What Is AS 2?
Accounting Standard 2 (AS 2), titled "Valuation of Inventories," was issued by the ICAI and prescribes the accounting treatment for inventories. The primary issue is the determination of the amount at which inventories should be carried in the financial statements until the related revenues are recognised. AS 2 provides guidance on the determination of cost and its subsequent recognition as an expense, including any write-down to net realisable value.
Scope
AS 2 applies to all inventories except:
- Work in progress arising under construction contracts (covered by AS 7)
- Work in progress arising in the ordinary course of business of service providers
- Shares, debentures and other financial instruments held as stock-in-trade (covered by AS 13)
- Producers' inventories of livestock, agricultural and forest products, and mineral ores — to the extent measured at net realisable value in accordance with well-established practices in those industries
Definition of Inventories
Under AS 2, inventories are assets:
- Held for sale in the ordinary course of business (finished goods)
- In the process of production for such sale (work-in-progress)
- In the form of materials or supplies to be consumed in the production process or in the rendering of services (raw materials)
Measurement of Inventories
Inventories should be valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value (NRV). This is a fundamental principle of prudence — inventories should not be carried at more than their expected realisable amount.
Cost of Inventories
The cost of inventories comprises three elements:
1. Cost of Purchase
The cost of purchase includes the purchase price, import duties and other taxes (other than those subsequently recoverable from taxing authorities — like GST input credit), freight inwards, handling costs and other costs directly attributable to the acquisition. Trade discounts, rebates and similar items are deducted.
2. Cost of Conversion
Costs of conversion include costs directly related to the units of production — such as direct labour. They also include a systematic allocation of fixed and variable production overheads incurred in converting materials into finished goods. Fixed production overheads are allocated based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. Unallocated overheads are recognised as an expense in the period in which they are incurred.
3. Other Costs
Other costs are included in the cost of inventories only to the extent that they are incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition. For example, design costs for specific orders may be included.
Costs Excluded from Inventories
The following costs are not included in inventory cost and are recognised as expenses of the period:
- Abnormal amounts of wasted materials, labour or other production costs
- Storage costs (unless necessary in the production process before a further production stage)
- Administrative overheads that do not contribute to bringing inventories to their present location and condition
- Selling and distribution costs
Cost Formulas
When individual items of inventory are not ordinarily interchangeable, or are segregated for specific projects, the cost is assigned by specific identification. For other inventories, AS 2 permits two cost formulas:
| Parameter | FIFO (First In, First Out) | Weighted Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Principle | Items purchased first are sold/consumed first | Cost is the weighted average of beginning inventory and purchases |
| Closing Stock Valuation | At the cost of most recent purchases | At the average cost of all units available |
| Effect in Rising Prices | Higher closing stock, higher profit | Moderate closing stock, moderate profit |
| Effect in Falling Prices | Lower closing stock, lower profit | Moderate closing stock, moderate profit |
| Suitability | Perishable goods, items with expiry | Homogeneous items, commodities |
| LIFO | Not permitted under AS 2 (removed in the revised standard) | |
Net Realisable Value (NRV)
Net Realisable Value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less the estimated costs of completion and the estimated costs necessary to make the sale. NRV is assessed on an item-by-item basis, though in some cases it may be appropriate to group similar or related items.
Inventories should be written down to NRV when:
- The cost exceeds NRV due to damage, obsolescence, or decline in selling price
- Materials are held for use in production and the finished goods are expected to be sold at or above cost — raw materials are not written down below cost
- However, if the decline in raw material price indicates that the cost of finished goods will exceed NRV, the raw materials are written down to NRV
Disclosure Requirements
The financial statements should disclose:
- The accounting policies adopted for valuing inventories, including the cost formula used (FIFO or Weighted Average)
- The total carrying amount of inventories and its classification appropriate to the enterprise (e.g., raw materials, work-in-progress, finished goods, stores and spares)
Practical Example
Company ABC manufactures electronic components. Its inventory details at year-end are:
- Raw Materials: Cost Rs 10,00,000, NRV Rs 12,00,000 → Valued at Rs 10,00,000 (cost is lower)
- Work-in-Progress: Cost Rs 5,00,000, NRV Rs 4,50,000 → Valued at Rs 4,50,000 (NRV is lower — write-down required)
- Finished Goods: Cost Rs 15,00,000, NRV Rs 14,00,000 → Valued at Rs 14,00,000 (NRV is lower — write-down required)
Total inventory value = Rs 10,00,000 + Rs 4,50,000 + Rs 14,00,000 = Rs 28,50,000
Conclusion
AS 2 provides a clear framework for inventory valuation that ensures prudence and consistency. By requiring inventories to be valued at the lower of cost and NRV, the standard prevents overstatement of assets and profits. Understanding the permitted cost formulas (FIFO and Weighted Average) and the concept of NRV is essential for every accountant and CA student.
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