Basis of Financial Statements (Notes)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2021

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Financial Statements

Basis of Financial Statements

The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements were prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for interim periods. Accordingly, certain information and footnotes required for complete financial statements under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("U.S. GAAP") have not been included. These interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of Westlake Chemical Corporation (the "Company") included in the annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 (the "2020 Form 10-K"), filed with the SEC on February 24, 2021. These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the accounting principles and practices as disclosed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

In the opinion of the Company's management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that are necessary for a fair statement of the Company's financial position as of June 30, 2021, its results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, and the changes in its cash position for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020.

Results of operations and changes in cash position for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that will be realized for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 or any other interim period. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic resulted in widespread adverse impacts on the global economy in 2020. As the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on the global economy continue, the Company may experience impacts on its business operations. However, the impact that COVID-19 will have on the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company cannot be estimated with certainty at this time as it will depend on future developments, including, among others, the timing and logistics with respect to the distribution of vaccines globally and the efficacy of the available vaccines (including with respect to the more recent variants of COVID-19) and other treatments, the ultimate duration of the pandemic, geographic spread and severity of the virus, the consequences of governmental and other measures designed to prevent the spread of the virus, actions taken by customers, suppliers and other third parties, workforce availability, and the timing and extent to which normal economic and operating conditions resume.

The Company holds a 50% interest in RS Cogen, LLC ("RS Cogen") with Entergy Power RS, LLC ("Entergy") holding the remaining interest. Effective January 2021, the Company consolidated RS Cogen into its consolidated financial statements and classified Entergy's 50% interest in RS Cogen as a component of noncontrolling interest on the consolidated balance sheet.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Reference Rate Reform (ASU No. 2020-04)

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an accounting standards update to provide optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform, if certain criteria are met. The amendments in this update are effective for all entities from March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022, and the adoption is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Certain exceptions provided under this guidance may be applicable to future reference rate reform related transitions.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Income Taxes (ASU No. 2019-12)

In December 2019, the FASB issued an accounting standards update removing certain exceptions for investments, intraperiod allocations and interim calculations and adding guidance to reduce complexity in accounting for income taxes. The accounting standard became effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company adopted this accounting standard effective January 1, 2021, and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.