CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 206,176us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 254,543us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Cost of goods sold	207,163us-gaap_CostOfGoodsSold	215,998us-gaap_CostOfGoodsSold
Gross profit	(987)us-gaap_GrossProfit	38,545us-gaap_GrossProfit
Selling, general and administrative expenses	4,905	3,670
Income (loss) from operations	(5,892)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	34,875us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Fair value adjustments	(173)us-gaap_FairValueAdjustmentOfWarrants	(35,844)us-gaap_FairValueAdjustmentOfWarrants
Interest expense, net	(1,015)us-gaap_InterestExpense	(4,351)us-gaap_InterestExpense
Other expense, net	(129)us-gaap_OtherGeneralExpense	(227)us-gaap_OtherGeneralExpense
Loss before provision for income taxes	(7,209)	(5,547)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(2,700)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	3,270us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Consolidated net loss	(4,509)us-gaap_ProfitLoss	(8,817)us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Net (income) loss attributed to noncontrolling interest	129	(2,009)
Net loss attributed to Pacific Ethanol, Inc..	(4,380)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	(10,826)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Preferred stock dividends	(312)us-gaap_DividendsPreferredStock	(312)us-gaap_DividendsPreferredStock
Net loss attributed to common stockholders	$ (4,692)	$ (11,138)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted	$ (0.19)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAndDiluted	$ (0.69)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAndDiluted
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted	24,104,000	16,181,000

Total costs related to goods produced and sold during the reporting period.

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Amount of paid and unpaid preferred stock dividends declared with the form of settlement in cash, stock and payment-in-kind (PIK).

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The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share in instances when basic and diluted earnings per share are the same amount and reported as a single line item on the face of the financial statements. Basic earnings per share is the amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings per share includes the amount of net income or loss for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

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Amount of expense (income) related to adjustment to fair value of warrant liability.

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Aggregate revenue less cost of goods and services sold or operating expenses directly attributable to the revenue generation activity.

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Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the noncontrolling interest. Also defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items but after deduction of those portions of income or loss from continuing operations that are allocable to noncontrolling interests.

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This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

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Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.

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The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

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Net income after adjustments for dividends on preferred stock (declared in the period) and/or cumulative preferred stock (accumulated for the period).

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The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

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Amount of general expenses not normally included in Other Operating Costs and Expenses.

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The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

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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.

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The aggregate total costs related to selling a firm's product and services, as well as all other general and administrative expenses. Direct selling expenses (for example, credit, warranty, and advertising) are expenses that can be directly linked to the sale of specific products. Indirect selling expenses are expenses that cannot be directly linked to the sale of specific products, for example telephone expenses, Internet, and postal charges. General and administrative expenses include salaries of non-sales personnel, rent, utilities, communication, etc.

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Average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS).

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