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Microlesson · 5-min read

AS 2 – Joint Products and By-Products Cost Allocation

## Joint Products

When a single production process produces two or more main products (joint products) and the cost of conversion for each cannot be separately identified:

Allocate joint conversion cost in the ratio of sales value.

$$\text{Sales Value of each product} = \text{Units produced} \times \text{Selling price per unit}$$

Then allocate total joint cost in the ratio of these sales values.

## By-Products

By-products are immaterial, incidental outputs from the production of main products (e.g., buttermilk and butter fat from butter production, scrap from manufacturing).

### Treatment Steps:

1. Measure by-product at NRV (estimated selling price − selling costs)

2. Deduct NRV of by-product from total cost of conversion

3. Allocate the net (reduced) joint cost to the main products in their sales value ratio

### Key Rule:

> If the question gives profit from the by-product, ignore profit — use only NRV. The NRV (not profit) is deducted from conversion cost.

Worked example

### Example 1

By-product + Joint product allocation:

Main products: MP1 (5,000 units, SP ₹60) and MP2 (4,000 units, SP ₹50)

By-product NRV: 2,000 units × ₹20 = ₹40,000 − selling cost ₹10,000 = ₹30,000; Scrap NRV: ₹5,000

Total conversion cost:

RM ₹1,50,000 + Wages ₹90,000 + Fixed OH ₹65,000 + Var OH ₹50,000 = ₹3,55,000

Less NRV of by-product: ₹30,000 | Less NRV of scrap: ₹5,000

Net joint cost = ₹3,20,000

Sales value ratio:

MP1 = 5,000 × ₹60 = ₹3,00,000 | MP2 = 4,000 × ₹50 = ₹2,00,000

Ratio = 3:2

Cost allocated:

MP1 = 3/5 × ₹3,20,000 = ₹1,92,000 | MP2 = 2/5 × ₹3,20,000 = ₹1,28,000

Cost p.u.: MP1 = ₹1,92,000 ÷ 5,000 = ₹38.4 | MP2 = ₹1,28,000 ÷ 4,000 = ₹32

Closing stock valuation:

MP1: 250 units × ₹38.4 = ₹9,600 | MP2: 100 units × ₹32 = ₹3,200

Total closing stock = ₹12,800

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Using profit from by-product/scrap instead of NRV for deduction — always use NRV, not profit
  • Allocating joint costs equally between main products instead of in the sales value ratio
  • Adding NRV of by-product to total cost instead of deducting it
  • Forgetting to deduct by-product NRV BEFORE computing the allocation ratio for main products
  • Including by-products in the joint cost allocation ratio — by-products are handled separately via NRV deduction; only main products share the residual cost
Bare-Act text Para 14–15 · AS 2 – Valuation of Inventories · click to expand
When the costs of conversion of each product are not separately identifiable, they are allocated between the products on a rational and consistent basis, for example, on the basis of the relative sales value of each product either at the stage in the production process when the products become separately identifiable, or at the completion of production. By-products are generally immaterial. When this is the case, they are often measured at net realisable value and this value is deducted from the cost of the main product.
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