4. Revenues

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

On January 1, 2018, we adopted new accounting guidance relating to the recognition of revenue from contracts with our customers using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2018. We did not record a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings upon adoption and comparable period financial statement amounts have not been adjusted. Our reported results for the first quarter of 2018 would not have been different if reported under the previous accounting standard.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue when control of metal products or services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. There are no significant judgments or estimates made to determine the amount or timing of our reported revenues. The amount of transaction price associated with unperformed performance obligations and the amount of our contract balances is not significant.

The following table presents our sales disaggregated by product and service. Certain sales taxes or value-added taxes collected from customers are excluded from our reported sales.


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2018		2017
	(in millions)
Carbon Steel	$	1,461.2	$	1,285.5
Aluminum		550.2		483.1
Stainless Steel		403.2		347.3
Alloy		169.0		145.3
Toll processing and logistics		101.1		87.2
Other and eliminations		72.4		70.9
Total	$	2,757.1	$	2,419.3

Metal Sales

Metal product sales represented approximately 94% of our first quarter of 2018 revenues. We have minimal contract sales with our customers as we primarily sell our inventories in the “spot market” under fixed price sales orders. The contracts with our customers generally have only one performance obligation. Control of the metal products we sell transfers to our customers upon delivery for orders with FOB destination terms or upon shipment for orders with FOB shipping point terms. Shipping and handling charges to our customers are included in net sales. We account for all shipping and handling of our products as fulfillment activities and not as a promised good or service. Costs incurred in connection with the shipping and handling of our products are typically included in operating expenses whether we use a third-party carrier or our own trucks. Shipment and delivery of our orders generally occur on the same day due to the close proximity of our customers and our metals service center locations.

Toll Processing and Logistics

Toll processing services relate to the processing of customer-owned metal. Logistics services primarily include transportation services for metal we toll-process. Revenue for these services is recognized over time as the toll processing or logistics services are performed. These services are generally short-term in nature with the service being performed in less than one day.

Seasonality

Some of our customers are in seasonal businesses, especially customers in the construction industry and related businesses. However, our overall operations have not shown any material seasonal trends as a result of our geographic, product and customer diversity. Typically, revenues in the months of July, November and December have been lower than in other months because of a reduced number of working days for shipments of our products, resulting from holidays observed by the Company as well as vacation and extended holiday closures at some of our customers.