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INVENTORIES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
INVENTORIES 
INVENTORIES

 

 

5.                                      INVENTORIES

 

Inventories by segment are presented below. Readily marketable inventories refers to inventories that are readily convertible to cash because of their commodity characteristics, widely available markets and international pricing mechanisms.

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

(US$ in millions) 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Agribusiness (1)

 

$

4,321

 

$

5,137

 

Sugar and Bioenergy (2)

 

546

 

359

 

Edible oil products (3)

 

445

 

460

 

Milling products (3)

 

127

 

163

 

Fertilizer (4)

 

808

 

516

 

Total

 

$

6,247

 

$

6,635

 

 

 

(1)                Includes readily marketable agricultural commodity inventories at fair value of $4,075 million and $4,540 million at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.  All other agribusiness segment inventories are carried at lower of cost or market.

 

(2)                Includes readily marketable sugar inventories of $219 million and $86 million at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.  Of these sugar inventories, $151 million and $66 million are carried at fair value at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, in Bunge’s trading and merchandising business.  Sugar and ethanol inventories in Bunge’s industrial production business are carried at lower of cost or market.

 

(3)                Edible oil products and milling products inventories are generally carried at lower of cost or market, with the exception of readily marketable inventories of bulk soybean oil and corn, which are carried at fair value in the aggregate amount of $176 million and $225 million at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

 

(4)                Fertilizer inventories are carried at lower of cost or market.