Information by Segment and Geographic Area (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

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)	2018		2017		2016
U.S.	$	812,941	$	697,663	$	614,327
U.K.	143,346		146,624		156,552
All Other	766,093		762,775		680,344
Totals including Corporate	$	1,722,380	$	1,607,062	$	1,451,223

(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)	2018		2017		2016
U.S.	$	135,086	$	120,555	$	125,386
China	89,503		95,569		90,288
Brazil	36,960		54,704		62,597
All Other	208,351		208,919		211,984
Totals including Corporate	$	469,900	$	479,747	$	490,255

Schedule of Segment Operating Information by Segment

Operating Information by Segment:

	Twelve Months Ended
	December 31
(In thousands)	2018			2017			2016
Revenues
Harsco Metals & Minerals	$	1,068,304		$	1,011,328		$	965,540
Harsco Industrial	374,708			299,592			247,542
Harsco Rail	279,294			295,999			238,107
Corporate	74			143			34
Total Revenues	$	1,722,380		$	1,607,062		$	1,451,223
Operating Income (Loss)
Harsco Metals & Minerals	$	121,195		$	102,362		$	78,590
Harsco Industrial	54,665			35,532			23,804
Harsco Rail	37,341			32,953			(16,592		)
Corporate	(22,274		)	(25,453		)	(20,919		)
Total Operating Income	$	190,927		$	145,394		$	64,883
Total Assets
Harsco Metals & Minerals	$	1,230,152		$	1,184,280		$	1,181,602
Harsco Industrial	163,324			113,410			107,987
Harsco Rail	186,049			237,135			204,477
Corporate	53,342			43,860			87,272
Total Assets	$	1,632,867		$	1,578,685		$	1,581,338
Depreciation and Amortization
Harsco Metals & Minerals	$	115,059		$	112,329		$	120,611
Harsco Industrial	7,729			7,360			7,223
Harsco Rail	4,287			4,221			5,383
Corporate	5,710			6,027			8,269
Total Depreciation and Amortization	$	132,785		$	129,937		$	141,486
Capital Expenditures
Harsco Metals & Minerals	$	114,142		$	87,526		$	62,322
Harsco Industrial	7,561			6,895			5,118
Harsco Rail	9,152			2,403			1,696
Corporate	1,313			1,490			204
Total Capital Expenditures	$	132,168		$	98,314		$	69,340

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)	2018			2017			2016
Segment operating income	$	213,201		$	170,847		$	85,802
General Corporate expense	(22,274		)	(25,453		)	(20,919		)
Operating income from continuing operations	190,927			145,394			64,883
Interest income	2,155			2,469			2,475
Interest expense	(38,148		)	(47,552		)	(51,584		)
Defined benefit pension income (expense)	3,447			(2,595		)	(1,414		)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(1,127		)	(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		)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income	$	157,254		$	95,451		$	(79,471	)