Segments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segments

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

	Year Ended December 31,
	2015			2014			2013
Net sales to external customers:
Steel mills	$	11,084,331		$	14,723,642		$	13,311,948
Steel products		3,966,895			4,032,385			3,607,333
Raw materials		1,388,050			2,349,114			2,132,765
	$	16,439,276		$	21,105,141		$	19,052,046
Intercompany sales:
Steel mills	$	2,152,157		$	2,904,317		$	2,563,554
Steel products		90,969			105,383			97,090
Raw materials		6,279,316			9,618,145			9,116,860
Corporate/eliminations		(8,522,442	)		(12,627,845	)		(11,777,504	)
	$	—		$	—		$	—
Depreciation expense:
Steel mills	$	381,352		$	366,568		$	332,258
Steel products		39,512			42,777			42,737
Raw materials		198,705			235,443			154,065
Corporate		6,188			7,212			6,792
	$	625,757		$	652,000		$	535,852
Amortization expense:
Steel mills	$	18,789		$	15,269		$	13,911
Steel products		23,932			27,644			31,082
Raw materials		31,539			29,510			29,363
	$	74,260		$	72,423		$	74,356
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests:
Steel mills	$	629,793		$	1,594,352		$	1,156,715
Steel products		276,048			166,323			82,129
Raw materials		(283,938	)		(29,053	)		13,686
Corporate/eliminations		87,335			(527,045	)		(461,407	)
	$	709,238		$	1,204,577		$	791,123
Segment assets:
Steel mills	$	7,318,706		$	8,528,623		$	7,787,464
Steel products		2,485,122			2,731,320			2,710,597
Raw materials		3,123,190			3,858,254			3,896,331
Corporate/eliminations		1,323,381			497,730			808,891
	$	14,250,399		$	15,615,927		$	15,203,283
Capital expenditures:
Steel mills	$	248,532		$	343,767		$	589,621
Steel products		41,291			27,262			22,472
Raw materials		74,607			197,252			610,745
Corporate		338			586			7,580
	$	364,768		$	568,867		$	1,230,418

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,
	2015		2014		2013
Net sales to external customers:
Sheet	$	4,628,805	$	5,988,303	$	5,219,464
Bar		3,005,450		4,051,171		3,730,328
Structural		2,137,413		2,617,196		2,558,538
Plate		1,312,663		2,066,972		1,803,618
Steel products		3,966,895		4,032,385		3,607,333
Raw materials		1,388,050		2,349,114		2,132,765
	$	16,439,276	$	21,105,141	$	19,052,046