Information by Segment and Geographic Area (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Revenue from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets, by Geographical Areas

Countries with revenues from unaffiliated customers or net property, plant and equipment of ten percent or more of the consolidated totals (in at least one period presented) are as follows:

Information by Geographic Area (a)

	Revenues from Unaffiliated Customers
	Year Ended December 31
(In thousands)	2016		2015		2014
U.S.	$	614,327	$	758,820	$	880,884
U.K.	156,552		217,011		257,885
All Other	680,344		747,261		927,519
Totals including Corporate	$	1,451,223	$	1,723,092	$	2,066,288

(a) Revenues are attributed to individual countries based on the location of the facility generating the revenue.

Schedule of Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets in Individual Foreign Countries by Country [Table Text Block]

	Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
	Balances at December 31
(In thousands)	2016		2015		2014
U.S.	$	125,386	$	142,506	$	151,397
China	90,288		97,305		102,842
Brazil	62,597		57,381		69,515
All Other	211,984		266,843		339,490
Totals including Corporate	$	490,255	$	564,035	$	663,244

Schedule of Segment Operating Information by Segment

Operating Information by Segment:

	Twelve Months Ended
	December 31
(In thousands)	2016			2015			2014
Revenues
Harsco Metals & Minerals	$	965,540		$	1,106,162		$	1,378,142
Harsco Industrial	247,542			357,256			412,532
Harsco Rail	238,107			259,674			275,614
Corporate	34			—			—
Total Revenues	$	1,451,223		$	1,723,092		$	2,066,288
Operating Income (Loss)
Harsco Metals & Minerals	$	81,634		$	26,289		$	13,771
Harsco Industrial	23,182			57,020			64,114
Harsco Rail	(17,527		)	50,896			37,137
Corporate	(23,820		)	(45,669		)	(45,735		)
Total Operating Income (Loss)	$	63,469		$	88,536		$	69,287

	Twelve Months Ended
	December 31
(In thousands)	2016		2015		2014
Total Assets
Harsco Metals & Minerals	$	1,181,755	$	1,294,673	$	1,476,538
Harsco Industrial	107,987		119,830		127,591
Harsco Rail	204,477		219,753		169,035
Corporate	87,167		426,941		493,782
Total Assets	$	1,581,386	$	2,061,197	$	2,266,946
Depreciation and Amortization
Harsco Metals & Minerals	$	120,611	$	136,579	$	159,844
Harsco Industrial	7,223		6,266		4,928
Harsco Rail	5,383		6,093		5,591
Corporate	8,269		7,537		5,963
Total Depreciation and Amortization	$	141,486	$	156,475	$	176,326
Capital Expenditures
Harsco Metals & Minerals	$	62,322	$	99,563	$	187,665
Harsco Industrial	5,118		17,382		9,298
Harsco Rail	1,696		1,957		3,120
Corporate	204		4,650		8,776
Total Capital Expenditures	$	69,340	$	123,552	$	208,859

Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated

Reconciliation of Segment Operating Income to Consolidated Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes and Equity Income (Loss):

	Twelve Months Ended
	December 31
(In thousands)	2016			2015			2014
Segment operating income	$	87,289		$	134,205		$	115,022
General Corporate expense	(23,820		)	(45,669		)	(45,735		)
Operating income from continuing operations	63,469			88,536			69,287
Interest income	2,475			1,574			1,702
Interest expense	(51,584		)	(46,804		)	(47,111		)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(35,337		)	—			—
Change in fair value to the unit adjustment liability and loss on dilution and sale of equity method investment	(58,494		)	(8,491		)	(9,740		)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income (loss)	$	(79,471	)	$	34,815		$	14,138

Schedule of Product Information

Information about Products and Services:

	Revenues from Unaffiliated Customers
	Twelve Months Ended
	December 31
(In thousands)	2016		2015		2014
Key Product and Services Groups
Global expertise in providing on-site services of material logistics, product quality improvement and resource recovery for iron, steel and metals manufacturing; as well as value added environmental solutions for industrial co-products	$	965,540	$	1,106,162	$	1,378,142
Railway track maintenance services and equipment	238,107		259,674		275,614
Industrial grating and fencing products	115,914		129,869		139,711
Air-cooled heat exchangers	93,616		186,243		226,529
Heat transfer products	38,012		41,144		46,292
General Corporate	34		—		—
Consolidated Revenues	$	1,451,223	$	1,723,092	$	2,066,288