Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Organization — Century Aluminum Company ("Century Aluminum," "Century," the "Company", "we", "us", "our" or "ours") is a holding company, whose principal subsidiaries are Century Kentucky, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, "CAKY"), Nordural ehf ("Nordural"), Century Aluminum Sebree LLC ("Century Sebree") and Century Aluminum of South Carolina ("CASC"). CAKY operates a primary aluminum reduction facility in Hawesville, Kentucky ("Hawesville"). Nordural Grundartangi ehf, a subsidiary of Nordural, operates a primary aluminum reduction facility in Grundartangi, Iceland ("Grundartangi"). Century Sebree operates a primary aluminum reduction facility in Robards, Kentucky ("Sebree"). CASC operates a primary aluminum reduction facility in Goose Creek, South Carolina ("Mt. Holly"). In addition to our primary aluminum assets, our subsidiary, Century Aluminum Vlissingen B.V., owns and operates a carbon anode production facility located in Vlissingen, the Netherlands ("Vlissingen"). Carbon anodes are used in the production of primary aluminum and Vlissingen currently supplies carbon anodes to Grundartangi. As of December 31, 2021, Glencore owns 42.9% of Century’s outstanding common stock (46.4% on a fully-diluted basis assuming the conversion of all of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock) and all of our outstanding Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. See Note 7. Shareholders' Equity for a full description of our outstanding Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. Century and Glencore enter into various transactions from time to time such as the purchase and sale of primary aluminum, purchase and sale of alumina and raw materials, tolling agreements as well as forward financial contracts and borrowing and other debt transactions. See Note 2. Related Party Transactions. Basis of Presentation — The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Century Aluminum Company and our subsidiaries, after elimination of all intercompany transactions and accounts. The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("U.S. GAAP"). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Revenue recognition — See Note 3. Revenue. Cash and Cash Equivalents — Cash and cash equivalents are comprised of cash, money market funds and short-term investments having original maturities of three months or less. The carrying amount of cash equivalents approximates fair value. Accounts Receivable and Due from Affiliates — These amounts are net of an allowance for expected losses of $1.0 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020. Inventories — Our inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, using the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") and the weighted average cost method. Due to the nature of our business, our inventory values are subject to market price changes and these changes can have a significant impact on cost of goods sold and gross profit in any period. Reductions in net realizable value below cost basis at the end of a period will have an impact on our cost of goods sold as this inventory is sold in subsequent periods. Property, Plant and Equipment — Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost. Additions and improvements are capitalized when each asset is placed into service. Asset and accumulated depreciation accounts are relieved for dispositions with resulting gains or losses included in Other income (expense) - net. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation of plant and equipment is provided for by the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives: Building and improvements 10 to 45 years Machinery and equipment 5 to 35 years Technology and software 3 to 7 years During 2021, we continued our efforts to restart the curtailed capacity at our Hawesville facility. The rebuild of the fifth and final potline and the completion of the technology upgrades are expected to be completed over the next several years subject to market conditions. The nature, size and scope of this effort represents a discrete construction project. All associated costs that meet the capitalization criteria have been and will continue to be capitalized as a component of property, plant and equipment. During 2021, we initiated efforts to restart the curtailed capacity at our Mt. Holly facility. Restart work at the Mt. Holly smelter is progressing and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2022, subject to market conditions. All associated costs that meet the capitalization criteria have been and will continue to be capitalized as a component of property, plant and equipment. Impairment of long-lived assets — We evaluate our property, plant and equipment for potential impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable. If deemed unrecoverable, an impairment loss would be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the assets. Impairment evaluation and fair value is based on estimates and assumptions that take into account our business plans and a long-term investment horizon. Leases — We determine whether an arrangement is a lease at the inception of the arrangement based on the terms and conditions in the contract. A contract contains a lease if there is an identified asset which we have the right to control. We have made a policy election not to separate lease and non-lease components within contracts. We have also elected not to recognize the impact of short term leases in the right of use asset ("ROUA") and right of use liability ("ROUL") balances. Short term leases are leases that have a lease term less than one year and do not include a purchase option. Income Taxes — We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method, whereby deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. In evaluating our ability to realize deferred tax assets, we use judgment to determine if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized, and if a corresponding valuation allowance is required. Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits — We sponsor defined benefit pension and OPEB plans for certain of our domestic hourly and salaried employees and a supplemental executive retirement benefit plan for certain current and former executive officers. Plan assets and obligations are measured annually or more frequently if there is a re-measurement event, based on the Company’s measurement date utilizing various actuarial assumptions. We attribute the service costs for the plans over the working lives of plan participants. The effects of actual results differing from our assumptions and the effects of changing assumptions are considered actuarial gains or losses. Actuarial gains or losses are recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss). We contribute to our defined benefit pension plans based upon actuarial and economic assumptions designed to achieve adequate funding of the projected benefit obligations and to meet the minimum funding requirements. Postemployment Benefits — We provide certain postemployment benefits to certain former and inactive employees and their dependents during the period following employment, but before retirement. These benefits include salary continuance, supplemental unemployment and disability health care. We recognize the estimated future cost of providing postemployment benefits on an accrual basis over the active service life of the employee. Derivatives and Hedging — As a global producer of primary aluminum, our operating results and cash flows from operations are subject to risk of fluctuations in the market prices of primary aluminum. We may from time to time enter into financial contracts to manage our exposure to such risk. Derivative instruments may consist of variable to fixed financial contracts and back-to-back fixed to floating arrangements for a portion of our sale of primary aluminum, where we receive fixed and pay floating prices from our customers and to counterparties, respectively. From time to time, we may manage our exposure to fluctuations in the market price of power through financial instruments designed to protect our downside risk exposure. We are also exposed to foreign currency risk, and we may manage our exposure by entering into foreign currency forward contracts or option contracts for forecasted transactions and projected cash flows for foreign currencies in future periods. Our derivatives are not designated as cash flow hedges. Derivative and hedging instruments are recorded in due from affiliates, derivative assets, other assets, due to affiliates, derivative liabilities and derivative liabilities - less current portion in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. We value our derivative and hedging instruments using quoted market prices and other significant unobservable inputs. We recognize changes in fair value and settlements of derivative instruments in net gain (loss) on forward and derivative contracts in the consolidated statements of operations as they occur. We recognize unrealized gains on forward and derivative contracts as part of cash flows from operations in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Foreign Currency – We are exposed to foreign currency risk due to fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar as compared to the Euro and the Icelandic krona ("ISK"), and the Chinese renminbi. Grundartangi and Vlissingen use the U.S. dollar as their functional currency, as contracts for sales of aluminum and purchases of alumina and power are denominated in U.S. dollars. Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are recorded based on exchange rates at the time such transactions arise and any transaction gains and losses are reflected in Other income (expense) - net in the consolidated statements of operations. Financial Instruments — Receivables, certain life insurance policies, payables, borrowings under revolving credit facilities and debt related to industrial revenue bonds ("IRBs") are carried at amounts that approximate fair value. Earnings per share — Basic earnings (loss) per share ("EPS") amounts are calculated by dividing earnings (loss) available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding using the two-class method. Under the two-class method, net income is allocated between shares of common stock and other participating securities based on their participating rights. Net loss is not allocated to other participating securities if they are not obligated to share in the losses based on their contractual terms. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Common equivalent shares are not included in the denominator of the diluted loss per share calculation when inclusion of such shares would be anti-dilutive. The dilutive effect to earnings per share is determined using the "if converted" method whereby, if the conversion of the convertible notes would be dilutive, interest expense on the outstanding notes is added back to the diluted earnings numerator and all of the potentially dilutive shares are included in the diluted common shares outstanding denominator for the computation of diluted earnings per share. Our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is a non-cumulative perpetual participating convertible preferred stock with no set dividend preferences. In periods where we report net losses, we do not allocate these losses to the Convertible Preferred Stock for the computation of basic or diluted EPS. Asset Retirement Obligations — We are subject to environmental regulations which create certain legal obligations related to the normal operations of our domestic primary aluminum smelter operations. Our asset retirement obligations ("AROs") consist primarily of costs associated with the disposal of spent potliner used in the reduction cells of our domestic facilities. AROs are recorded on a discounted basis at the time the obligation is incurred (when the potliner is put in service) and accreted over time for the change in the present value of the liability. We capitalize the asset retirement costs by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived assets and depreciating these assets over their remaining useful lives. Certain conditional asset retirement obligations ("CAROs") relate to the remediation of our primary aluminum facilities for hazardous material, such as landfill materials and asbestos which have not been recorded because they have an indeterminate settlement date. CAROs are a legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing and (or) method of settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within our control. Concentrations of Credit Risk — Financial instruments, which potentially expose us to concentrations of credit risk, consist principally of trade receivables. Our limited customer base increases our concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables. We routinely assess the financial strength of our customers and collectability of our trade receivables and recognize an allowance based on our estimate of lifetime expected credit losses in accordance with the current expected credit loss ("CECL") model. Share-Based Compensation — We measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the fair value of the award on the grant date. We recognize the cost over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. We issue shares to satisfy the requirements of our share-based compensation plans. At this time, we do not plan to issue treasury shares to support our share-based compensation plans, but we may in the future. We award performance units to certain officers and employees. The performance units may be settled in cash or common stock at the discretion of the Board. We have not issued any stock options since 2009. Recently Adopted Accounting Standards On January 1, 2021, we adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes." The ASU amendments include the removal of certain exceptions to the general principles of ASC 740 and to improve and simplify accounting for income taxes by clarifying and amending existing guidance. The adoption of the ASU did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. On January 1, 2021, we adopted FASB ASU 2020-06, “Debt With Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity" using the modified retrospective method. The ASU amendments include simplification of the accounting models for convertible instruments and conversion options, and amendments to diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) calculations for certain convertible instruments, requiring the inclusion of convertible securities in the calculation of diluted EPS using the if-converted method. The adoption of the ASU did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. On January 1, 2021, we adopted the final rule issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that amends the disclosure requirements related to issuers and guarantors of certain registered securities under SEC Regulation S-X Rule 3-10. We presented the alternative financial disclosures in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. The adoption of the SEC rule is limited to disclosures only and did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Organization — Century Aluminum Company ("Century Aluminum," "Century," the "Company", "we", "us", "our" or "ours") is a holding company, whose principal subsidiaries are Century Kentucky, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, "CAKY"), Nordural ehf ("Nordural"), Century Aluminum Sebree LLC ("Century Sebree") and Century Aluminum of South Carolina ("CASC"). CAKY operates a primary aluminum reduction facility in Hawesville, Kentucky ("Hawesville"). Nordural Grundartangi ehf, a subsidiary of Nordural, operates a primary aluminum reduction facility in Grundartangi, Iceland ("Grundartangi"). Century Sebree operates a primary aluminum reduction facility in Robards, Kentucky ("Sebree"). CASC operates a primary aluminum reduction facility in Goose Creek, South Carolina ("Mt. Holly").

