Derivatives and Other Financial Instruments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Derivatives and Other Financial Instruments

M. Derivatives and Other Financial Instruments

Fair Value

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy distinguishes between (i) market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs) and (ii) an entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs). The fair value hierarchy consists of three broad levels, which gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

•Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

•Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (e.g., interest rates); and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

•Level 3 - Inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

Derivatives

Alcoa Corporation is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations, including the risks of changing commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates, and interest rates. Alcoa Corporation’s commodity and derivative activities include aluminum, energy, foreign exchange, and interest rate contracts which are held for purposes other than trading. They are used to mitigate uncertainty and volatility, and to cover underlying exposures. While Alcoa does not generally enter into derivative contracts to mitigate the risk associated with changes in aluminum price, the Company may do so in isolated cases to address discrete commercial or operational conditions. Alcoa is not involved in trading activities for energy, weather derivatives, or other nonexchange commodity trading activities.

Alcoa Corporation’s aluminum and foreign exchange contracts are predominantly classified as Level 1 under the fair value hierarchy. All of the Level 1 contracts are designated as either fair value or cash flow hedging instruments. Alcoa Corporation also has several derivative instruments classified as Level 3 under the fair value hierarchy, which are either designated as cash flow hedges or undesignated. Alcoa includes the changes in its equity method investee’s Level 2 derivatives in Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The following tables present the detail for Level 1 and 3 derivatives (see additional Level 3 information in further tables below):

	September 30, 2024				December 31, 2023
	Assets		Liabilities		Assets		Liabilities
Level 1 derivative instruments	$	5	$	6	$	16	$	9
Level 3 derivative instruments		1		1,268		16		1,297
Total	$	6	$	1,274	$	32	$	1,306
Less: Current		5		267		29		214
Noncurrent	$	1	$	1,007	$	3	$	1,092

	2024						2023
Third quarter ended September 30,	Unrealized gain (loss) recognized in Other comprehensive loss			Realized loss reclassed from Other comprehensive loss to earnings			Unrealized (loss) gain recognized in Other comprehensive loss			Realized gain (loss) reclassed from Other comprehensive loss to earnings
Level 1 derivative instruments	$	6		$	(1	)	$	(11	)	$	22
Level 3 derivative instruments		(149	)		(73	)		(110	)		(54	)
Noncontrolling and equity interest (Level 2)		—			—			1			3
Total	$	(143	)	$	(74	)	$	(120	)	$	(29	)

For the third quarter of 2024, the realized loss of $1 on Level 1 cash flow hedges was recognized in Sales. For the third quarter of 2023, the realized gain of $22 on Level 1 cash flow hedges was recognized in Sales.

	2024						2023
Nine months ended September 30,	Unrealized loss recognized in Other comprehensive loss			Realized gain (loss) reclassed from Other comprehensive loss to earnings			Unrealized gain (loss) recognized in Other comprehensive loss			Realized gain (loss) reclassed from Other comprehensive loss to earnings
Level 1 derivative instruments	$	(5	)	$	3		$	20		$	66
Level 3 derivative instruments		(174	)		(205	)		(87	)		(164	)
Noncontrolling and equity interest (Level 2)		—			1			1			5
Total	$	(179	)	$	(201	)	$	(66	)	$	(93	)

For the nine-month period of 2024, the realized gain of $3 on Level 1 cash flow hedges was recognized in Sales. For the nine-month period of 2023, the realized gain of $66 on Level 1 cash flow hedges was comprised of a $70 gain recognized in Sales and a $4 loss recognized in Cost of goods sold.

The following table presents the outstanding quantities of derivative instruments classified as Level 1:

	Classification	September 30, 2024		September 30, 2023
Aluminum (in kmt)	Commodity buy forwards		84		126
Aluminum (in kmt)	Commodity sell forwards		67		144
Foreign currency (in millions of euro)	Foreign exchange buy forwards		165		68
Foreign currency (in millions of euro)	Foreign exchange sell forwards		14		18
Foreign currency (in millions of Norwegian krone)	Foreign exchange buy forwards		66		185
Foreign currency (in millions of Brazilian real)	Foreign exchange buy forwards		246		734
Foreign currency (in millions of Canadian dollar)	Foreign exchange buy forwards		12		33
Foreign currency (in millions of Australian dollar)	Foreign exchange buy forwards		45		—

Alcoa Corporation routinely uses Level 1 aluminum derivative instruments to manage exposures to changes in the fair value of firm commitments for the purchases or sales of aluminum. Additionally, Alcoa uses Level 1 aluminum derivative instruments to manage LME exposures related to profitability improvement actions (expires December 2024), and the Alumar (Brazil) smelter restart (expired December 2023).

Alcoa Corporation uses Level 1 foreign exchange forward contracts to mitigate the risk of foreign exchange exposure related to euro power purchases in Norway (expires December 2027), U.S. dollar aluminum sales in Norway (expires June 2025), U.S. dollar alumina and aluminum sales in Brazil (expires August 2025), U.S. dollar aluminum sales in Canada (expires March 2025), and U.S. dollar alumina sales in Australia (expires December 2026).

