CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets
Cash and equivalents	$ 375,917	$ 390,761
Investments in short-term commercial paper	31,520	84,830
Accounts receivable, net of related allowances of $11,571 and $18,303 as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively	599,499	679,898
Accounts receivable-related parties	42,864	42,893
Inventories	1,202,507	1,199,584
Deferred income taxes	23,449	25,341
Income taxes receivable	893	16,722
Other current assets	19,576	15,229
Total current assets	2,296,225	2,455,258
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,231,198	2,193,745
Restricted cash	27,749	26,528
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $215,485 and $181,227 as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively	416,635	450,893
Goodwill	738,542	745,066
Other assets	105,067	107,736
Total assets	5,815,416	5,979,226
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	344,953	414,240
Accounts payable-related parties	15,144	6,584
Income taxes payable	16,941	10,880
Accrued payroll and benefits	85,802	107,423
Accrued interest	35,306	36,265
Accrued expenses	81,900	80,947
Current maturities of long-term debt	29,631	444,078
Total current liabilities	609,677	1,100,417
Long-term debt
Term note	247,500
Senior notes	1,600,000	1,611,250
Convertible senior notes	287,496	287,500
Other long-term debt	37,610	37,272
Total long-term debt	2,172,606	1,936,022
Deferred income taxes	537,304	489,915
Other liabilities	19,173	82,278
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	98,814	70,694
Equity
Common stock voting, $.0025 par value; 900,000,000 shares authorized; 255,592,901 and 255,052,811 shares issued; and 219,522,655 and 218,873,720 shares outstanding, as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively	637	636
Treasury stock, at cost; 36,070,246 and 36,179,091 shares, as of December 31, 2012, and 2011, respectively	(720,479)	(722,653)
Additional paid-in capital	1,037,687	1,026,157
Retained earnings	2,087,620	2,011,801
Total Steel Dynamics, Inc. equity	2,405,465	2,315,941
Noncontrolling interests	(27,623)	(16,041)
Total equity	2,377,842	2,299,900
Total liabilities and equity	$ 5,815,416	$ 5,979,226