v3.26.1
Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Contingencies

N. Contingencies

Environmental Matters

Alcoa Corporation participates in environmental assessments and cleanups at several locations. These include currently or previously owned or operated facilities and adjoining properties, and waste sites, including Superfund (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)) sites.

Alcoa Corporation’s environmental remediation reserve balance reflects the most probable costs to remediate identified environmental conditions for which costs can be reasonably estimated. The following table details the changes in the carrying value of recorded environmental remediation reserves:

Balance at December 31, 2024

 

$

220

 

Liabilities incurred

 

85

 

Cash payments

 

 

(25

)

Reversals of previously recorded liabilities

 

 

(2

)

Foreign currency translation and other

 

4

 

Balance at December 31, 2025

 

 

282

 

Liabilities incurred

 

 

9

 

Cash payments

 

 

(16

)

Reversals of previously recorded liabilities

 

 

(6

)

Foreign currency translation and other

 

 

16

 

Balance at June 30, 2026

 

$

285

 

 

At June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the current portion of the remediation reserve balance was $76 (both periods).

During the second quarter and six-month period of 2026, the Company incurred liabilities of $5 and $9, respectively, and recorded a reversal of $6 (both periods). The impacts to the accompanying Statement of Consolidated Operations were primarily comprised of:

•
$2 and $5, respectively, for increases in estimated scope and costs associated with ongoing remediation work at various sites which were recorded in Cost of goods sold;
•
$3 and $4, respectively, related to increases in estimated scope and cost associated with ongoing remediation work at previously closed sites which were recorded in Restructuring and other charges, net; and,
•
($6) (both periods) due to the determination that certain site remediation at various sites was no longer required which was recorded in Restructuring and other charges, net.

During the second quarter and six-month period of 2025, the Company incurred liabilities of $13 (both periods). The impacts to the accompanying Statement of Consolidated Operations were primarily comprised of:

•
$8 related to investigation of potential contamination at various sites in Australia, which was recorded in Cost of goods sold; and,
•
$3 for an increase in estimated scope associated with ongoing remediation work at various other sites, which was recorded in Cost of goods sold.

Payments related to remediation expenses applied against the reserve were $10 and $16 in the second quarter and six-month period of 2026, respectively. Payments related to remediation expenses applied against the reserve were $5 and $13 in the second quarter and six-month period of 2025, respectively. These amounts include mandated expenditures as well as those not required by any regulatory authority or third party.

The estimated timing of cash outflows from the environmental remediation reserve at June 30, 2026 was as follows:

2026 (excluding the six months ended June 30, 2026)

$

60

 

2027 – 2031

 

136

 

Thereafter

 

89

 

Total

$

285

 

 

Reserve balances at June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, associated with significant sites with active remediation underway or for future remediation were $215 and $202, respectively. In management’s judgment, the Company’s reserves are sufficient to satisfy the provisions of the respective action plans. Upon changes in facts or circumstances, a change to the reserve may be required. The Company’s significant sites include:

Huntly, Australia—The reserve associated with enforceable undertakings with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) relates to mining activities for the period from 2019 to 2025 at the Huntly mine. Under the terms of the enforceable undertakings, Alcoa is required to provide $38 (A$55) for investments in environmental offsets to counterbalance impacts caused by mine development and the funding of various conservation programs. Associated cash outlays are expected in 2026.

Kwinana, Australia—The reserve associated with the 2025 closure of the Kwinana refinery is for subsurface remediation, investigation of potential site contamination, transportation of refinery waste, and ground water monitoring. Remediation work is expected in 2026. The final remediation plan is currently being developed, which may result in a change to the existing reserve.

Suriname—The reserve associated with the 2017 closure of the Suralco refinery and bauxite mine is for treatment and disposal of refinery waste and soil remediation. The work began in 2017 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2030.

Massena, New York—The reserve associated with the 2015 closure of the Massena East smelter by the Company’s subsidiary, Reynolds Metals Company, is for subsurface soil remediation to be performed after demolition of the structures. Remediation work commenced in 2021 and will take up to eight years to complete.

Point Comfort, Texas—The reserve associated with the 2019 closure of the Point Comfort alumina refinery is for disposal of industrial wastes contained at the site, subsurface remediation, and post-closure monitoring and maintenance. The final remediation plan is currently being developed, which may result in a change to the existing reserve.

Addy, Washington—The reserve associated with the 2022 closure of the Addy magnesium smelter facility is for site-wide remediation and investigation and post-closure monitoring and maintenance. Remediation work is not expected to begin until 2027 and will take three to five years to complete. The final remediation plan is currently being developed, which may result in a change to the existing reserve.

Ferndale, Washington—The reserve associated with the 2023 closure of the Intalco aluminum smelter in Ferndale, Washington is for subsurface remediation and post-closure maintenance and monitoring. The final remediation plan is under review.

Other Sites—The Company is in the process of decommissioning various other plants and remediating sites in several countries for potential redevelopment or to return the land to a natural state. In aggregate, there are remediation projects at 28 other sites that are planned or underway. These activities will be completed at various times in the future over the next three to five years, after which ongoing monitoring and other activities may be required. At June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the reserve balance associated with these activities was $70 and $80, respectively.

Tax

Brazil (AWAB)—In 2012, Alcoa World Alumina Brasil Ltda. (AWAB) requested monetization of value added tax credits of $136 (R$273) related to fixed assets and export sales associated with the Juruti bauxite mine and Alumar refinery expansion for tax years 2009 through 2011. In 2013, the Brazilian Federal Revenue Office (RFB) disallowed credits of $110 (R$220) asserting that certain credits should have been claimed by the Alumar consortium rather than AWAB and raising challenges related to apportionment methods, use of credits, and documentation. AWAB received $41 (R$82) of cash in 2013 related to the disallowed amounts, and the remainder related to disallowed amounts was offset against other federal taxes.

Separately, during 2022 through 2024, the RFB completed inspections of credits claimed for 2012 through 2014, allowing certain credits which were similar to those disallowed for 2009 through 2011. The decisions on the 2012 through 2014 credits provide support for management’s view that there is no basis for the disallowance of the credits for tax years 2009 through 2011. Additionally, in connection with these inspections, the RFB disallowed credits of $19 (R$92) related to the 2012 through 2014 tax years. AWAB continues to dispute the credits disallowed through an administrative process and may pursue judicial remedies if necessary.

The Company is unable to reasonably predict the outcome for these matters. The estimated range of reasonably possible loss is $0 to $60 (R$312).

General

In addition to the matters discussed above, various other lawsuits, claims, and proceedings have been or may be instituted or asserted against Alcoa Corporation, including those pertaining to environmental, safety and health, commercial, tax, product liability, intellectual property infringement, governance, employment, and employee and retiree benefit matters, and other actions and claims arising out of the normal course of business. While the amounts claimed in these other matters may be substantial, the ultimate liability is not readily determinable because of the considerable uncertainties that exist. Accordingly, it is possible that the Company’s liquidity or results of operations in a particular period could be materially affected by one or more of these other matters. However, based on facts currently available, management believes that the disposition of these other matters that are pending or asserted will not have a material adverse effect, individually or in the aggregate, on the financial position of the Company.