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Derivatives
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Derivatives  
Derivatives

9. Derivatives

Interest rate risk management

The Company has entered into interest rate swaps to reduce the variability of cash outflows associated with interest payments on its variable rate term loan. These swaps have been designated as cash flow hedges. For additional information on these arrangements, see Note 11, “Debt and Financing Arrangements,” in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Diesel fuel price risk management

The Company is exposed to price risk with respect to diesel fuel purchased for use in its operations. The Company anticipates purchasing approximately 30 to 35 million gallons of diesel fuel for use in its operations during 2021. To protect the Company’s cash flows from increases in the price of diesel fuel for its operations, the Company uses forward physical diesel purchase contracts and purchased heating oil call options. At March 31, 2021, the Company had no heating oil call options outstanding.

Coal price risk management positions

The Company may sell or purchase forward contracts, swaps and options in the over-the-counter coal market in order to manage its exposure to coal prices. The Company has exposure to the risk of fluctuating coal prices related to forecasted, index-priced sales or purchases of coal or to the risk of changes in the fair value of a fixed price physical sales contract. Certain derivative contracts may be designated as hedges of these risks.

At March 31, 2021, the Company held derivatives for risk management purposes that are expected to settle in the following years:

(Tons in thousands)

    

2021

Coal sales

 

320

Coal purchases

 

62

Coal trading positions

The Company may sell or purchase forward contracts, swaps and options in the over-the-counter coal market for trading purposes. The Company is exposed to the risk of changes in coal prices on the value of its coal trading portfolio. The unrecognized gains of $0.2 million in the trading portfolio are expected to be realized during the remainder of 2021.

Tabular derivatives disclosures

The Company has master netting agreements with all of its counterparties which allow for the settlement of contracts in an asset position with contracts in a liability position in the event of default or termination. Such netting arrangements reduce the Company’s credit exposure related to these counterparties. For classification purposes, the Company records the net fair value of all the positions with a given counterparty as a net asset or liability in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The amounts shown in the table below represent the fair value position of individual contracts, and not the net position presented in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The fair value and location of derivatives reflected in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows:

March 31, 2021

    

December 31, 2020

    

Fair Value of Derivatives

    

Asset

Liability

Asset

Liability

    

(In thousands)

Derivative

Derivative

Derivative

Derivative

Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Coal

$

$

 

  

$

$

 

  

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Heating oil -- diesel purchases

 

 

 

  

 

237

 

 

  

Coal -- held for trading purposes

 

1,892

 

(1,653)

 

  

 

1,914

 

(1,595)

 

  

Coal -- risk management

 

998

 

(1,236)

 

  

 

1,094

 

(804)

 

  

Total

$

2,890

$

(2,889)

 

  

$

3,245

$

(2,399)

 

  

Total derivatives

$

2,890

$

(2,889)

 

  

$

3,245

$

(2,399)

 

  

Effect of counterparty netting

 

(2,419)

 

2,419

 

  

 

(2,392)

 

2,392

 

  

Net derivatives as classified in the balance sheets

$

471

$

(470)

$

1

$

853

$

(7)

$

846

    

    

    

March 31, 

    

December 31, 

2021

2020

Net derivatives as reflected on the balance sheets (in thousands)

 

  

 

  

 

  

Coal

 

Other current assets

$

471

$

853

Coal

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

(470)

 

(7)

$

1

$

846

The Company had a current asset representing cash collateral posted to a margin account for derivative positions primarily related to coal derivatives of $2.6 million and $1.4 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. These amounts are not included with the derivatives presented in the table above and are included in “other current assets” in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The effects of derivatives on measures of financial performance are as follows:

Derivatives used in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships (in thousands)

Three Months Ended March 31,

Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income

Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Other Comprehensive Income into Income

2021

2020

2021

2020

Coal sales

(1)

$

$

159

$

$

Coal purchases

(2)

 

 

(156)

 

 

Totals

$

$

3

$

$

At March 31, 2021, the Company did not have any derivative contracts designated as hedging instruments.

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments (in thousands)

Three Months Ended March 31,

Gain (Loss) Recognized

2021

2020

Coal  trading — realized and unrealized

(3)

$

$

221

Coal risk management — unrealized

(3)

(528)

 

(1,040)

Natural gas  trading— realized and unrealized

(3)

 

76

Change in fair value of coal derivatives and coal trading activities, net total

  

$

(528)

$

(743)

Coal risk management— realized

(4)

$

138

$

1,601

Heating oil — diesel purchases

(4)

$

$

(1,033)

Location in statement of operations:

(1)— Revenues
(2)— Cost of sales
(3)— Change in fair value of coal derivatives and coal trading activities, net
(4)— Other operating (income) expense, net