Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

INVENTORIES

INVENTORIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

5. INVENTORIES

Inventories included the following:

	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
	(thousands of dollars)
Raw material	$	3,225	$	3,627
Work in process		27		12
Finished products		11,458		14,232
Spare parts		247		-
Total inventory	$	14,957	$	17,871

Effective January 1, 2017, we changed the inventory basis of SHR to FIFO. We believe that the use of FIFO more accurately reflects current inventory valuation. The drop in crude oil prices over the last several years has caused LIFO value of inventory to be above the FIFO value for each of the past three years. There was no LIFO reserve in any of the periods shown in this filing; therefore, no change is reflected in our current statements for the retrospective application.

Prior to this change, the difference between the calculated value of inventory under the FIFO and LIFO bases generated either a recorded LIFO reserve (i.e., where FIFO value exceeds the LIFO value) or an unrecorded negative LIFO reserve (i.e., where LIFO value exceeds the FIFO value). In the latter case, in order to ensure that inventory was reported at the lower of cost or market and in accordance with ASC 330-10, we did not increase the stated value of our inventory to the LIFO value. At December 31, 2016, LIFO value of petrochemical inventory exceeded FIFO; therefore, in accordance with the above policy, no LIFO reserve was recorded.

Inventory serves as collateral for our amended and restated credit agreement. See Note 9.

Inventory included petrochemical products in transit valued at approximately $2.4 million and $2.1 million at March 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively.

Beginning January 1, 2017, due to the expansion of our plant assets at SHR and TC, we began inventorying spare parts for our plant equipment repairs and maintenance.