Basis of Presentation (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

A. Basis of Presentation – The interim Consolidated Financial Statements of Alcoa Corporation and its subsidiaries (Alcoa Corporation, Alcoa, or the Company) are unaudited. These Consolidated Financial Statements include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary by management to fairly state the Company’s results of operations, financial position, and cash flows. The results reported in these Consolidated Financial Statements are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year. The 2019 year-end balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, which includes all disclosures required by GAAP.

In accordance with GAAP, certain situations require management to make estimates based on judgments and assumptions, which may affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. They also may affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Management uses historical experience and all available information to make these estimates, including considerations for the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the macroeconomic environment. The Company has experienced certain negative impacts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic to date, however, the magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic remains unknown, and the pandemic’s ultimate future impact on the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows, and market capitalization is uncertain. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic could adversely impact estimates made as of June 30, 2020 regarding future results, such as the recoverability of goodwill and long-lived assets and the realizability of deferred tax assets. Despite these inherent limitations, management believes that the amounts recorded in the financial statements related to these items are based on its best estimates and judgments using all relevant information available at the time. Management regularly evaluates the judgments and assumptions used in its estimates, and results could differ from those estimates upon future events and their effects or new information.

References in these Notes to ParentCo refer to Alcoa Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries through October 31, 2016, at which time it was renamed Arconic Inc. (and since has been subsequently renamed Howmet Aerospace Inc.). On November 1, 2016 (the Separation Date), ParentCo separated into two standalone, publicly-traded companies, Alcoa Corporation and Arconic Inc. (the Separation Transaction). In connection with the Separation Transaction, as of October 31, 2016, the Company and Arconic Inc. entered into several agreements to effect the Separation Transaction, including a Separation and Distribution Agreement and a Tax Matters Agreement. See Note A to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of Alcoa Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 for additional information.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation. The Consolidated Financial Statements of Alcoa Corporation include the accounts of Alcoa Corporation and companies in which Alcoa Corporation has a controlling interest, including those that comprise the Alcoa World Alumina & Chemicals (AWAC) joint venture (see below). Intercompany transactions have been eliminated. The equity method of accounting is used for investments in affiliates and other joint ventures over which Alcoa Corporation has significant influence but does not have effective control. Investments in affiliates in which Alcoa Corporation cannot exercise significant influence are accounted for on the cost method.

AWAC is an unincorporated global joint venture between Alcoa Corporation and Alumina Limited and consists of several affiliated operating entities, which own, or have an interest in, or operate the bauxite mines and alumina refineries within Alcoa Corporation’s Bauxite and Alumina segments (except for the Poços de Caldas mine and refinery and portions of the São Luís refinery and investment in Mineração Rio do Norte S.A., all in Brazil) and the Portland smelter in Australia within Alcoa Corporation’s Aluminum segment. Alcoa Corporation owns 60% and Alumina Limited owns 40% of these individual entities, which are consolidated by the Company for financial reporting purposes and include Alcoa of Australia Limited (AofA), Alcoa World Alumina LLC (AWA), and Alcoa World Alumina Brasil Ltda. (AWAB). Alumina Limited’s interest in the equity of such entities is reflected as Noncontrolling interest on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Income Taxes

Deferred taxes are recorded for future tax consequences expected to occur when the reported amounts of assets and liabilities are recovered or paid. These future tax consequences result from differences between the financial and tax bases of Alcoa’s assets and liabilities and are adjusted for changes in tax rates and tax laws when enacted.

The future realization of net deferred tax assets is reviewed quarterly, or more frequently if there are changes in the positive and negative evidence used in management’s assessments, and is based on projections of the respective future taxable income (defined as the sum of pretax income, other comprehensive income, and permanent tax differences), exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards.

Management’s forecasted taxable income is based on macroeconomic indicators and involves assumptions related to, among others: commodity prices; volume levels; and key inputs and raw materials, such as bauxite, alumina, caustic soda, calcined petroleum coke, liquid pitch, energy, labor, and transportation costs. These are the same assumptions utilized by management to develop the financial and operating plan that is used to manage the Company and measure performance against actual results. Additionally, uncertainty and changes in the macroeconomic environment and the economy in Alcoa’s operating locations may arise as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Adverse effects from these changes may impact the assumptions utilized to develop the forecasted taxable income and may result in the need for a valuation allowance on certain deferred tax assets.

Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not (greater than 50%) that a tax benefit will not be realized. In evaluating the need for a valuation allowance, management applies judgment in assessing all available positive and negative evidence and considers all potential sources of taxable income, including income available in carryback periods, future reversals of taxable temporary differences, projections of taxable income, and income from tax planning strategies. Positive evidence includes factors such as a history of profitable operations, projections of future profitability within the carryforward period, including from tax planning strategies, and Alcoa’s experience with similar operations. Existing favorable contracts and the ability to sell products into established markets are additional positive evidence. Negative evidence includes items such as cumulative losses, projections of future losses, or carryforward periods that are not long enough to allow for the utilization of a deferred tax asset based on existing projections of income. Deferred tax assets for which no valuation allowance is recorded may not be realized upon changes in facts and circumstances, resulting in a future charge to establish a valuation allowance.