Explanation
Exposure for derivative instruments can vary significantly over the lifetimeof the instrument, depending upon how the market moves. The potential future exposure represents the extremes, not the most likely outcome.
The expected exposure is the most suitable measure for pricing the credit risk. Over time, as multiple transactionsare entered into, the expectation (or the mean) will be realized - though individual transactions may have more or less by way of exposure.
The notional amount may not be relevant, though for loans it may be the most important contributor to the expected exposure. Mark-to-market will represent the exposure at a given point in time, but cannot be predicted nor be used to price the credit risk.