Additional Level 3 Disclosures

The following table presents quantitative information related to the significant unobservable inputs described above for Level 3 derivative instruments (megawatt hours in MWh):

	September 30, 2024		Unobservable Input	Unobservable Input Range
Asset Derivatives
Financial contracts (undesignated)	$	1	Interrelationship of forward energy price, LME forward price, and the Consumer Price Index	Electricity (per MWh)	2024: $36.15 2025: $48.99
				LME (per mt)	2024: $2,620
					2025: $2,634
Total Asset Derivatives	$	1
Liability Derivatives
Power contract	$	175	MWh of energy needed to produce the forecasted mt of aluminum	LME (per mt)	2024: $2,620 2027: $2,748
				Electricity	Rate of 4 million MWh per year
Power contracts		1,089	MWh of energy needed to produce the forecasted mt of aluminum	LME (per mt)	2024: $2,620 2029: $2,795 2036: $2,995
				Midwest premium (per pound)	2024: $0.1930 2029: $0.2300 2036: $0.2300
				Electricity	Rate of 18 million MWh per year
Power contract		2	MWh of energy needed to produce the forecasted mt of aluminum	LME (per mt)	2024: $2,620 2024: $2,613
				Midwest premium (per pound)	2024: $0.1930 2024: $0.1975
				Electricity	Rate of 2 million MWh per year
Power contract (undesignated)		2	Estimated spread between the 30-year debt yield of Alcoa and the counterparty	Credit spread	1.61%: 30-year debt yield spread 6.59%: Alcoa (estimated) 4.98%: counterparty
Total Liability Derivatives	$	1,268

The fair values of Level 3 derivative instruments recorded in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet were as follows:

Asset Derivatives	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Current—financial contracts	$	1	$	16
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments	$	1	$	16
Total Asset Derivatives	$	1	$	16
Liability Derivatives
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Current—power contracts	$	262	$	210
Noncurrent—power contracts		1,004		1,087
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments	$	1,266	$	1,297
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Current—embedded credit derivative	$	1	$	—
Noncurrent—embedded credit derivative		1		—
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments	$	2	$	—
Total Liability Derivatives	$	1,268	$	1,297

Assuming market rates remain constant with the rates at September 30, 2024, a realized loss of $262 related to power contracts is expected to be recognized in Sales over the next 12 months.

At September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the power contracts with embedded derivatives designated as cash flow hedges include hedges of forecasted aluminum sales of 1,287 kmt and 1,456 kmt, respectively.

The following tables present the reconciliation of activity for Level 3 derivative instruments:

	Assets
Third quarter ended September 30, 2024	Financial contracts
July 1, 2024	$	34
Total gains or losses included in:
Other expenses, net (unrealized/realized)		(8	)
Settlements and other		(25	)
September 30, 2024	$	1
Change in unrealized gains or losses included in earnings    for derivative instruments held at September 30, 2024:
Other expenses, net	$	(8	)

	Liabilities
Third quarter ended September 30, 2024	Power contracts			Embedded credit derivative
July 1, 2024	$	1,190		$	1
Total gains or losses included in:
Sales (realized)		(73	)		—
Other expenses, net (unrealized/realized)		—			2
Other comprehensive income (unrealized)		149			—
Settlements and other		—			(1	)
September 30, 2024	$	1,266		$	2
Change in unrealized gains or losses included in earnings    for derivative instruments held at September 30, 2024:
Other expenses, net	$	—		$	2

	Assets
Nine months ended September 30, 2024	Financial contracts
January 1, 2024	$	16
Total gains or losses included in:
Other income, net (unrealized/realized)		42
Settlements and other		(57	)
September 30, 2024	$	1
Change in unrealized gains or losses included in earnings    for derivative instruments held at September 30, 2024:
Other income, net	$	42

	Liabilities
Nine months ended September 30, 2024	Power contracts			Embedded credit derivative
January 1, 2024	$	1,297		$	—
Total gains or losses included in:
Sales (realized)		(205	)		—
Other expenses, net (unrealized/realized)		—			3
Other comprehensive income (unrealized)		174			—
Settlements and other		—			(1	)
September 30, 2024	$	1,266		$	2
Change in unrealized gains or losses included in earnings    for derivative instruments held at September 30, 2024:
Other expenses, net	$	—		$	3

There were no purchases, sales, or settlements of Level 3 derivative instruments in the periods presented.

Other Financial Instruments

The carrying values and fair values of Alcoa Corporation’s other financial instruments were as follows:

	September 30, 2024				December 31, 2023
	Carrying value		Fair value		Carrying value		Fair value
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,313	$	1,313	$	944	$	944
Restricted cash		97		97		103		103
Short-term borrowings		12		12		56		56
Long-term debt due within one year		464		464		79		79
Long-term debt, less amount due within one year		2,469		2,542		1,732		1,702

The following methods were used to estimate the fair values of other financial instruments:

Cash and cash equivalents and Restricted cash. The carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short maturity of the instruments. The fair value amounts for Cash and cash equivalents and Restricted cash were classified in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

Short-term borrowings and Long-term debt, including amounts due within one year. The fair value of Long-term debt, less amounts due within one year was based on quoted market prices for public debt and on interest rates that are currently available to Alcoa Corporation for issuance of debt with similar terms and maturities for non-public debt. The fair value amounts for all Short-term borrowings and Long-term debt were classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.