Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market and Other Economic Risks
We are exposed to various market risks, primarily changes in interest rates, currency and commodity prices. Our objective is to minimize the economic impact of these market risks. We may use derivatives in accordance with policies and procedures approved by the Finance & Strategic Planning Committee of our Board of Directors. See Note 11—Derivative Instruments to our Financial Statements for further information.
Foreign Currency
We manage our foreign currency exposures by balancing certain assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. We may also use foreign currency forward contracts to manage these exposures. The principal objective of such contracts is to minimize the potential volatility and financial impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We do not utilize financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes.
Prices
The prices, sales volumes and margins of the commodity products of our High Purity Cellulose segment and all the products of the High-Yield Pulp segment have historically been cyclically affected by economic and market shifts, fluctuations in capacity and changes in foreign currency exchange rates. These products have less distinguishing qualities from producer to producer and competition is based primarily on price, which is determined by market supply relative to demand. The overall levels of demand for the products we manufacture, and consequently our sales and profitability, reflect fluctuations in end user demand. Our cellulose specialties product prices are impacted by market supply and demand, raw material and processing costs, changes in global currencies and other factors.
Certain key input costs, such as wood fiber, chemicals and energy, may experience significant price fluctuations, also impacted by market shifts, fluctuations in capacity and other demand and supply dynamics. We may periodically enter into commodity forward contracts to fix some of our energy costs that are subject to price volatility caused by weather, supply conditions, political and economic variables and other unpredictable factors. Such forward contracts partially mitigate the risk of changes to our gross margins resulting from an increase or decrease in these costs. Forward contracts that are derivative instruments are reported in our consolidated balance sheets at their fair values, unless they qualify for the normal purchase normal sale exception and such exception has been elected, in which case the fair values of such contracts are not recognized in the balance sheet.
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Variable Interest Rates
As of December 31, 2023, we had $255 million of variable rate debt subject to interest rate risk. In the third quarter of 2023 we issued variable rate term loan financing of $250 million, which was used with cash on hand to redeem the $318 million outstanding principal balance of our fixed rate 2024 Notes. At this borrowing level, a hypothetical one percent change in interest rates would have resulted in a $2 million annual change in interest expense. At December 31, 2022, we had $4 million of variable rate debt subject to interest rate risk, for which a hypothetical one percent change in rates would have resulted in an immaterial change in interest expense for the period.
The fair market value of our long-term fixed interest rate debt is also subject to interest rate risk when the debt becomes due or if we do not hold the debt until maturity. The estimated fair value of our fixed-rate debt at December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $498 million and $839 million, respectively, compared to their respective $540 million and $854 million principal amounts. We use quoted market prices to estimate the fair value of our fixed-rate debt. Generally, the fair market value of fixed-rate debt will increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise.