The HOW and WHY of Using the Net Realizable Value Method to Allocate Joint Product Costs
Information:
A company manufactures two products, Alpha and Beta, from a joint process. Each production run costs $5,750 and results in 1,000 gallons of Alpha and 3,000 gallons of Beta. Neither product is salable at split-off, but must be further processed such that the separable cost for Alpha is $1 per gallon and for Beta is $2 per gallon. The eventual market price for Alpha is $5 and for Beta is $4.
Why:
The net realizable value method is used when one or more of the joint products cannot be sold at split-off. In this case, a hypothetical market value is constructed so that joint cost allocation can be done as close to the split-off point as possible.
Require:
1. Allocate the joint cost to Alpha and Beta using the net realizable value method.
2. What if it cost $2 to process each gallon of Alpha beyond the split-off point? How would that affect the allocation of joint cost to these two products.
Solution:
Products
Market Price
Further Processing Cost
Hypothetical Market Price
Number of Units
Hypothetical Market Value
Percent
Allocated Joint Costs
2.If cost $2 to process each gallon of Alpha, the hypothetical market price would be less, the hypothetical market value would be less, and Alpha would receive a smaller allocation of joint cost. The following table shows the result:
Products
Market Price
Further Processing Cost
Hypothetical Market Price
Number of Units
Hypothetical Market Value
Percent
Allocated Joint Costs