VALERO ENERGY CORP/TX | 2013 | FY | 3


21.
PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
We are exposed to market risks related to the volatility in the price of commodities, interest rates, and foreign currency exchange rates. We enter into derivative instruments to manage some of these risks, including derivative instruments related to the various commodities we purchase or produce, interest rate swaps, and foreign currency exchange and purchase contracts, as described below under “Risk Management Activities by Type of Risk.” These derivative instruments are recorded as either assets or liabilities measured at their fair values (see Note 20), as summarized below under “Fair Values of Derivative Instruments.” In addition, the effect of these derivative instruments on our income is summarized below under “Effect of Derivative Instruments on Income and Other Comprehensive Income.”
When we enter into a derivative instrument, it is designated as a fair value hedge, a cash flow hedge, an economic hedge, or a trading derivative. The gain or loss on a derivative instrument designated and qualifying as a fair value hedge, as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk, is recognized currently in income in the same period. The effective portion of the gain or loss on a derivative instrument designated and qualifying as a cash flow hedge is initially reported as a component of other comprehensive income and is then recorded in income in the period or periods during which the hedged forecasted transaction affects income. The ineffective portion of the gain or loss on the cash flow derivative instrument, if any, is recognized in income as incurred. For our economic hedges (derivative instruments not designated as fair value or cash flow hedges) and for derivative instruments entered into by us for trading purposes, the derivative instrument is recorded at fair value and changes in the fair value of the derivative instrument are recognized currently in income. The cash flow effects of all of our derivative instruments are reflected in operating activities in our statements of cash flows for all periods presented.

We are also exposed to market risk related to the volatility in the price of credits needed to comply with various governmental and regulatory programs. To manage this risk, we enter into contracts to purchase these credits when prices are deemed favorable. Some of these contracts are derivative instruments; however, we elect the normal purchase exception and do not record these contracts at their fair values.

Risk Management Activities by Type of Risk
Commodity Price Risk
We are exposed to market risks related to the volatility in the price of crude oil, refined products (primarily gasoline and distillate), grain (primarily corn), soybean oil, and natural gas used in our operations. To reduce the impact of price volatility on our results of operations and cash flows, we use commodity derivative instruments, including futures, swaps, and options. We use the futures markets for the available liquidity, which provides greater flexibility in transacting our hedging and trading operations. We use swaps primarily to manage our price exposure. Our positions in commodity derivative instruments are monitored and managed on a daily basis by a risk control group to ensure compliance with our stated risk management policy that has been approved by our board of directors.

For risk management purposes, we use fair value hedges, cash flow hedges, and economic hedges. In addition to the use of derivative instruments to manage commodity price risk, we also enter into certain commodity derivative instruments for trading purposes. Our objective for entering into each type of hedge or trading derivative is described below.
Fair Value Hedges – Fair value hedges are used to hedge price volatility in certain refining inventories and firm commitments to purchase inventories. The level of activity for our fair value hedges is based on the level of our operating inventories, and generally represents the amount by which our inventories differ from our previous year-end LIFO inventory levels.

As of December 31, 2013, we had the following outstanding commodity derivative instruments that were entered into to hedge crude oil and refined product inventories and commodity derivative instruments related to the physical purchase of crude oil and refined products at a fixed price. The information presents the notional volume of outstanding contracts by type of instrument and year of maturity (volumes in thousands of barrels).
 
 
Notional
Contract
Volumes by
Year of
Maturity
Derivative Instrument
 
2014
Crude oil and refined products:
 
 
Futures – long
 
11,857

Futures – short
 
12,169

Physical contracts – long
 
312


Cash Flow Hedges – Cash flow hedges are used to hedge price volatility in certain forecasted feedstock and refined product purchases, refined product sales, and natural gas purchases. The objective of our cash flow hedges is to lock in the price of forecasted feedstock, refined product or natural gas purchases, or refined product sales at existing market prices that we deem favorable.

As of December 31, 2013, we had the following outstanding commodity derivative instruments that were entered into to hedge forecasted purchases or sales of crude oil and refined products. The information presents the notional volume of outstanding contracts by type of instrument and year of maturity (volumes in thousands of barrels).
 
