CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF Earnings and Retained Earnings - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF Earnings and Retained Earnings
Net product sales	$ 515,674	$ 517,373	$ 536,692
Rental and royalty revenue	3,615	3,727	3,420
Total revenue	519,289	521,100	540,112
Product cost of goods sold	325,924	320,290	340,090
Rental and royalty cost	972	1,019	889
Total costs	326,896	321,309	340,979
Product gross margin	189,750	197,083	196,602
Rental and royalty gross margin	2,643	2,708	2,531
Total gross margin	192,393	199,791	199,133
Selling, marketing and administrative expenses	120,977	107,377	108,051
Earnings from operations	71,416	92,414	91,082
Other income, net	13,145	5,498	1,496
Earnings before income taxes	84,561	97,912	92,578
Provision for income taxes	3,907	30,593	26,451
Net earnings	80,654	67,319	66,127
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(210)	(191)	38
Net earnings attributable to Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.	$ 80,864	$ 67,510	$ 66,089
Net earnings attributable to Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.28	$ 1.05	$ 1.02
Average number of shares outstanding (in shares)	63,179	64,086	65,103
Retained earnings at beginning of period	$ 43,833	$ 52,349	$ 64,927
Net earnings attributable to Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.	80,864	67,510	66,089
Cash dividends	(22,548)	(22,209)	(21,308)
Stock dividends	(44,924)	(53,817)	(57,359)
Retained earnings at end of period	$ 57,225	$ 43,833	$ 52,349