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Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Description of Business The terms “Valero,” “we,” “our,” and “us,” as used in this report, may refer to Valero Energy Corporation, one or more of its consolidated subsidiaries, or all of them taken as a whole. We are an international manufacturer and marketer of transportation fuels and petrochemical products. We own 15 petroleum refineries with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 3.2 million barrels per day as of December 31, 2020 that are located in the United States (U.S.), Canada, and the United Kingdom (U.K.). We are also a joint venture partner in DGD, which owns a renewable diesel plant in Norco, Louisiana with a production capacity of 290 million gallons per year as of December 31, 2020. We also own 13 ethanol plants with a combined production capacity of 1.69 billion gallons per year as of December 31, 2020 that are located in the Mid-Continent region of the U.S. We sell our products primarily in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, and Latin America. As discussed in Note 2, the outbreak of COVID-19 and its development into a pandemic in March 2020 has resulted in significant economic disruption globally. While demand and market prices for most of our products increased during the second half of 2020 compared to the low product demand during the first half of 2020, developments with respect to COVID-19 have been occurring at a rapid pace and the risk remains that circumstances could change. For instance, beginning in the latter part of the second quarter of 2020, certain governmental authorities in the U.S. and other countries across the world began lifting many of the restrictions put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. However, in the second half of 2020, many locations where restrictions were lifted, and others where the restrictions were only more moderately lifted (such as California in our U.S. West Coast region, and New York, Canada, and the U.K. in our North Atlantic region), experienced a resurgence in the spread of COVID-19, which prompted many governmental authorities to reimpose certain restrictions. In December 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Canadian and U.K. regulators each granted emergency-use authorization for multiple COVID-19 vaccines to be used as immunization against the COVID-19 virus. Although these vaccines may be seen as a key factor in helping to restore public confidence, and thus stimulate and increase economic activity, potentially to pre-pandemic levels, they may not be distributed widely on a timely basis and they may not be effective against new variants of the virus. Based on these and other circumstances that cannot be predicted, the broader implications of the pandemic on our results of operations and financial position remain uncertain. Therefore, our operating results for the year ended December 31, 2020 do not fully reflect the impact this disruption will likely continue to have on us. Basis of Presentation General These consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Reclassifications Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2020 presentation. The changes were due to (i) the reclassification of amounts for income taxes receivable from prepaid expenses and other to “receivables, net” in the consolidated balance sheets and (ii) the reclassification of amounts for repayments of debt and finance lease obligations from “other financing activities, net” in the consolidated statements of cash flows to repayments of debt and finance lease obligations (excluding VIEs). Significant Accounting Policies Principles of Consolidation These financial statements include those of Valero, our wholly owned subsidiaries, and VIEs in which we have a controlling financial interest. Our VIEs are described in Note 13. The ownership interests held by others in the VIEs are recorded as noncontrolling interests. Intercompany items and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Investments in less than wholly owned entities where we have significant influence are accounted for using the equity method. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. On an ongoing basis, we review our estimates based on currently available information. Changes in facts and circumstances may result in revised estimates. Cash Equivalents Our cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and have a maturity of three months or less when acquired. Receivables Trade receivables are carried at amortized cost, which is the original invoice amount adjusted for cash collections, write-offs, and foreign exchange. We maintain an allowance for credit losses, which is adjusted based on management’s assessment of our customers’ historical collection experience, known or expected credit risks, and industry and economic conditions. Inventories The cost of (i) refinery feedstocks and refined petroleum products and blendstocks, (ii) renewable diesel feedstocks (i.e., rendered and recycled materials, including animal fats, used cooking oils, and other vegetable oils) and products, and (iii) ethanol feedstocks and products is determined under the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method using the dollar-value LIFO approach, with any increments valued based on average purchase prices during the year. Our LIFO inventories are carried at the lower of cost or market. The cost of products purchased for resale and the cost of materials and supplies are determined principally under the weighted-average cost method. Our non-LIFO inventories are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. If the aggregate market value of our LIFO inventories or the aggregate net realizable value of our non-LIFO inventories is less than the related aggregate cost, we recognize a loss for the difference in our statements of income. To the extent the aggregate market value of our LIFO inventories subsequently increases, we recognize an increase to the value of our inventories (not to exceed cost) and a gain in our statements of income. Property, Plant, and Equipment The cost of property, plant, and equipment (property assets) purchased or constructed, including betterments of property assets, is capitalized. However, the cost of repairs to and normal maintenance of property assets is expensed as incurred. Betterments of property assets are those that extend the useful life, increase the capacity or improve the operating efficiency of the asset, or improve the safety of our operations. The cost of property assets constructed includes interest and certain overhead costs allocable to the construction activities. Our operations are highly capital intensive. Each of our refineries and plants comprises a large base of property assets, consisting of a series of interconnected, highly integrated and interdependent crude oil and feedstock processing facilities and supporting logistical infrastructure (Units), and these Units are improved continuously. Improvements consist