Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

REVENUE

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REVENUE
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]  
Revenue from Contract with Customer
NOTE 4 - REVENUE
We sell primarily a single product, iron ore pellets, in the North American market. Revenue is recognized generally when iron ore is delivered to our customers. Revenue is measured at the point that control transfers and represents the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for transferring goods. We offer standard payment terms to our customers, generally requiring settlement within 30 days.
We enter into supply contracts of varying lengths to provide customers iron ore pellets to use in their blast furnaces. Blast furnaces run continuously with a constant feed of iron ore and, once shut down, cannot easily be restarted. As a result, we ship iron ore in large quantities for storage and use by customers at a later date. Customers do not simultaneously receive and consume the iron ore. Based on our assessment of the factors that indicate the pattern of satisfaction, we transfer control of the iron ore at a point in time upon shipment or delivery of the product. The customer is able to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all of the benefits from, the product at the time the product is delivered.
Most of our customer supply agreements specify a provisional price, which is used for initial billing and cash collection. Revenue recorded in accordance with Topic 606 is calculated using the expected revenue rate at the point when control transfers. The final settlement includes market inputs for a specified period of time, which may vary by customer, but typically include one or more of the following published rates: Platts 62% Price, Atlantic Basin pellet premiums, Platts international indexed freight rates and changes in specified PPI, including industrial commodities, fuel and steel. Changes in the expected revenue rate from the date control transfers through final settlement of contract terms is recorded in accordance with Topic 815. Refer to NOTE 12 - DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS for further information on how our estimated and final revenue rates are determined.
A supply agreement with one customer provides for supplemental revenue or refunds based on the hot-rolled coil steel price in the year the iron ore is consumed in the customer’s blast furnaces. As control transfers prior to consumption, the supplemental revenue or refunds are recorded in accordance with ASC Topic 815. Refer to NOTE 12 - DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS for further information on supplemental revenue or refunds.
Included within Revenues from product sales and services related to Topic 815 is a derivative loss of $40.9 million and a derivative gain of $43.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and derivative gains of $135.9 million and $334.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.
Deferred Revenue
The table below summarizes our deferred revenue balances:
 
(In Millions)
 
Deferred Revenue (Current)
 
Deferred Revenue (Long-Term)
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Opening balance as of January 1
$
21.0

 
$
23.8

 
$
38.5

 
$
51.4

Closing balance as of September 30
18.3

 
16.1

 
30.0

 
42.8

Decrease
$
(2.7
)
 
$
(7.7
)
 
$
(8.5
)
 
$
(8.6
)

The terms of one of our pellet supply agreements required supplemental payments to be paid by the customer during the period 2009 through 2012. Installment amounts received under this arrangement in excess of sales were classified as Other current liabilities and Other liabilities in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position upon receipt of payment. Revenue is recognized over the life of the supply agreement, which extends until 2022, in equal annual installments. As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, installment amounts received in excess of sales totaled $42.8 million and $51.3 million, respectively, related to this agreement. As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, deferred revenue of $12.8 million was recorded in Other current liabilities and $30.0 million and $38.5 million, respectively, was recorded as long-term in Other liabilities in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position, related to this agreement.
Due to the payment terms and the timing of cash receipts near a period end, cash receipts can exceed shipments for certain customers. Revenue recognized on these transactions totaling $5.5 million and $8.2 million was deferred and included in Other current liabilities in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.