 
Notional
Contract
Volumes by
Year of
Maturity
Derivative Instrument
 
2014
Crude oil and refined products:
 
 
Futures – long
 
7,629

Futures – short
 
2,314

Physical contracts – short
 
5,315



Economic Hedges – Economic hedges represent commodity derivative instruments that are not designated as fair value or cash flow hedges and are used to manage price volatility in certain (i) refinery feedstock, refined product, and corn inventories, (ii) forecasted refinery feedstock, refined product, and corn purchases, and refined product sales, and (iii) fixed-price corn purchase contracts. Our objective for entering into economic hedges is consistent with the objectives discussed above for fair value hedges and cash flow hedges. However, the economic hedges are not designated as a fair value hedge or a cash flow hedge for accounting purposes, usually due to the difficulty of establishing the required documentation at the date that the derivative instrument is entered into that would allow us to achieve “hedge deferral accounting.”

As of December 31, 2013, we had the following outstanding commodity derivative instruments that were used as economic hedges and commodity derivative instruments related to the physical purchase of corn at a fixed price. The information presents the notional volume of outstanding contracts by type of instrument and year of maturity (volumes in thousands of barrels, except those identified as corn contracts that are presented in thousands of bushels, and soybean oil contracts that are presented in thousands of pounds).
 
 
Notional Contract Volumes by
Year of Maturity
Derivative Instrument
 
2014
 
2015
Crude oil and refined products:
 
 
 
 
Swaps – long
 
7,261

 

Swaps – short
 
7,276

 

Futures – long
 
42,205

 

Futures – short
 
52,158

 

Corn:
 
 
 
 
Futures – long
 
17,110

 

Futures – short
 
26,095

 
145

Physical contracts – long
 
12,554

 
156

Soybean oil:
 
 
 
 
Futures – short
 
25,320

 


Trading Derivatives – Our objective for entering into commodity derivative instruments for trading purposes is to take advantage of existing market conditions related to future results of operations and cash flows.

As of December 31, 2013, we had the following outstanding commodity derivative instruments that were entered into for trading purposes. The information presents the notional volume of outstanding contracts by type of instrument and year of maturity (volumes represent thousands of barrels, except those identified as natural gas contracts that are presented in billions of British thermal units and corn contracts that are presented in thousands of bushels).
 
 
Notional Contract Volumes by
Year of Maturity
Derivative Instrument
 
2014
 
2015
Crude oil and refined products:
 
 
 
 
Swaps – long
 
25,200

 

Swaps – short
 
25,200

 

Futures – long
 
84,766

 
3,490

Futures – short
 
84,397

 
3,665

Options – long
 
28,850

 

Options – short
 
28,600

 

Natural gas:
 
 
 
 
Futures – long
 
600

 
1,000

Futures – short
 
1,150

 

Options – short
 
250

 

Corn:
 
 
 
 
Futures – long
 
435

 

Futures – short
 
435

 


Interest Rate Risk
Our primary market risk exposure for changes in interest rates relates to our debt obligations. We manage our exposure to changing interest rates through the use of a combination of fixed-rate and floating-rate debt. In addition, at times we have used interest rate swap agreements to manage our fixed to floating interest rate position by converting certain fixed-rate debt to floating-rate debt. We had no interest rate derivative instruments outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, or during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, or 2011.
Foreign Currency Risk
We are exposed to exchange rate fluctuations on transactions entered into by our international operations that are denominated in currencies other than the local (functional) currencies of these operations. To manage our exposure to these exchange rate fluctuations, we use foreign currency exchange and purchase contracts. These contracts are not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes, and therefore they are classified as economic hedges. As of December 31, 2013, we had commitments to purchase $716 million of U.S. dollars. The majority of these commitments matured on or before January 31, 2014 resulting in a gain of $12 million in the first quarter of 2014.

Compliance Program Price Risk
We are exposed to market risk related to the volatility in the price of credits needed to comply with various governmental and regulatory programs. The most significant programs impacting our operations are those that require us to blend biofuels into the products we produce, and we are subject to such programs in most of the countries in which we operate. These countries set annual quotas for the percentage of biofuels that must be blended into the motor fuels consumed in these countries. As a producer of motor fuels from petroleum, we are obligated to blend biofuels into the products we produce at a rate that is at least equal to the applicable quota. To the degree we are unable to blend at the applicable rate, we must purchase biofuel credits (primarily RINs in the U.S.). We are exposed to the volatility in the market price of these credits, and we manage that risk by purchasing biofuel credits when prices are deemed favorable. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, the cost of meeting our obligations under these compliance programs was $517 million, $250 million, and $231 million, respectively. These amounts are reflected in cost of sales.