of the addition of new Units and betterments of existing Units. We plan for these improvements by developing a multi-year capital program that is updated and revised based on changing internal and external factors. Depreciation of property assets used in our refining and renewable diesel segments is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of these assets primarily using the composite method of depreciation. We maintain a separate composite group of property assets for each of our refineries and our renewable diesel plant. We estimate the useful life of each group based on an evaluation of the property assets comprising the group, and such evaluations consist of, but are not limited to, the physical inspection of the assets to determine their condition, consideration of the manner in which the assets are maintained, assessment of the need to replace assets, and evaluation of the manner in which improvements impact the useful life of the group. The estimated useful lives of our composite groups range primarily from 20 to 30 years. Under the composite method of depreciation, the cost of an improvement is added to the composite group to which it relates and is depreciated over that group’s estimated useful life. We design improvements to our refineries and renewable diesel plant in accordance with engineering specifications, design standards, and practices accepted in our industry, and these improvements have design lives consistent with our estimated useful lives. Therefore, we believe the use of the group life to depreciate the cost of improvements made to the group is reasonable because the estimated useful life of each improvement is consistent with that of the group. Also under the composite method of depreciation, the historical cost of a minor property asset (net of salvage value) that is retired or replaced is charged to accumulated depreciation and no gain or loss is recognized in income. However, a gain or loss is recognized in income for a major property asset that is retired, replaced, sold, or for an abnormal disposition of a property asset (primarily involuntary conversions). Gains and losses are reflected in depreciation and amortization expense, unless such amounts are reported separately due to materiality. Depreciation of property assets used in our ethanol segment is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. The estimated useful life of our corn processing facilities is 20 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the related asset. Finance lease ROU (defined below) assets are amortized as discussed in “Leases” below. Deferred Charges and Other Assets “Deferred charges and other assets, net” primarily include the following: •turnaround costs, which are incurred in connection with planned major maintenance activities at our refineries, renewable diesel plant, and ethanol plants, are deferred when incurred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the period of time estimated to lapse until the next turnaround occurs; •fixed-bed catalyst costs, representing the cost of catalyst that is changed out at periodic intervals when the quality of the catalyst has deteriorated beyond its prescribed function, are deferred when incurred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the specific catalyst; •operating lease ROU (defined below) assets, which are amortized as discussed in “Leases” below; •investments in unconsolidated joint ventures; •noncurrent income taxes receivable; •intangible assets, which are amortized over their estimated useful lives; and •goodwill. Leases We evaluate if a contract is or contains a lease at inception of the contract. If we determine that a contract is or contains a lease, we recognize a right-of-use (ROU) asset and lease liability at the commencement date of the lease based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The present value of the lease payments is determined by using the implicit rate when readily determinable. If not determinable, our centrally managed treasury group provides an incremental borrowing rate based on quoted interest rates obtained from financial institutions. The rate used is for a term similar to the duration of the lease based on information available at the commencement date. Lease terms include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise those options. We recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities for leasing arrangements with terms greater than one year. Except for the marine transportation asset class, we account for lease and non-lease components in a contract as a single lease component for all classes of underlying assets. Our marine transportation contracts include non-lease components, such as maintenance and crew costs. We allocate the consideration in these contracts based on pricing information provided by the third-party broker. Expense for an operating lease is recognized as a single lease cost on a straight-line basis over the lease term and is reflected in the appropriate income statement line item based on the leased asset’s function. Amortization expense of a finance lease ROU asset is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the useful life of the leased asset or the lease term. However, if the lessor transfers ownership of the finance lease ROU asset to us at the end of the lease term, the finance lease ROU asset is amortized over the useful life of the leased asset. Amortization expense is reflected in “depreciation and amortization expense.” Interest expense is incurred based on the carrying value of the lease liability and is reflected in “interest and debt expense, net of capitalized interest.” Impairment of Assets Long-lived assets are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. A long-lived asset is not recoverable if its carrying amount exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. If a long-lived asset is not recoverable, an impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the long-lived asset exceeds its fair value, with fair value determined based on discounted estimated net cash flows or other appropriate methods. We evaluate our equity method investments for impairment when there is evidence that we may not be able to recover the carrying amount of our investments or the investee is unable to sustain an earnings capacity that justifies the carrying amount. A loss in the value of an investment that is other than a temporary decline is recognized currently in income based on the difference between the estimated current fair value of the investment and its carrying amount. Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested for impairment annually on October 1st and in interim periods when events or changes in circumstance indicate that the fair value of a reporting unit with goodwill is below its carrying amount. A goodwill impairment loss is recognized for the amount that the carrying amount of a reporting unit, including goodwill, exceeds its fair value, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Asset Retirement Obligations We record a liability, which is referred to as an asset retirement obligation, at fair value for the estimated cost to retire a tangible long-lived asset at the time we incur that liability, which is generally when the asset is purchased, constructed, or leased. We record the liability when we have a legal obligation to incur costs to retire the asset and when a reasonable estimate of the fair value of the liability can be made. If a reasonable estimate cannot be made at the time the liability is incurred, we record the liability when sufficient information is available to estimate the liability’s fair value. We have obligations with respect to certain of our assets related to our refining and ethanol segments to clean and/or dispose of various component parts of the assets at the time they are retired. However, these component parts can be used for extended and indeterminate periods of time as long as they are properly maintained and/or upgraded. It is our practice and current intent to maintain all our assets and continue making improvements to those assets based on technological advances. As a result, we believe that our assets related to our refining and ethanol segments have indeterminate lives for purposes of estimating asset retirement obligations because dates or ranges of dates upon which we would retire such assets cannot reasonably be estimated at this time. We will recognize a liability at such time when sufficient information exists to estimate a date or range of potential settlement dates that is needed to employ a present value technique to estimate fair value. Environmental Matters Liabilities for future remediation costs are recorded when environmental assessments and/or remedial efforts are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Other than for assessments, the timing and magnitude of these accruals generally are based on the completion of investigations or other studies or a commitment to a formal plan of action. Amounts recorded for environmental liabilities have not been reduced by possible recoveries from third parties and have not been measured on a discounted basis. Legal Contingencies We are subject to legal proceedings, claims, and liabilities that arise in the ordinary course of business. We accrue losses associated with legal claims when such losses are probable and reasonably estimable. If we determine that a loss is probable and cannot estimate a specific amount for that loss but can estimate a range of loss, the best estimate within the range is accrued. If no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other, the minimum amount of the range is accrued. Estimates are adjusted as additional information becomes available or circumstances change. Legal defense costs associated with loss contingencies are expensed in the period incurred. Foreign Currency Translation Generally, our international subsidiaries use their local currency as their functional currency. Balance sheet amounts are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect as of the balance sheet date. Income statement amounts are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rates in effect at the time the underlying transactions occur. Foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. Revenue Recognition Our revenues are primarily generated from contracts with customers. We generate revenue from contracts with customers from the sale of products by our refining, renewable diesel, and ethanol segments. Revenues are recognized when we satisfy our performance obligation to transfer products to our customers, which typically occurs at a point in time upon shipment or delivery of the products, and for an amount that reflects the transaction price that is allocated to the performance obligation. The customer is able to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all of the benefits from, the products at the point of shipment or delivery. As a result, we consider control to have transferred upon shipment or delivery because we have a present right to payment at that time, the customer has legal title to the asset, we have transferred physical possession of the asset, and the customer has significant risks and rewards of ownership of the asset. Our contracts with customers state the final terms of the sale, including the description, quantity, and price for goods sold. Payment is typically due in full within two to ten days of delivery. In the normal course of business, we generally do not accept product returns. The transaction price is the consideration that we expect to be entitled to in exchange for our products. The transaction price for substantially all of our contracts is generally based on commodity market pricing (i.e., variable consideration). As such, this market pricing may be constrained (i.e., not estimable) at the inception of the contract but will be recognized based on the applicable market pricing, which will be known upon transfer of the goods to the customer. Some of our contracts also contain variable consideration in the form of sales incentives to our customers, such as discounts and rebates. For contracts that include variable consideration, we estimate the factors that determine the variable consideration in order to establish the transaction price. We have elected to exclude from the measurement of the transaction price all taxes assessed by governmental authorities that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction and collected by us from a customer (e.g., sales tax, use tax, value-added tax, etc.). We continue to include in the transaction price excise taxes that are imposed on certain inventories in our international operations. The amount of such taxes is provided in supplemental information in a footnote on the statements of income. There are instances where we provide shipping services in relation to the goods sold to our customer. Shipping and handling costs that occur before the customer obtains control of the goods are deemed to be fulfillment activities and are included in cost of materials and other. We have elected to account for shipping and handling activities that occur after the customer has obtained control of a good as fulfillment activities rather than as a promised service and we have included these activities in cost of materials and other. We enter into certain purchase and sale arrangements with the same counterparty that are deemed to be made in contemplation of one another. We combine these transactions and present the net effect in cost of materials and other. We also enter into refined petroleum product exchange transactions to fulfill sales contracts with our customers by accessing refined petroleum products in markets where we do not operate our own refineries. These refined petroleum product exchanges are accounted for as exchanges of nonmonetary assets, and no revenues are recorded on these transactions. Cost Classifications “Cost of materials and other” primarily includes the cost of materials that are a component of our products sold. These costs