitor the impact of the RFS on our business and evaluate strategies to mitigate the impacts of the RFS program, the administration thereof, and the market volatility for RINs on our business. Refer to Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” and Part II, Item 8, Note 11 (“Commitments and Contingencies”), of this Report for further discussion about compliance with the RFS and the potential impacts on our business.
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