Segments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segments

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

	Year Ended December 31,
	2018			2017			2016
Net sales to external customers:
Steel mills	$	16,245,218		$	12,929,709		$	10,546,847
Steel products		6,796,501			5,579,744			4,452,649
Raw materials		2,025,560			1,742,940			1,208,626
	$	25,067,279		$	20,252,393		$	16,208,122
Intercompany sales:
Steel mills	$	3,924,160		$	2,916,017		$	2,066,547
Steel products		207,003			118,249			110,368
Raw materials		11,460,645			9,191,081			5,997,498
Corporate/eliminations		(15,591,808	)		(12,225,347	)		(8,174,413	)
	$	—		$	—		$	—
Depreciation expense:
Steel mills	$	378,146		$	377,210		$	368,859
Steel products		80,681			76,992			45,674
Raw materials		161,666			172,699			191,466
Corporate		10,386			8,932			7,193
	$	630,879		$	635,833		$	613,192
Amortization expense:
Steel mills	$	9,400		$	9,706		$	7,632
Steel products		51,997			52,597			36,845
Raw materials		27,361			28,925			29,385
	$	88,758		$	91,228		$	73,862
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests:
Steel mills	$	3,500,085		$	1,953,075		$	1,680,156
Steel products		467,105			337,978			294,039
Raw materials		236,241			129,296			(95,121	)
Corporate/eliminations		(974,040	)		(670,392	)		(580,415	)
	$	3,229,391		$	1,749,957		$	1,298,659
Segment assets:
Steel mills	$	9,244,086		$	7,671,217		$	6,980,979
Steel products		4,734,636			4,323,907			3,651,118
Raw materials		3,492,126			3,396,110			3,235,237
Corporate/eliminations		449,740			450,024			1,356,184
	$	17,920,588		$	15,841,258		$	15,223,518
Capital expenditures:
Steel mills	$	720,310		$	336,760		$	357,545
Steel products		88,585			90,952			49,149
Raw materials		169,926			59,036			194,112
Corporate		18,435			20,326			16,871
	$	997,256		$	507,074		$	617,677

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,
	2018		2017		2016
Net sales to external customers:
Sheet	$	7,571,765	$	6,407,974	$	5,178,467
Bar		4,709,292		3,558,806		2,886,648
Structural		1,830,476		1,317,995		1,277,547
Plate		2,133,685		1,644,934		1,204,185
Tubular Products		1,347,577		917,235		60,106
Rebar Fabrication		1,496,194		1,306,418		1,272,338
Other Steel Products		3,952,730		3,356,091		3,120,205
Raw Materials		2,025,560		1,742,940		1,208,626
	$	25,067,279	$	20,252,393	$	16,208,122