CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 5,016,444	$ 2,678,628
Accounts receivable, net	11,417,226	11,714,813
Inventory	7,554,364	8,540,459
Prepaid expenses	1,470,755	1,161,721
Total current assets	25,458,789	24,095,621
Noncurrent assets
Fixed assets, net	15,476,237	15,091,176
Intangible assets, net	14,835,694	15,172,816
Goodwill	4,922,353	4,502,743
Deferred federal income taxes	5,684,000	5,684,000
Total noncurrent assets	40,918,284	40,450,735
TOTAL ASSETS	66,377,073	64,546,356
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	15,288,497	14,096,185
Current portion of long-term debt	2,845,145	1,956,847
Total current liabilities	18,133,642	16,053,032
Long-term liabilities
Long-term debt	6,210,138	6,558,851
Contingent consideration	3,220,250	3,220,250
Deferred federal income tax	378,000	378,000
Total liabilities	27,942,030	26,210,133
Commitments and contingencies
EQUITY
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share: 50,000,000 shares authorized Series A Convertible Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 authorized and 1,279,342 and 1,319,002 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	1,279	1,319
Common stock, $0.001 par value per share; 750,000,000 shares authorized; 21,267,658 and 21,205,609 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	21,268	21,206
Additional paid-in capital	19,882,694	19,579,732
Retained earnings	18,404,169	17,542,004
Total Vertex Energy, Inc. stockholders' equity	38,309,410	37,144,261
Non-controlling interest	125,633	1,191,962
Total equity	38,435,043	38,336,223
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 66,377,073	$ 64,546,356