CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,424,881	$ 1,515,371
Cost of goods sold	1,434,819	1,530,535
Gross loss	(9,938)	(15,164)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	35,453	36,373
Asset impairment	29,292
Loss from operations	(74,683)	(51,537)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(6,517)
Interest expense, net	(20,206)	(17,132)
Other income, net	104	171
Loss before benefit for income taxes	(101,302)	(68,498)
Benefit for income taxes	20	562
Consolidated net loss	(101,282)	(67,936)
Net loss attributed to noncontrolling interests	12,333	7,663
Net loss attributed to Pacific Ethanol, Inc.	(88,949)	(60,273)
Preferred stock dividends	(1,265)	(1,265)
Loss available to common stockholders	$ (90,214)	$ (61,538)
Loss per share, basic and diluted	$ (1.9)	$ (1.42)
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted	47,384	43,376