CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets
Cash and equivalents	$ 395,156	$ 375,917
Investments in short-term commercial paper		31,520
Accounts receivable, net of related allowances of $11,004 and $11,571 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively	664,208	599,499
Accounts receivable-related parties	56,392	42,864
Inventories	1,314,747	1,202,507
Deferred income taxes	17,964	23,449
Other current assets	25,167	20,469
Total current assets	2,473,634	2,296,225
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,226,134	2,231,198
Restricted cash	23,827	27,749
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $215,341 and $184,865 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively	386,159	416,635
Goodwill	731,996	738,542
Other assets	91,256	105,067
Total assets	5,933,006	5,815,416
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	404,605	344,953
Accounts payable-related parties	10,327	15,144
Income taxes payable	4,023	16,941
Accrued payroll and benefits	93,432	85,802
Accrued interest	31,363	35,306
Accrued expenses	89,884	81,900
Current maturities of long-term debt	341,544	29,631
Total current liabilities	975,178	609,677
Long-term debt
Term note	220,000	247,500
Senior notes	1,500,000	1,600,000
Convertible senior notes		287,496
Other long-term debt	46,045	37,610
Total long-term debt	1,766,045	2,172,606
Deferred income taxes	556,038	537,304
Other liabilities	23,376	19,173
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	116,514	98,814
Equity
Common stock voting, $.0025 par value; 900,000,000 shares authorized; 258,840,350 and 255,592,901 shares issued; and 222,867,408 and 219,522,655 shares outstanding, as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively	645	637
Treasury stock, at cost; 35,972,942 and 36,070,246 shares, as of December 31, 2013, and 2012, respectively	(718,529)	(720,479)
Additional paid-in capital	1,085,694	1,037,687
Retained earnings	2,179,513	2,087,620
Total Steel Dynamics, Inc. equity	2,547,323	2,405,465
Noncontrolling interests	(51,468)	(27,623)
Total equity	2,495,855	2,377,842
Total liabilities and equity	$ 5,933,006	$ 5,815,416