Segments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segments

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

	Year Ended December 31,
	2016			2015			2014
Net sales to external customers:
Steel mills	$	11,312,048		$	11,084,331		$	14,723,642
Steel products		3,687,448			3,966,895			4,032,385
Raw materials		1,208,626			1,388,050			2,349,114
	$	16,208,122		$	16,439,276		$	21,105,141
Intercompany sales:
Steel mills	$	2,070,077		$	2,152,157		$	2,904,317
Steel products		106,838			90,969			105,383
Raw materials		5,997,498			6,279,316			9,618,145
Corporate/eliminations		(8,174,413	)		(8,522,442	)		(12,627,845	)
	$	—		$	—		$	—
Depreciation expense:
Steel mills	$	377,627		$	381,352		$	366,568
Steel products		36,906			39,512			42,777
Raw materials		191,466			198,705			235,443
Corporate		7,193			6,188			7,212
	$	613,192		$	625,757		$	652,000
Amortization expense:
Steel mills	$	22,479		$	18,789		$	15,269
Steel products		21,998			23,932			27,644
Raw materials		29,385			31,539			29,510
	$	73,862		$	74,260		$	72,423
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests:
Steel mills	$	1,724,168		$	629,256		$	1,594,352
Steel products		249,970			276,048			166,323
Raw materials		(95,121	)		(283,938	)		(29,053	)
Corporate/eliminations		(580,358	)		(379,500	)		(584,334	)
	$	1,298,659		$	241,866		$	1,147,288
Segment assets:
Steel mills	$	8,084,773		$	7,318,169		$	8,528,623
Steel products		2,544,344			2,485,122			2,731,320
Raw materials		3,235,237			3,123,190			3,858,254
Corporate/eliminations		1,359,164			1,400,488			838,270
	$	15,223,518		$	14,326,969		$	15,956,467
Capital expenditures:
Steel mills	$	375,996		$	248,532		$	343,767
Steel products		30,698			41,291			27,262
Raw materials		194,112			74,607			197,252
Corporate		16,871			338			586
	$	617,677		$	364,768		$	568,867

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,
	2016		2015		2014
Net sales to external customers:
Sheet	$	5,178,467	$	4,628,805	$	5,988,303
Bar		2,886,648		3,005,450		4,051,171
Structural		1,982,642		2,137,413		2,617,196
Plate		1,204,185		1,312,663		2,066,972
Tubular products		60,106		—		—
Steel products		3,687,448		3,966,895		4,032,385
Raw materials		1,208,626		1,388,050		2,349,114
	$	16,208,122	$	16,439,276	$	21,105,141