Blazer Chemical produces and sells an ice-melting granular used on roadways and sidewalks in winter. It annually produces and sells about 100 tons of its granular. In its nine-year history, the company has never reported a net loss. However, because of this year's unusually mild winter, projected demand for its product is only 65 tons. Based on its predicted production and sales of 65 tons, the company projects the following income statement (under absorption costing). Sales (65 tons at $20,000 per ton) Cost of goods sold (65 tons at $15,000 per ton) Gross margin Selling and administrative expenses Net loss $1,300,000 975,000 325,000 346,450 $ (21,450) Its product cost information follows and consists mainly of fixed cost because of its automated production process requiring expensive equipment. Variable direct labor and material costs per ton Fixed cost per ton ($720,000 + 65 tons) Total product cost per ton $ 3,923 11,077 $15,000 Selling and administrative expenses consist of variable selling and administrative expenses of $330 per ton and fixed selling and administrative expenses of $325,000 per year. The company's president is concerned about the adverse reaction from its creditors and shareholders if the projected net loss is reported. The operations manager mentions that since the company has large storage capacity, it can report a net income by keeping its production at the usual 100-ton level even though it expects to sell only 65 tons. The president is puzzled by the suggestion that the company can report income by producing more without increasing sales. Required: 1. Can the company report a net income by increasing production to 100 tons and storing the excess production in inventory? Answer is not complete. Cost of goods sold: Variable direct labor and material per ton Fixed overhead per ton Production volume 65 tons 100 tons 3,923 $ 3,923 11,077 7,200 Cost of goods sold per unit Number of tons sold Total cost of goods sold 15,000 975,000 $ 14,625,000,000 $ 11,123 722,995 > $ 8,041,873,385 BLAZER CHEMICAL Income statement - Absorption method Production volume Sales volume - 65 tons 65 tons 100 tons Sales $ 1,300,000 $ 2,000,000 Cost of goods sold (14,625,000,000) (8,041,873,385) Gross margin (14,623,700,000) (8,039,873,385) Selling general and administrative expenses Net income (loss) 14.623,700,000) (8.039,873,385)