1. Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates	*Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates* The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements (the “financial statements”) have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The financial statements include the consolidated accounts of TOR Minerals International, Inc. (“TOR”, “we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, TOR Processing and Trade, BV (“TPT”) and TOR Minerals Malaysia, Sdn. Bhd. (“TMM”). All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. (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 SEC rules and regulations. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 9, 2017. Operating results for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2017, are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2017.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards	*Recently Adopted Accounting Standards* In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. ASU 2016-09 changes how companies account for certain aspects of share based payment awards to employees, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as classification in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of this standard, which we adopted on January 1, 2017, did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
New Accounting Standards	*New Accounting Standards* In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” as amended by multiple standards updates. The pronouncement was issued to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard and disclosure requirements U.S. GAAP and IFRS. The pronouncement is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Based on the analysis completed to date, the Company does not expect the timing and pattern of the Company’s revenue recognition to materially change and as a result the Company does not anticipate material changes upon adoption of the standard; however, the Company is still in the process of evaluating the disclosure requirements. The Company expects to adopt the new standard using the modified retrospective approach, under which the cumulative effect of initially applying the new guidance is recognized as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the first quarter of 2018. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes all existing guidance on accounting for leases in ASC Topic 840. ASU 2016-02 is intended to provide enhanced transparency and comparability by requiring lessees to record right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities on the balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 will continue to classify leases as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the statement of income. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. ASU 2016-02 is required to be applied with a modified retrospective approach to each prior reporting period presented with various optional practical expedients. We are currently in the initial stages of evaluating the potential impact of adopting ASU 2016-02 on our financial statements and related disclosures.
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 income tax expense of approximately $45,000, state income tax expense of approximately $1,000 and foreign tax expense of approximately $16,000 for the three month period ended June 30, 2017, as compared to a federal tax benefit of approximately $15,000, state tax expense of $1,000 and foreign tax benefit of approximately $38,000 for the same three month period in 2016. For the six month period ended June 30, 2017, income taxes consisted of federal income tax benefit of approximately $7,000, state income tax expense of approximately $3,000 and foreign tax expense of approximately $28,000, as compared to a federal tax benefit of approximately $94,000, state income tax expense of approximately $3,000 and foreign tax expense of approximately $114,000 for the same six month period in 2016. 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, 2013 through December 31, 2016. Our state tax return, which is filed in Texas, is subject to examination for the tax years ended December 31, 2012 through December 31, 2016. Our tax returns in various non-U.S. jurisdictions are subject to examination for various tax years dating back to December 31, 2012. As of January 1, 2017, we did not have any unrecognized tax benefits and there was no change during the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2017. In addition, we did not recognize any interest and penalties in our financial statements during the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2017. 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.

1. Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates

Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates

The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements (the “financial statements”) have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The financial statements include the consolidated accounts of TOR Minerals International, Inc. (“TOR”, “we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, TOR Processing and Trade, BV (“TPT”) and TOR Minerals Malaysia, Sdn. Bhd. (“TMM”). All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. (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 SEC rules and regulations. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 9, 2017. Operating results for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2017, are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2017.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. ASU 2016-09 changes how companies account for certain aspects of share based payment awards to employees, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as classification in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of this standard, which we adopted on January 1, 2017, did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

New Accounting Standards

New Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” as amended by multiple standards updates. The pronouncement was issued to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard and disclosure requirements U.S. GAAP and IFRS. The pronouncement is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Based on the analysis completed to date, the Company does not expect the timing and pattern of the Company’s revenue recognition to materially change and as a result the Company does not anticipate material changes upon adoption of the standard; however, the Company is still in the process of evaluating the disclosure requirements. The Company expects to adopt the new standard using the modified retrospective approach, under which the cumulative effect of initially applying the new guidance is recognized as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the first quarter of 2018.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes all existing guidance on accounting for leases in ASC Topic 840. ASU 2016-02 is intended to provide enhanced transparency and comparability by requiring lessees to record right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities on the balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 will continue to classify leases as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the statement of income. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. ASU 2016-02 is required to be applied with a modified retrospective approach to each prior reporting period presented with various optional practical expedients. We are currently in the initial stages of evaluating the potential impact of adopting ASU 2016-02 on our financial statements and related disclosures.

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 income tax expense of approximately $45,000, state income tax expense of approximately $1,000 and foreign tax expense of approximately $16,000 for the three month period ended June 30, 2017, as compared to a federal tax benefit of approximately $15,000, state tax expense of $1,000 and foreign tax benefit of approximately $38,000 for the same three month period in 2016.

For the six month period ended June 30, 2017, income taxes consisted of federal income tax benefit of approximately $7,000, state income tax expense of approximately $3,000 and foreign tax expense of approximately $28,000, as compared to a federal tax benefit of approximately $94,000, state income tax expense of approximately $3,000 and foreign tax expense of approximately $114,000 for the same six month period in 2016.

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, 2013 through December 31, 2016. Our state tax return, which is filed in Texas, is subject to examination for the tax years ended December 31, 2012 through December 31, 2016. Our tax returns in various non-U.S. jurisdictions are subject to examination for various tax years dating back to December 31, 2012.

As of January 1, 2017, we did not have any unrecognized tax benefits and there was no change during the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2017. In addition, we did not recognize any interest and penalties in our financial statements during the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2017. 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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