Segments - Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Apr. 02, 2016	Apr. 04, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 3,715,576	$ 4,399,440
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	141,526	119,045
Total assets	14,395,104		$ 14,226,944
Intercompany Eliminations [Member] \| Steel Mills [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	470,263	574,983
Intercompany Eliminations [Member] \| Steel Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	21,206	19,497
Intercompany Eliminations [Member] \| Raw Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,171,362	1,832,918
Net Sales to External Customers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	3,715,576	4,399,440
Net Sales to External Customers [Member] \| Steel Mills [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	2,634,589	3,053,339
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	279,835	217,128
Total assets	7,250,347		7,318,706
Net Sales to External Customers [Member] \| Steel Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	828,376	921,384
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	42,367	32,458
Total assets	2,424,125		2,485,122
Net Sales to External Customers [Member] \| Raw Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	252,611	424,717
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	(63,372)	(41,497)
Total assets	3,187,327		3,123,190
Corporate and Eliminations Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(1,662,831)	(2,427,398)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	(117,304)	$ (89,044)
Total assets	$ 1,533,305		$ 1,299,926

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.18)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 12
-Article 7

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+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 940
-SubTopic 20
-Section 25
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51673353&loc=d3e41242-110953

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 10
-Article 5

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Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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