In addition to our primary aluminum assets, our subsidiary, Century Aluminum Vlissingen B.V., owns and operates a carbon anode production facility located in Vlissingen, the Netherlands ("Vlissingen"). Carbon anodes are used in the production of primary aluminum and Vlissingen currently supplies carbon anodes to Grundartangi.

As of December 31, 2021, Glencore owns 42.9% of Century’s outstanding common stock (46.4% on a fully-diluted basis assuming the conversion of all of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock) and all of our outstanding Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. See Note 7. Shareholders' Equity for a full description of our outstanding Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. Century and Glencore enter into various transactions from time to time such as the purchase and sale of primary aluminum, purchase and sale of alumina and raw materials, tolling agreements as well as forward financial contracts and borrowing and other debt transactions. See Note 2. Related Party Transactions.

Basis of Presentation — The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Century Aluminum Company and our subsidiaries, after elimination of all intercompany transactions and accounts.

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("U.S. GAAP"). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents — Cash and cash equivalents are comprised of cash, money market funds and short-term investments having original maturities of three months or less. The carrying amount of cash equivalents approximates fair value.

Inventories — Our inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, using the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") and the weighted average cost method. Due to the nature of our business, our inventory values are subject to market price changes and these changes can have a significant impact on cost of goods sold and gross profit in any period. Reductions in net realizable value below cost basis at the end of a period will have an impact on our cost of goods sold as this inventory is sold in subsequent periods.

Property, Plant and Equipment — Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost. Additions and improvements are capitalized when each asset is placed into service. Asset and accumulated depreciation accounts are relieved for dispositions with resulting gains or losses included in Other income (expense) - net. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation of plant and equipment is provided for by the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

During 2021, we continued our efforts to restart the curtailed capacity at our Hawesville facility. The rebuild of the fifth and final potline and the completion of the technology upgrades are expected to be completed over the next several years subject to market conditions. The nature, size and scope of this effort represents a discrete construction project. All associated costs that meet the capitalization criteria have been and will continue to be capitalized as a component of property, plant and equipment.

During 2021, we initiated efforts to restart the curtailed capacity at our Mt. Holly facility. Restart work at the Mt. Holly smelter is progressing and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2022, subject to market conditions. All associated costs that meet the capitalization criteria have been and will continue to be capitalized as a component of property, plant and equipment.

Impairment of long-lived assets — We evaluate our property, plant and equipment for potential impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable. If deemed unrecoverable, an impairment loss would be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the assets. Impairment evaluation and fair value is based on estimates and assumptions that take into account our business plans and a long-term investment horizon.

Leases — We determine whether an arrangement is a lease at the inception of the arrangement based on the terms and conditions in the contract. A contract contains a lease if there is an identified asset which we have the right to control. We have made a policy election not to separate lease and non-lease components within contracts. We have also elected not to recognize the impact of short term leases in the right of use asset ("ROUA") and right of use liability ("ROUL") balances. Short term leases are leases that have a lease term less than one year and do not include a purchase option.

Income Taxes — We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method, whereby deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. In evaluating our ability to realize deferred tax assets, we use judgment to determine if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized, and if a corresponding valuation allowance is required.

Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits — We sponsor defined benefit pension and OPEB plans for certain of our domestic hourly and salaried employees and a supplemental executive retirement benefit plan for certain current and former executive officers. Plan assets and obligations are measured annually or more frequently if there is a re-measurement event, based on the Company’s measurement date utilizing various actuarial assumptions. We attribute the service costs for the plans over the working lives of plan participants. The effects of actual results differing from our assumptions and the effects of changing assumptions are considered actuarial gains or losses. Actuarial gains or losses are recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss).

We contribute to our defined benefit pension plans based upon actuarial and economic assumptions designed to achieve adequate funding of the projected benefit obligations and to meet the minimum funding requirements.

Postemployment Benefits — We provide certain postemployment benefits to certain former and inactive employees and their dependents during the period following employment, but before retirement. These benefits include salary continuance, supplemental unemployment and disability health care. We recognize the estimated future cost of providing postemployment benefits on an accrual basis over the active service life of the employee.

Derivatives and Hedging — As a global producer of primary aluminum, our operating results and cash flows from operations are subject to risk of fluctuations in the market prices of primary aluminum. We may from time to time enter into financial contracts to manage our exposure to such risk. Derivative instruments may consist of variable to fixed financial contracts and back-to-back fixed to floating arrangements for a portion of our sale of primary aluminum, where we receive fixed and pay floating prices from our customers and to counterparties, respectively.

From time to time, we may manage our exposure to fluctuations in the market price of power through financial instruments designed to protect our downside risk exposure. We are also exposed to foreign currency risk, and we may manage our exposure by entering into foreign currency forward contracts or option contracts for forecasted transactions and projected cash flows for foreign currencies in future periods.

Derivative and hedging instruments are recorded in due from affiliates, derivative assets, other assets, due to affiliates, derivative liabilities and derivative liabilities - less current portion in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. We value our derivative and hedging instruments using quoted market prices and other significant unobservable inputs.

