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Note 1 - Basis of Presentation: | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] | (1) Basis of Presentation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared from the financial records of Olympic Steel, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, Olympic or the Company), without audit and reflect all normal and recurring adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to fairly state the results of the interim periods covered by this report. Year-to-date results are not necessarily indicative of 2012 annual results and these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Commencing with the July 1, 2011 acquisition of Chicago Tube and Iron Company (CTI), the Company operates in two reportable segments; flat products and tubular and pipe products. Through its flat products segment, the Company sells and distributes large volumes of processed carbon, coated, aluminum and stainless flat-rolled sheet, coil and plate products. Through its tubular and pipe products segment, the Company distributes metal tubing, pipe, bar, valve and fittings and the fabrication of pressure parts supplied to various industrial markets.

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