include (i) the direct cost of materials (such as crude oil and other refinery feedstocks, refined petroleum products and blendstocks, renewable diesel feedstocks and products, and ethanol feedstocks and products) that are a component of our products sold; (ii) costs related to the delivery (such as shipping and handling costs) of products sold; (iii) costs related to our environmental credit obligations to comply with various governmental and regulatory programs (such as the cost of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) as required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Renewable Fuel Standard, emission credits under various cap-and-trade systems, as defined in Note 20); (iv) the blender’s tax credit recognized on qualified biodiesel mixtures; (v) gains and losses on our commodity derivative instruments; and (vi) certain excise taxes. “Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense)” include costs to operate our refineries, renewable diesel and ethanol plants, and logistics assets, except for depreciation and amortization expense. These costs primarily include employee-related expenses, energy and utility costs, catalysts and chemical costs, and repair and maintenance expenses. “Depreciation and amortization expense” associated with our operations is separately presented in our statement of income as a component of cost of sales and general and administrative expenses and is disclosed by reportable segment in Note 18. “Other operating expenses” include costs, if any, incurred by our reportable segments that are not associated with our cost of sales. Environmental Compliance Program Costs We purchase credits in the open market to meet our obligations under various environmental compliance programs. We purchase biofuel credits (primarily RINs in the U.S.) to comply with government regulations that require us to blend a certain percentage of biofuels into the products we produce. To the degree that we are unable to blend biofuels at the required percentage, we must purchase biofuel credits to meet our obligation. We purchase greenhouse gas (GHG) emission credits to comply with government regulations concerning various GHG emission programs, including cap-and-trade systems. These programs are described in Note 21 under “Risk Management Activities by Type of Risk—Environmental Compliance Program Price Risk.” The costs of purchased biofuel credits and GHG emission credits are charged to cost of materials and other as such credits are needed to satisfy our obligation. To the extent we have not purchased enough credits to satisfy our obligation as of the balance sheet date, we charge cost of materials and other for such deficiency based on the market price of the credits as of the balance sheet date, and we record a liability for our obligation to purchase those credits. See Note 20 for disclosure of our fair value liability. Stock-Based Compensation Compensation expense for our share-based compensation plans is based on the fair value of the awards granted and is recognized in income on a straight-line basis over the shorter of (i) the requisite service period of each award or (ii) the period from the grant date to the date retirement eligibility is achieved if that date is expected to occur during the vesting period established in the award. Income Taxes Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred amounts are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the year those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Deferred tax assets are reduced by unrecognized tax benefits, if such items may be available to offset the unrecognized tax benefit. Stranded income tax effects are released from accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained earnings on an individual item basis as those items are reclassified into income. We have elected to classify any interest expense and penalties related to the underpayment of income taxes in income tax expense. We have elected to treat the global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) tax as a period expense. Earnings per Common Share Earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Valero stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the year. Participating securities are included in the computation of basic earnings per share using the two-class method. Earnings per common share – assuming dilution is computed by dividing net income attributable to Valero stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the year increased by the effect of dilutive securities. Potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the computation of earnings per common share – assuming dilution when the effect of including such shares would be antidilutive. Financial Instruments Our financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, receivables, payables, debt, operating and finance lease obligations, commodity derivative contracts, and foreign currency derivative contracts. The estimated fair values of these financial instruments approximate their carrying amounts, except for certain debt as discussed in Note 20. Derivatives and Hedging All derivative instruments, not designated as normal purchases or sales, are recorded in the balance sheet as either assets or liabilities measured at their fair values with changes in fair value recognized currently in income. To manage commodity price risk, we primarily use cash flow hedges and economic hedges, and we also use fair value hedges from time to time. The cash flow effects of all of our derivative instruments are reflected in operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Accounting Pronouncements Adopted During 2020 We adopted the following Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs) on January 1, 2020. Our adoption of these ASUs did not have a material impact on our financial statements or related disclosures.
ASU |  |  |  | Basis of Adoption
2016-13 | Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (including codification improvements in ASUs 2018-19 and 2019-11 and ASU 2020-02—Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 119) |  |  |  | Cumulative effect
2018-15 | Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract |  |  |  | Prospectively
2019-12 | Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes |  |  |  | Prospectively
The following FASB ASU was issued and adopted by us on March 12, 2020. Our adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our financial statements or related disclosures.
ASU |  |  |  | Basis of Adoption
2020-04 | Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting |  |  |  | Prospectively
Accounting Pronouncement Adopted During January 2021 The following FASB ASU was issued and adopted by us on January 7, 2021. Our adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our financial statements or related disclosures.
ASU |  |  |  | Basis of Adoption
2021-01 | Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope |  |  |  | Prospectively

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