Financial Statements (Details)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Percentage of sales by major product lines
Percentage of sales by major product lines	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Carbon Steel Flat [Member]
Percentage of sales by major product lines
Percentage of sales by major product lines	25.00%	28.00%	24.00%	27.00%
Carbon Steel Plate [Member]
Percentage of sales by major product lines
Percentage of sales by major product lines	13.00%	11.00%	13.00%	11.00%
Carbon Steel Long [Member]
Percentage of sales by major product lines
Percentage of sales by major product lines	14.00%	10.00%	15.00%	9.00%
Stainless Steel Flat [Member]
Percentage of sales by major product lines
Percentage of sales by major product lines	15.00%	18.00%	15.00%	19.00%
Stainless Steel Plate [Member]
Percentage of sales by major product lines
Percentage of sales by major product lines	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%	5.00%
Stainless Steel Long [Member]
Percentage of sales by major product lines
Percentage of sales by major product lines	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%
Aluminum Flat [Member]
Percentage of sales by major product lines
Percentage of sales by major product lines	14.00%	14.00%	15.00%	14.00%
Aluminum Plate [Member]
Percentage of sales by major product lines
Percentage of sales by major product lines	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%
Aluminum Long [Member]
Percentage of sales by major product lines
Percentage of sales by major product lines	4.00%	3.00%	4.00%	3.00%
Other [Member]
Percentage of sales by major product lines
Percentage of sales by major product lines	3.00%	4.00%	2.00%	4.00%