Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Accounting Policies	Note 1. Accounting Policies *Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates* The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the consolidated accounts of TOR Minerals International, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries with all significant intercompany transactions eliminated. In our opinion, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair statement of the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented have been made. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such SEC rules and regulations. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 24, 2011. Operating results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011, are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2011. *Income Taxes:* The Company records income taxes using the liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. For the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011, income tax expense consisted of federal income tax expense of $6,000 and $18,000, respectively; state income tax expense of $2,000 and $4,000, respectively; and foreign deferred tax expense of $52,000 and $176,000, respectively. For the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010, income tax expense consisted of federal income tax benefit of $12,000; state income tax expense of $3,000 and $8,000, respectively; and foreign deferred tax expense of $7,000 and $24,000, respectively. Taxes are based on an estimated annualized consolidated effective rate of 6.8% for the year ended December 31, 2011. When accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, we evaluate all tax years still subject to potential audit under the applicable state, federal and foreign income tax laws. We are subject to taxation in the United States, Malaysia and The Netherlands. Our federal income tax returns in the United States are subject to examination for the tax years ended December 31, 2007 through December 31, 2010. Our state returns, which are filed in Texas and Ohio, are subject to examination for the tax years ended December 31, 2006 through December 31, 2010. Our tax returns in various non-US jurisdictions are subject to examination for various tax years ended December 31, 2005 through December 31, 2010. As of January 1, 2011, we did not have any unrecognized tax benefits and there was no change during the nine month period ended September 30, 2011. In addition, we did not recognize any interest and penalties in our consolidated financial statements during the nine month period ended September 30, 2011. If any interest or penalties related to any income tax liabilities are imposed in future reporting periods, we expect to record both of these items as components of income tax expense. *Recently Adopted and Recently Issued Accounting Standards* The Company reviewed significant newly issued accounting pronouncements and concluded that they are either not applicable to the Company’s business or that no material effect is expected on the consolidated financial statements as a result of future adoption.

Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Note 1. Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the consolidated accounts of TOR Minerals International, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries with all significant intercompany transactions eliminated. In our opinion, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair statement of the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented have been made. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such SEC rules and regulations. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 24, 2011. Operating results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011, are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2011.

Income Taxes: The Company records income taxes using the liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse.

For the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011, income tax expense consisted of federal income tax expense of $6,000 and $18,000, respectively; state income tax expense of $2,000 and $4,000, respectively; and foreign deferred tax expense of $52,000 and $176,000, respectively. For the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010, income tax expense consisted of federal income tax benefit of $12,000; state income tax expense of $3,000 and $8,000, respectively; and foreign deferred tax expense of $7,000 and $24,000, respectively. Taxes are based on an estimated annualized consolidated effective rate of 6.8% for the year ended December 31, 2011.

When accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, we evaluate all tax years still subject to potential audit under the applicable state, federal and foreign income tax laws. We are subject to taxation in the United States, Malaysia and The Netherlands. Our federal income tax returns in the United States are subject to examination for the tax years ended December 31, 2007 through December 31, 2010. Our state returns, which are filed in Texas and Ohio, are subject to examination for the tax years ended December 31, 2006 through December 31, 2010. Our tax returns in various non-US jurisdictions are subject to examination for various tax years ended December 31, 2005 through December 31, 2010.

As of January 1, 2011, we did not have any unrecognized tax benefits and there was no change during the nine month period ended September 30, 2011. In addition, we did not recognize any interest and penalties in our consolidated financial statements during the nine month period ended September 30, 2011. If any interest or penalties related to any income tax liabilities are imposed in future reporting periods, we expect to record both of these items as components of income tax expense.

Recently Adopted and Recently Issued Accounting Standards

The Company reviewed significant newly issued accounting pronouncements and concluded that they are either not applicable to the Company’s business or that no material effect is expected on the consolidated financial statements as a result of future adoption.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure, and significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. May be provided in more than one note to the financial statements, as long as users are provided with an understanding of (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by an enterprise in determining whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement with a VIE, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE's assets reported by an enterprise in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with an enterprise's involvement with the VIE, and (4) how an enterprise's involvement with the VIE affects the enterprise's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Describes procedure if disclosures are provided in more than one note to the financial statements.

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