Information by Segment and Geographic Area (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Revenue from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets, by Geographical Areas

Countries with revenues from unaffiliated customers or net property, plant and equipment of ten percent or more of the consolidated totals (in at least one period presented) are as follows:

Information by Geographic Area (a)

	Revenues from Unaffiliated Customers
	Year Ended December 31
(In thousands)	2017		2016		2015
U.S.	$	697,663	$	614,327	$	758,820
U.K.	146,624		156,552		217,011
All Other	762,775		680,344		747,261
Totals including Corporate	$	1,607,062	$	1,451,223	$	1,723,092

(a) Revenues are attributed to individual countries based on the location of the facility generating the revenue.

Schedule of Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets in Individual Foreign Countries by Country [Table Text Block]

	Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
	Balances at December 31
(In thousands)	2017		2016		2015
U.S.	$	120,555	$	125,386	$	142,506
China	95,569		90,288		97,305
Brazil	54,704		62,597		57,381
All Other	208,919		211,984		266,843
Totals including Corporate	$	479,747	$	490,255	$	564,035

Schedule of Segment Operating Information by Segment

Operating Information by Segment:

	Twelve Months Ended
	December 31
(In thousands)	2017		2016		2015
Revenues
Harsco Metals & Minerals	$	1,011,328	$	965,540	$	1,106,162
Harsco Industrial	299,592		247,542		357,256
Harsco Rail	295,999		238,107		259,674
Corporate	143		34		—
Total Revenues	$	1,607,062	$	1,451,223	$	1,723,092

	Twelve Months Ended
	December 31
(In thousands)	2017			2016			2015
Operating Income (Loss)
Harsco Metals & Minerals	$	105,257		$	81,634		$	26,289
Harsco Industrial	35,174			23,182			57,020
Harsco Rail	32,091			(17,527		)	50,896
Corporate	(29,723		)	(23,820		)	(45,669		)
Total Operating Income	$	142,799		$	63,469		$	88,536
Total Assets
Harsco Metals & Minerals	$	1,184,280		$	1,181,602		$	1,286,336
Harsco Industrial	113,410			107,987			119,830
Harsco Rail	237,135			204,477			219,753
Corporate	43,860			87,272			425,968
Total Assets	$	1,578,685		$	1,581,338		$	2,051,887
Depreciation and Amortization
Harsco Metals & Minerals	$	112,329		$	120,611		$	136,579
Harsco Industrial	7,360			7,223			6,266
Harsco Rail	4,221			5,383			6,093
Corporate	6,027			8,269			7,537
Total Depreciation and Amortization	$	129,937		$	141,486		$	156,475
Capital Expenditures
Harsco Metals & Minerals	$	87,526		$	62,322		$	99,563
Harsco Industrial	6,895			5,118			17,382
Harsco Rail	2,403			1,696			1,957
Corporate	1,490			204			4,650
Total Capital Expenditures	$	98,314		$	69,340		$	123,552

Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated

Reconciliation of Segment Operating Income to Consolidated Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes and Equity Income:

	Twelve Months Ended
	December 31
(In thousands)	2017			2016			2015
Segment operating income	$	172,522		$	87,289		$	134,205
General Corporate expense	(29,723		)	(23,820		)	(45,669		)
Operating income from continuing operations	142,799			63,469			88,536
Interest income	2,469			2,475			1,574
Interest expense	(47,552		)	(51,584		)	(46,804		)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(2,265		)	(35,337		)	—
Change in fair value to the unit adjustment liability and loss on dilution and sale of equity method investment	—			(58,494		)	(8,491		)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income	$	95,451		$	(79,471	)	$	34,815

Schedule of Product Information

Information about Products and Services:

	Revenues from Unaffiliated Customers
	Twelve Months Ended
	December 31
(In thousands)	2017		2016		2015
Key Product and Services Groups
Global expertise in providing on-site services of material logistics, product quality improvement and resource recovery for iron, steel and metals manufacturing; as well as value added environmental solutions for industrial co-products	$	1,011,328	$	965,540	$	1,106,162
Railway track maintenance and safety equipment and track maintenance services	295,999		238,107		259,674
Air-cooled heat exchangers	144,955		93,616		186,243
Industrial grating and fencing products	116,598		115,914		129,869
Heat transfer products	38,039		38,012		41,144
General Corporate	143		34		—
Consolidated Revenues	$	1,607,062	$	1,451,223	$	1,723,092