MEXCO ENERGY CORP 10-Q

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk The primary sources of market risk for us include fluctuations in commodity prices and interest rates. All of our financial instruments are for purposes other than trading. Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk of loss as a result of nonperformance by other parties of their contractual obligations. Our primary credit risk is related to oil and gas production sold to various purchasers and the receivables are generally not collateralized. At December 31, 2020, our largest credit risk associated with any single purchaser was $235,604 or 65% of our total oil and gas receivables. We have not experienced any significant credit losses. Interest Rate Risk. At December 31, 2020, we had an outstanding loan balance of $1,100,000 under our credit agreement, which bears interest at a rate equal to the prime rate as quoted in the Wall Street Journal plus one-half of one percent (0.5%) floating daily. If the interest rate on our bank debt increases or decreases by one percentage point our annual pretax income would change by $11,000 based on the outstanding balance at December 31, 2020. Energy Price Risk. Our most significant market risk is the pricing for crude oil and natural gas. Our financial condition, results of operations, and capital resources are highly dependent upon the prevailing market prices of, and demand for, oil and natural gas. Prices for oil and natural gas fluctuate widely. We cannot predict future oil and natural gas prices with any certainty. Pricing for oil and natural gas production has been volatile and unpredictable for several years, and we expect this volatility to continue in the future. Factors that can cause price fluctuations include the level of global demand for petroleum products, foreign and domestic supply of oil and gas, the establishment of and compliance with production quotas by oil-exporting countries, weather conditions, the price and availability of alternative fuels and overall political and economic conditions in oil producing countries. Oil prices dropped sharply in early March 2020, and then continued to decline reaching levels below zero dollars per barrel. This was a result of multiple factors affecting supply and demand in global oil and gas markets, including the announcement of price reductions and production increases by OPEC members and other oil exporting nations and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Oil and natural gas prices are expected to continue to be volatile as a result of the changes in oil and natural gas production, inventories and demand, as well as national and international economic performance. Even though oil prices improved in June 2020, we cannot predict when oil prices will stabilize. Declines in oil and natural gas prices will materially adversely affect our financial condition, liquidity, ability to obtain financing and operating results. Changes in oil and gas prices impact both estimated future net revenue and the estimated quantity of proved reserves. Any reduction in reserves, including reductions due to price fluctuations, can reduce the borrowing base under our credit facility and adversely affect the amount of cash flow available for capital expenditures and our ability to obtain additional capital for our acquisition, exploration and development activities. In addition, a noncash write-down of our oil and gas properties could be required under full cost accounting rules if prices declined significantly, even if it is only for a short period of time. Lower prices may also reduce the amount of crude oil and natural gas that can be produced economically. Thus, we may experience material increases or decreases in reserve quantities solely as a result of price changes and not as a result of drilling or well performance. Similarly, any improvements in oil and gas prices can have a favorable impact on our financial condition, results of operations and capital resources. Oil and natural gas prices do not necessarily fluctuate in direct relationship to each other. If the average oil price had increased or decreased by ten dollars per barrel for the first nine months of fiscal 2021, pretax income or loss would have changed by $376,810. If the average gas price had increased or decreased by one dollar per mcf for the first nine months of fiscal 2021, pretax income or loss would have changed by $251,094.