Maintaining Minimum Inventory Quantities
In the U.K., we are required to maintain a minimum quantity of crude oil and refined products as a reserve against shortages or interruptions in the supply of these products. To the degree we decide not to physically hold the minimum quantity of crude oil and refined products, we must purchase Compulsory Stock Obligation (CSO) tickets from other suppliers of refined products in the U.K. or other European Union (EU) member countries, and we make economic decisions as to the cost of maintaining certain quantities of crude oil and refined products versus the cost of purchasing CSO tickets. We have not entered into derivative instruments to manage the price volatility of CSO tickets. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the cost of purchasing CSO tickets to help meet our obligations under this compliance program was $3 million and $8 million, respectively, and these amounts were reflected in cost of sales. We had no obligations under this compliance program prior to completing the Pembroke Acquisition in 2011.

Emission Allowances
Our Pembroke Refinery is subject to a maximum amount of carbon dioxide that it can emit each year under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. Under this cap-and-trade program, we purchase emission allowances on the open market for the difference between the amount of carbon dioxide emitted and the maximum amount allowed under the program. Therefore, we are exposed to the volatility in the market price of these allowances. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 the cost of meeting our obligation under this compliance program was immaterial. We had no obligations under this compliance program prior to completing the Pembroke Acquisition in 2011.

We enter into derivative instruments (futures) to reduce the impact of this risk on our results of operations and cash flows. Our positions in these derivative instruments are monitored and managed on a daily basis by a risk control group to ensure compliance with our stated risk management policy that has been approved by our board of directors. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, we had no futures contracts outstanding related to this compliance program. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the loss recognized in income on compliance program derivative instruments designated as economic hedges was immaterial and therefore not separately presented in the table below under “Effect of Derivative Instruments on Statements of Income and Other Comprehensive Income.”
Fair Values of Derivative Instruments
The following tables provide information about the fair values of our derivative instruments as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in millions) and the line items in the balance sheets in which the fair values are reflected. See Note 20 for additional information related to the fair values of our derivative instruments.
As indicated in Note 20, we net fair value amounts recognized for multiple similar derivative contracts executed with the same counterparty under master netting arrangements, including cash collateral assets and obligations. The tables below, however, are presented on a gross asset and gross liability basis, which results in the reflection of certain assets in liability accounts and certain liabilities in asset accounts.
 
Balance Sheet
Location
 
December 31, 2013
 
 
Asset
Derivatives  
 
Liability
Derivatives  
Derivatives designated as
hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
Futures
Receivables, net
 
$
25

 
$
36

 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives not designated as
hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
Futures
Receivables, net
 
$
474

 
$
455

Swaps
Receivables, net
 
33

 
18

Swaps
Prepaid expenses and other
 
3

 

Swaps
Accrued expenses
 

 
5

Options
Receivables, net
 
2

 
2

Physical purchase contracts
Inventories
 

 
5

Foreign currency contracts
Accrued expenses
 

 
8

Total
 
 
$
512

 
$
493

Total derivatives
 
 
$
537

 
$
529


 
Balance Sheet
Location
 
December 31, 2012
 
 
Asset
Derivatives  
 
Liability
Derivatives  
Derivatives designated as
hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
Futures
Receivables, net
 
$
77

 
$
64

Swaps
Receivables, net
 
15

 
13

Swaps
Prepaid expenses and other
 
2

 
2

Total
 
 
$
94

 
$
79

 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives not designated as
hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
Futures
Receivables, net
 
$
1,066

 
$
1,073

Swaps
Receivables, net
 
9

 
6

Swaps
Accrued expenses
 
32

 
46

Options
Receivables, net
 
1

 
4

Options
Accrued expenses
 
1

 

Physical purchase contracts
Inventories
 
11

 

Foreign currency contracts
Receivables, net
 
1

 

