Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information [Table Text Block]

The operating results of any quarter are not necessarily indicative of results for any future period.

Year Ended December 31, 2012	1  st Quarter			2  nd Quarter			3  rd Quarter			4  th Quarter
	(in thousands, except per share data)
Net sales	$	139,413		$	122,820		$	116,149		$	84,898
Cost of goods sold		145,933			131,079			124,192			92,697
Gross loss		(6,520	)		(8,259	)		(8,043	)		(7,799	)
General and administrative expenses:
Compensation expense		1,804			1,510			1,435			1,185
Other		931			923			629			1,451
Operating loss		(9,255	)		(10,692	)		(10,107	)		(10,435	)
Other income (expense):
Other income		—			—			680			762
Interest expense		(1,838	)		(1,723	)		(1,901	)		(1,813	)
Loss before income taxes		(11,093	)		(12,415	)		(11,328	)		(11,486	)
Income tax provision (benefit)		—			—			—			—
Net loss		(11,093	)		(12,415	)		(11,328	)		(11,486	)
Less: Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest		1,685			1,833			1,498			1,463
Net loss attributable to BioFuel Energy Corp. common stockholders	$	(9,408	)	$	(10,582	)	$	(9,830	)	$	(10,023	)
Loss per share – basic and diluted attributable to BioFuel Energy Corp. common stockholders	$	(1.83	)	$	(2.05	)	$	(1.88	)	$	(1.89	)

Year Ended December 31, 2011	1  st Quarter			2  nd Quarter			3  rd Quarter			4  th Quarter
	(in thousands, except per share data)
Net sales	$	158,005		$	168,531		$	162,547		$	163,990
Cost of goods sold		160,159			172,294			155,498			154,553
Gross profit (loss)		(2,154	)		(3,763	)		7,049			9,437
General and administrative expenses:
Compensation expense		1,770			1,616			1,676			2,175
Other		897			950			846			874
Operating income (loss)		(4,821	)		(6,329	)		4,527			6,388
Other income (expense):
Interest expense		(4,228	)		(1,988	)		(1,978	)		(1,932	)
Income (loss) before income taxes		(9,049	)		(8,317	)		2,549			4,456
Income tax provision (benefit)		—			—			—			—
Net income (loss)		(9,049	)		(8,317	)		2,549			4,456
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest		1,387			1,275			(355	)		(663	)
Net income (loss) attributable to BioFuel Energy Corp. common stockholders	$	(7,662	)	$	(7,042	)	$	2,194		$	3,793
Income (loss) per share – basic attributable to BioFuel Energy Corp. common stockholders	$	(2.15	)	$	(1.38	)	$	0.43		$	0.74
Income (loss) per share – diluted attributable to BioFuel Energy Corp. common stockholders	$	(2.15	)	$	(1.38	)	$	0.36		$	0.62