We recognize changes in fair value and settlements of derivative instruments in net gain (loss) on forward and derivative contracts in the consolidated statements of operations as they occur.

Foreign Currency – We are exposed to foreign currency risk due to fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar as compared to the Euro and the Icelandic krona ("ISK"), and the Chinese renminbi. Grundartangi and Vlissingen use the U.S. dollar as their functional currency, as contracts for sales of aluminum and purchases of alumina and power are denominated in U.S. dollars. Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are recorded based on exchange rates at the time such transactions arise and any transaction gains and losses are reflected in Other income (expense) - net in the consolidated statements of operations.

Financial Instruments — Receivables, certain life insurance policies, payables, borrowings under revolving credit facilities and debt related to industrial revenue bonds ("IRBs") are carried at amounts that approximate fair value.

Earnings per share — Basic earnings (loss) per share ("EPS") amounts are calculated by dividing earnings (loss) available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding using the two-class method. Under the two-class method, net income is allocated between shares of common stock and other participating securities based on their participating rights. Net loss is not allocated to other participating securities if they are not obligated to share in the losses based on their contractual terms. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Common equivalent shares are not included in the denominator of the diluted loss per share calculation when inclusion of such shares would be anti-dilutive.

The dilutive effect to earnings per share is determined using the "if converted" method whereby, if the conversion of the convertible notes would be dilutive, interest expense on the outstanding notes is added back to the diluted earnings numerator and all of the potentially dilutive shares are included in the diluted common shares outstanding denominator for the computation of diluted earnings per share.

Our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is a non-cumulative perpetual participating convertible preferred stock with no set dividend preferences. In periods where we report net losses, we do not allocate these losses to the Convertible Preferred Stock for the computation of basic or diluted EPS.

Asset Retirement Obligations — We are subject to environmental regulations which create certain legal obligations related to the normal operations of our domestic primary aluminum smelter operations. Our asset retirement obligations ("AROs") consist primarily of costs associated with the disposal of spent potliner used in the reduction cells of our domestic facilities. AROs are recorded on a discounted basis at the time the obligation is incurred (when the potliner is put in service) and accreted over time for the change in the present value of the liability. We capitalize the asset retirement costs by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived assets and depreciating these assets over their remaining useful lives.

Certain conditional asset retirement obligations ("CAROs") relate to the remediation of our primary aluminum facilities for hazardous material, such as landfill materials and asbestos which have not been recorded because they have an indeterminate settlement date. CAROs are a legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing and (or) method of settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within our control.

Concentrations of Credit Risk — Financial instruments, which potentially expose us to concentrations of credit risk, consist principally of trade receivables. Our limited customer base increases our concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables. We routinely assess the financial strength of our customers and collectability of our trade receivables and recognize an allowance based on our estimate of lifetime expected credit losses in accordance with the current expected credit loss ("CECL") model.

Share-Based Compensation — We measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the fair value of the award on the grant date. We recognize the cost over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. We issue shares to satisfy the requirements of our share-based compensation plans. At this time, we do not plan to issue treasury shares to support our share-based compensation plans, but we may in the future. We award performance units to certain officers and employees. The performance units may be settled in cash or common stock at the discretion of the Board. We have not issued any stock options since 2009.

On January 1, 2021, we adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes." The ASU amendments include the removal of certain exceptions to the general principles of ASC 740 and to improve and simplify accounting for income taxes by clarifying and amending existing guidance. The adoption of the ASU did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

On January 1, 2021, we adopted FASB ASU 2020-06, “Debt With Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity" using the modified retrospective method. The ASU amendments include simplification of the accounting models for convertible instruments and conversion options, and amendments to diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) calculations for certain convertible instruments, requiring the inclusion of convertible securities in the calculation of diluted EPS using the if-converted method. The adoption of the ASU did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

On January 1, 2021, we adopted the final rule issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that amends the disclosure requirements related to issuers and guarantors of certain registered securities under SEC Regulation S-X Rule 3-10. We presented the alternative financial disclosures in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. The adoption of the SEC rule is limited to disclosures only and did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.