Segment Reporting (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Reconciliation of the totals reported for the reportable segments to the applicable line items in the consolidated financial statements
Combined gross profit	$ 168,558us-gaap_GrossProfit	$ 159,024us-gaap_GrossProfit
Operating costs and expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses	48,786	37,298
Operating expenses	68,656us-gaap_OperatingCostsAndExpenses	47,952us-gaap_OperatingCostsAndExpenses
Amortization expense	5,341us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	4,528us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Loss on asset sales	437us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfProperty	663us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfProperty
Total costs and operating expenses	123,220us-gaap_OperatingExpenses	90,441us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
Operating income	45,338us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	68,583us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Interest expense	(13,963)us-gaap_InterestExpense	(11,107)us-gaap_InterestExpense
Income tax expense	(966)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(322)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Net income	30,409	57,154
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	6	(144)
Net income attributable to Global Partners LP	30,415us-gaap_IncomeLossAttributableToParent	57,010us-gaap_IncomeLossAttributableToParent
Operating costs and expenses not allocated to operating segments
Operating costs and expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses	48,786	37,298
Operating expenses	68,656	47,952
Amortization expense	5,341	4,528
Total costs and operating expenses	$ 123,220	$ 90,441

The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

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