Coal Trading (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Offsetting and Balance Sheet Presentation of Coal Trading Assets and Liabilities [Policy Text Block]

The Company offsets its coal trading asset and liability derivative positions, and variation margin related to those positions, on a counterparty-by-counterparty basis in the condensed consolidated balance sheets, with the fair values of those respective derivatives reflected in “Other current assets” and “Accounts payable and accrued expenses.”

Fair Value Valuation Techniques for Level 1 and 2 Financial Assets and Liabilities [Policy Text Block]

For Level 1 and 2 financial assets and liabilities, the Company utilizes both direct and indirect observable price quotes, including U.S. interest rate curves; LIBOR yield curves; Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group, Intercontinental Exchange, Baltic Exchange and Singapore Exchange contract prices; broker quotes; published indices; and other market quotes. Below is a summary of the Company’s valuation techniques for Level 1 and 2 financial assets and liabilities:


•	Futures, swaps and options: generally valued based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets (Level 1) or a valuation that is corroborated by the use of market-based pricing (Level 2) except when credit and non-performance risk is considered to be a significant input (greater than 10% of fair value), then the Company classifies as Level 3.


•	Physical purchase/sale contracts: purchases and sales at locations with significant market activity corroborated by market-based information (Level 2) except when credit and non-performance risk is considered to be a significant input (greater than 10% of fair value), then the Company classifies as Level 3.

Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy

Credit and Non-performance Risk. The fair value of the Company’s coal derivative assets and liabilities reflects adjustments for credit risk. The Company’s exposure is substantially with electric utilities, energy marketers, steel producers and nonfinancial trading houses. The Company’s policy is to independently evaluate each customer’s creditworthiness prior to entering into transactions and to regularly monitor the credit extended. If the Company engages in a transaction with a counterparty that does not meet its credit standards, the Company seeks to protect its position by requiring the counterparty to provide an appropriate credit enhancement. Also, when appropriate (as determined by its credit management function), the Company has taken steps to reduce its exposure to customers or counterparties whose credit has deteriorated and who may pose a higher risk of failure to perform under their contractual obligations. These steps include obtaining letters of credit or cash collateral (margin), requiring prepayments for shipments or the creation of customer trust accounts held for the Company’s benefit to serve as collateral in the event of a failure to pay or perform. To reduce its credit exposure related to trading and brokerage activities, the Company seeks to enter into netting agreements with counterparties that permit the Company to offset asset and liability positions with such counterparties and, to the extent required, the Company will post or receive margin amounts associated with exchange-cleared and certain OTC positions. The Company also continually monitors counterparty and contract non-performance risk, if present, on a case-by-case basis.