Segments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segments

Nucor’s results by segment are as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2014			2013			2012
Net sales to external customers:
Steel mills	$	14,723,642		$	13,311,948		$	13,781,797
Steel products		4,032,385			3,607,333			3,738,381
Raw materials		2,349,114			2,132,765			1,909,095
	$	21,105,141		$	19,052,046		$	19,429,273
Intercompany sales:
Steel mills	$	2,904,317		$	2,563,554		$	2,609,411
Steel products		105,383			97,090			71,277
Raw materials		9,618,145			9,116,860			9,514,163
Corporate/eliminations		(12,627,845	)		(11,777,504	)		(12,194,851	)
	$	—		$	—		$	—
Depreciation expense:
Steel mills	$	366,568		$	332,258		$	366,182
Steel products		42,777			42,737			47,948
Raw materials		235,443			154,065			112,939
Corporate		7,212			6,792			6,941
	$	652,000		$	535,852		$	534,010
Amortization expense:
Steel mills	$	15,269		$	13,911		$	8,750
Steel products		27,644			31,082			35,152
Raw materials		29,510			29,363			29,109
	$	72,423		$	74,356		$	73,011
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests:
Steel mills	$	1,594,352		$	1,156,715		$	1,162,270
Steel products		166,323			82,129			(17,140	)
Raw materials		(29,053	)		13,686			55,264
Corporate/eliminations		(527,045	)		(461,407	)		(347,454	)
	$	1,204,577		$	791,123		$	852,940
Segment assets:
Steel mills	$	9,097,576		$	8,365,023		$	7,894,974
Steel products		2,885,209			2,861,403			2,935,146
Raw materials		3,927,159			3,956,913			3,400,690
Corporate/eliminations		(294,017	)		19,944			(78,751	)
	$	15,615,927		$	15,203,283		$	14,152,059
Capital expenditures:
Steel mills	$	343,767		$	589,621		$	369,463
Steel products		27,262			22,472			31,698
Raw materials		197,252			610,745			604,312
Corporate		586			7,580			13,861
	$	568,867		$	1,230,418		$	1,019,334

Schedule of Net Sale by Product to External Customers

Net sales by product were as follows (in thousands). Further product group breakdown is impracticable.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2014		2013		2012
Net sales to external customers:
Sheet	$	5,988,303	$	5,219,464	$	5,540,868
Bar		4,051,171		3,730,328		3,999,911
Structural		2,617,196		2,558,538		2,301,778
Plate		2,066,972		1,803,618		1,939,240
Steel products		4,032,385		3,607,333		3,738,381
Raw materials		2,349,114		2,132,765		1,909,095
	$	21,105,141	$	19,052,046	$	19,429,273