Foreign currency contracts
Accrued expenses
 

 
1

Total
 
 
$
1,121

 
$
1,130

Total derivatives
 
 
$
1,215

 
$
1,209


Market and Counterparty Risk
Our price risk management activities involve the receipt or payment of fixed price commitments into the future. These transactions give rise to market risk, which is the risk that future changes in market conditions may make an instrument less valuable. We closely monitor and manage our exposure to market risk on a daily basis in accordance with policies approved by our board of directors. Market risks are monitored by a risk control group to ensure compliance with our stated risk management policy. Concentrations of customers in the refining industry may impact our overall exposure to counterparty risk because these customers may be similarly affected by changes in economic or other conditions. In addition, financial services companies are the counterparties in certain of our price risk management activities, and such financial services companies may be adversely affected by periods of uncertainty and illiquidity in the credit and capital markets.
There were no material amounts due from counterparties in the refining or financial services industry as of December 31, 2013 or 2012. We do not require any collateral or other security to support derivative instruments into which we enter. We also do not have any derivative instruments that require us to maintain a minimum investment-grade credit rating.
Effect of Derivative Instruments on Income and Other Comprehensive Income
The following tables provide information about the gain or loss recognized in income and other comprehensive income (OCI) on our derivative instruments and the line items in the financial statements in which such gains and losses are reflected (in millions).
Derivatives in Fair Value
Hedging Relationships
 
Location of Gain (Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Derivatives
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Commodity contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss recognized in
income on derivatives
 
Cost of sales
 
$
(12
)
 
$
(250
)
 
$
(6
)
Gain (loss) recognized in
income on hedged item
 
Cost of sales
 
18

 
183

 
(23
)
Gain (loss) recognized in
income on derivatives
(ineffective portion)
 
Cost of sales
 
6

 
(67
)
 
(29
)

For fair value hedges, no component of the derivative instruments’ gains or losses was excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011. There were no amounts recognized in income for hedged firm commitments that no longer qualified as fair value hedges during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2011; however, a gain of $28 million was recognized in income during the year ended December 31, 2012 for hedged firm commitments that no longer qualified as fair value hedges.
Derivatives in Cash Flow
Hedging Relationships
 
Location of Gain (Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Derivatives
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Commodity contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gain (loss) recognized in
OCI on derivatives
(effective portion)
 
 
 
$
(4
)
 
$
45

 
$
32

Gain (loss) reclassified from
accumulated OCI into
income (effective portion)
 
Cost of sales
 
(2
)
 
73

 
3

Gain recognized in
income on derivatives
(ineffective portion)
 
Cost of sales
 
21

 
48

 
5


For cash flow hedges, no component of the derivative instruments’ gains or losses was excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011. For the year ended December 31, 2013, cash flow hedges primarily related to forward sales of gasoline and distillates, and associated forward purchases of crude oil, with $1 million of cumulative after-tax losses on cash flow hedges remaining in accumulated other comprehensive income. We estimate that $1 million of the deferred loss as of December 31, 2013 will be reclassified into cost of sales over the next 12 months as a result of hedged transactions that are forecasted to occur. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, there were no amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income as a result of the discontinuance of cash flow hedge accounting.
Derivatives Designated as
Economic Hedges and Other
Derivative Instruments
 
Location of Gain (Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Derivatives
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Commodity contracts
 
Cost of sales
 
$
193

 
$
1

 
$
(349
)
Foreign currency contracts
 
Cost of sales
 
14

 
(38
)
 
18

Other contract
 
Cost of sales
 

 

 
29

Total
 
 
 
$
207

 
$
(37
)
 
$
(302
)

The gain of $29 million on the other contract for the year ended December 31, 2011 is related to the difference between the fair value of inventories acquired in connection with the Pembroke Acquisition and the amount paid for such inventories based on the terms of the purchase agreement. The loss of $349 million on commodity contracts for the year ended December 31, 2011 includes a $542 million loss related to forward sales of refined products.

Trading Derivatives
 
Location of Gain (Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Derivatives
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Commodity contracts
 
Cost of sales
 
$
21

 
$
(16
)
 
$
23

RINs fixed-price contracts
 
Cost of sales
 
(20
)
 

 


us-gaap:DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesDisclosureTextBlock