Business segments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Reconciliation of assets from segment to consolidated

A reconciliation of our consolidated assets to the total of primary aluminum segment assets is provided below.

Segment assets (1)	2016		2015		2014
Primary	$	1,492,964	$	1,706,032	$	1,987,727
Corporate, unallocated	47,363		46,436		37,331
Total assets	$	1,540,327	$	1,752,468	$	2,025,058

(1) Segment assets include accounts receivable, due from affiliates, prepaid and other current assets, inventory, intangible assets and property, plant and equipment — net; the remaining assets are unallocated corporate assets.

Schedule of revenue from external customers and long-lived assets, by geographical areas

Included in the consolidated financial statements are the following amounts related to geographic locations:

	2016		2015		2014
Net sales:
United States	$	808,912	$	1,373,714	$	1,370,570
Iceland	510,182		576,143		560,472
Long-lived assets: (1)
United States	$	395,107	$	408,722	$	497,057
Iceland	625,897		801,268		831,507
Other	78,701		94,421		95,752

(1) Includes long-lived assets other than financial instruments and deferred taxes.

Schedule of revenue by major customers by reporting segments

The following table shows our major customers whose sales revenue exceeded 10% of our net sales.  A loss of any of these customers could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.  The net sales revenue for these customers is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2016		2015		2014
Glencore	$	1,178,631	$	1,867,711	$	1,262,101
Southwire	—		—		226,740