XML 22 R46.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9

Note 3 - Inventories (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Note 3 - Inventories (Details) [Line Items]
Inventory, LIFO Reserve, Period Charge	$ 1,900,000us-gaap_InventoryLIFOReservePeriodCharge	$ (365,000)us-gaap_InventoryLIFOReservePeriodCharge	$ 365,000us-gaap_InventoryLIFOReservePeriodCharge
Inventory, LIFO Reserve, Effect on Income, Net			3,572,000us-gaap_InventoryLIFOReserveEffectOnIncomeNet
Inventory Difference Using FIFO Basis		3,200,000zeus_InventoryDifferenceUsingFIFOBasis	3,600,000zeus_InventoryDifferenceUsingFIFOBasis
Previously Unrecognized LIFO Income [Member] | After-tax [Member]
Note 3 - Inventories (Details) [Line Items]
Inventory, LIFO Reserve, Effect on Income, Net	$ 1,200,000us-gaap_InventoryLIFOReserveEffectOnIncomeNet / us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis = zeus_AftertaxMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = zeus_PreviouslyUnrecognizedLIFOIncomeMember

X

- Definition

The difference between the change in the inventory reserve representing the cumulative difference in cost between the first in, first out and the last in, first out inventory valuation methods and any LIFO decrement which have been reflected in the statement of income during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InventoryLIFOReserveEffectOnIncomeNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The change in the inventory reserve representing the cumulative difference in cost between the first in, first out and the last in, first out inventory valuation methods, which change has been reflected in the statement of income during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.6b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.6a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.6c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section L

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The difference in inventory balance if costed on a FIFO basis compared to LIFO basis

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	zeus_InventoryDifferenceUsingFIFOBasis
Namespace Prefix:	zeus_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	zeus_Note3InventoriesDetailsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	zeus_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=zeus_PreviouslyUnrecognizedLIFOIncomeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: