XML 68 R38.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9

Note 6 - Derivative Instruments (Details) - Impact to Consolidated Statements of Operations of Derivatives (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Note 6 - Derivative Instruments (Details) - Impact to Consolidated Statements of Operations of Derivatives [Line Items]
Derivative Instrument	$ (116)us-gaap_GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings	$ (153)us-gaap_GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings
Chicago Tube and Iron Company Acquisition [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Note 6 - Derivative Instruments (Details) - Impact to Consolidated Statements of Operations of Derivatives [Line Items]
Derivative Instrument	(17)us-gaap_GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = zeus_ChicagoTubeAndIronCompanyAcquisitionMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember	(29)us-gaap_GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = zeus_ChicagoTubeAndIronCompanyAcquisitionMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | ABL Credit Facility [Member]
Note 6 - Derivative Instruments (Details) - Impact to Consolidated Statements of Operations of Derivatives [Line Items]
Derivative Instrument	(99)us-gaap_GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings / us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis = zeus_ABLCreditFacilityMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember	(124)us-gaap_GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings / us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis = zeus_ABLCreditFacilityMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Metals Swap [Member]
Note 6 - Derivative Instruments (Details) - Impact to Consolidated Statements of Operations of Derivatives [Line Items]
Derivative Instrument	(1,117)us-gaap_GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = zeus_MetalsSwapMember	655us-gaap_GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = zeus_MetalsSwapMember
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Note 6 - Derivative Instruments (Details) - Impact to Consolidated Statements of Operations of Derivatives [Line Items]
Derivative Instrument	$ 1,117us-gaap_GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsMember	$ (655)us-gaap_GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsMember

X

- Definition

Total amount of gain (loss) derived from fair value hedges recognized in earnings in the period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5624171-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	zeus_Note6DerivativeInstrumentsDetailsImpacttoConsolidatedStatementsofOperationsofDerivativesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	zeus_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=zeus_ChicagoTubeAndIronCompanyAcquisitionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=zeus_MetalsSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: