Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies (Policies):
Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates	*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 (the “SEC”). The interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the consolidated accounts of TOR Minerals International, Inc. (“TOR”, “we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, TOR Minerals Malaysia, Sdn. Bhd. (“TMM”) and TOR Processing and Trade, BV (“TPT”) 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 consolidated 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, 2013, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2014. Operating results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2014.
Income Taxes	*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. Income taxes consisted of federal and state income tax expense of approximately $47,000 and $2,000, respectively, and foreign tax expense of approximately $143,000 for the three month period ended March 31, 2014, compared to federal and state income tax expense of approximately $40,000 and $2,000, respectively, and foreign tax benefit of approximately $73,000 for the same three month period in 2013. Taxes are based on an estimated annualized consolidated effective rate of 21.4% for the year ended December 31, 2014. 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, 2010 through December 31, 2013. Our state return, which is filed in Texas, is subject to examination for the tax years ended December 31, 2009 through December 31, 2013. Our tax returns in various non-U.S. jurisdictions are subject to examination for various tax years dating back to December 31, 2008. As of January 1, 2014, we did not have any unrecognized tax benefits and there was no change during the three month period ended March 31, 2014. In addition, we did not recognize any interest and penalties in our condensed consolidated financial statements during the three month period ended March 31, 2014. 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.

Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates

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 (the “SEC”). The interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the consolidated accounts of TOR Minerals International, Inc. (“TOR”, “we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, TOR Minerals Malaysia, Sdn. Bhd. (“TMM”) and TOR Processing and Trade, BV (“TPT”) 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 consolidated 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, 2013, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2014. Operating results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2014.

Income Taxes

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.

Income taxes consisted of federal and state income tax expense of approximately $47,000 and $2,000, respectively, and foreign tax expense of approximately $143,000 for the three month period ended March 31, 2014, compared to federal and state income tax expense of approximately $40,000 and $2,000, respectively, and foreign tax benefit of approximately $73,000 for the same three month period in 2013. Taxes are based on an estimated annualized consolidated effective rate of 21.4% for the year ended December 31, 2014.

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, 2010 through December 31, 2013. Our state return, which is filed in Texas, is subject to examination for the tax years ended December 31, 2009 through December 31, 2013. Our tax returns in various non-U.S. jurisdictions are subject to examination for various tax years dating back to December 31, 2008.

As of January 1, 2014, we did not have any unrecognized tax benefits and there was no change during the three month period ended March 31, 2014. In addition, we did not recognize any interest and penalties in our condensed consolidated financial statements during the three month period ended March 31, 2014. 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.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for income taxes, which may include its accounting policies for recognizing and measuring deferred tax assets and liabilities and related valuation allowances, recognizing investment tax credits, operating loss carryforwards, tax credit carryforwards, and other carryforwards, methodologies for determining its effective income tax rate and the characterization of interest and penalties in the financial statements.

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