Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012 Segment	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Information
Number of reporting segments	3
Segment Reporting Information
Net Sales, External	$ 1,865,670	$ 1,896,433
Net Sales, External Non-U.S.	116,370	119,536
Total net sales	1,982,040	2,015,969
Operating income (loss)	119,816	205,326
Income (loss) before income taxes	68,456	166,547
Depreciation and amortization	55,572	54,746
Capital expenditures	45,555	18,693
Assets	6,043,627	5,827,605	5,979,226
Liabilities	3,637,142	3,599,911
Steel Operations
Segment Reporting Information
Net Sales, External	1,135,912	1,146,489
Net Sales, External Non-U.S.	50,808	48,575
Net Sales, Other segments	47,759	51,946
Total net sales	1,234,479	1,247,010
Operating income (loss)	137,308	192,955
Income (loss) before income taxes	119,078	172,709
Depreciation and amortization	26,084	27,193
Capital expenditures	5,948	7,279
Assets	2,677,623	2,731,625
Liabilities	494,177	456,170
Metals Recycling and Ferrous Resources Operations
Segment Reporting Information
Net Sales, External	634,134	672,341
Net Sales, External Non-U.S.	65,466	70,824
Net Sales, Other segments	411,520	365,250
Total net sales	1,111,120	1,108,415
Operating income (loss)	4,163	39,490
Income (loss) before income taxes	(4,273)	29,084
Depreciation and amortization	26,074	24,914
Capital expenditures	37,906	10,251
Assets	2,610,476	2,582,048
Liabilities	574,598	544,225
Steel Fabrication Operations
Segment Reporting Information
Net Sales, External	74,892	52,079
Net Sales, Other segments	4	573
Total net sales	74,896	52,652
Operating income (loss)	(2,668)	(2,883)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(4,184)	(4,445)
Depreciation and amortization	1,848	1,502
Capital expenditures	1,168	532
Assets	231,284	209,232
Liabilities	14,542	16,780
Other
Segment Reporting Information
Net Sales, External	20,732	25,524
Net Sales, External Non-U.S.	96	137
Net Sales, Other segments	3,262	2,471
Total net sales	24,090	28,132
Operating income (loss)	(16,862)	(24,256)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(40,040)	(30,742)
Depreciation and amortization	1,617	1,188
Capital expenditures	533	631
Assets	712,673	504,989
Liabilities	2,732,432	2,772,754
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information
Net Sales, Other segments	(462,545)	(420,240)
Total net sales	(462,545)	(420,240)
Operating income (loss)	(2,125)	20
Income (loss) before income taxes	(2,125)	(59)
Depreciation and amortization	(51)	(51)
Assets	(188,429)	(200,289)
Liabilities	$ (178,607)	$ (190,018)