Note 10 - Income Taxes (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent			35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Repatriation of Foreign Earnings, Cash Position, Percent	15.50%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Repatriation of Foreign Earnings, Other, Percent	8.00%
Provisional Toll Charge	$ 2,105
Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(3,599)		$ (429)	$ 206	$ (2,269)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations, Adjustment of Deferred Tax (Asset) Liability	(1,611)
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Change in Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance, Amount			(315)	1,673	3,134
Foreign Earnings Repatriated					9,850
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate	1,654		1,654
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax, Gross Penalties and Interest Disclosed	412		412	455	475
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Expense			153	63	58
Amount of Tax and Interest Paid as Final Settlement to the Tax Authority	38
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Period Increase (Decrease)	270
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Valuation Allowance	108,292		$ 108,292
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] | Earliest Tax Year [Member]
Open Tax Year			2012
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Valuation Allowance	2,507		$ 2,507
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | Earliest Tax Year [Member]
Open Tax Year			2011
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member] | Domestic Tax Authority [Member] | Earliest Tax Year [Member]
Open Tax Year			2012
Cambrex High Point, Inc. [Member] | State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	6,092		$ 6,092
Cambrex High Point, Inc. [Member] | Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 7,439		7,439
Domestic Valuation Allowance [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Change in Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance, Amount			264	2,294	2,450
Foreign Valuation Allowance [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Change in Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance, Amount			101	(698)	(1,531)
Foreign Valuation Allowance Change for Income Loss [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Change in Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance, Amount			51	(621)	684
Foreign Gains and Losses Related to Deferred Taxes and Currency Translation Adjustments Included in OCI [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Change in Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance, Amount			$ 50	$ (77)	$ (2,215)
Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent		21.00%