Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	We prepared the consolidated financial statements following the requirements of the Unites States (“U.S.”) Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim reporting. As permitted under those rules, certain footnotes or other financial information that are normally required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) can be condensed or omitted. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “World Fuel”, “the Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“10-Q Report”) refer to World Fuel Services Corporation and its subsidiaries.
Accounting Standards Issued but Not Yet Adopted and Adoption of New Accounting Standards	Accounting Standards Issued but Not Yet Adopted Other Income - Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets. In February 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-05. The amendments in the update clarify a financial asset is within the scope of this guidance if it meets the definition of an in substance nonfinancial asset; this may include nonfinancial assets transferred within a legal entity to a counterparty. This standard is effective at the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating whether the adoption of this new guidance will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. In January 2017, ASU 2017-04 was issued. The update simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under the amendment an entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. This standard is effective at the beginning of our 2020 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating whether the adoption of this new guidance will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. In January 2017, ASU 2017-01 was issued. The update clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of businesses. This standard is effective at the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating whether the adoption of this new guidance will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Cash Flows: Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) - Restricted Cash. In November 2016, ASU 2016-18 was issued. The update requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. This standard is effective at the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating whether the adoption of this new guidance will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory. In October 2016, ASU 2016-16 was issued. The update prohibits the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity asset transfer until the asset has been sold to an outside party. This standard is effective at the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating whether the adoption of this new guidance will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Cash Flows: Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) - Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. In August 2016 ASU 2016-15 was issued. The ASU provides guidance on classification of eight specific cash flows items. This standard is effective at the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating whether the adoption of this new guidance will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Leases (Topic 842). In February 2016, ASU 2016-02 was issued. This standard will require all lessees to recognize a right of use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet, except for leases with durations that are less than twelve months. This standard is effective at the beginning of our 2019 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating whether the adoption of this new guidance will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Financial Instruments: Overall (Subtopic 825-10) - Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. In January 2016, ASU 2016-01 was issued to address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. The ASU supersedes the guidance to classify equity securities with readily determinable fair values into different categories, and requires equity securities (except those that are accounted for under the equity method or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in the fair value recognized through net income. It also simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring assessment for impairment qualitatively at each reporting period. This update is effective at the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating whether the adoption of this new guidance will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures. Revenue Recognition (Topic 606): Revenue from Contracts with Customers. In May 2014, ASU 2014-09 was issued. Under this ASU and subsequently issued amendments, an entity is required to recognize the amount of revenue it expects to be entitled to for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The updated standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP. This ASU provides alternative methods of transition, a full retrospective and a modified restrospective approach. The modified retrospective approach would result in recognition of the cumulative impact of a retrospective application as of the beginning of the period of initial application, which in our case is the interim period beginning January 1, 2018. In preparation for adoption of the standard, we developed a cross-functional team and engaged a third-party service provider to assist us throughout our evaluation. In addition, we have factored the adoption into our ongoing ERP platform upgrade, which we previously committed to perform, as our system readiness is a key element towards the determination of the adoption approach we adopt. We continue to perform our assessment, and while those activities are not complete, we expect to identify similar performance obligations under ASC 606 as compared to those previously identified. Adoption of New Accounting Standards Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Contingent Put and Call Options in Debt Instruments. In March 2016, ASU 2016-06 was issued. ASU 2016-06 clarifies the steps required to determine bifurcation of an embedded derivative. This update became effective at the beginning of our 2017 fiscal year. The adoption of this ASU did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures. Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Effect of Derivative Contract Novations on Existing Hedge Accounting Relationships. In March 2016, ASU 2016-05 was issued which clarifies the change in the counterparty to a derivative instrument that has been designated as a hedging instrument does not, in and of itself, require de-designation of that hedging relationship provided that all other hedge accounting criteria continue to be met. This update became effective at the beginning of our 2017 fiscal year. The adoption of this ASU did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures. Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, which simplifies the subsequent measurement of inventory. The updated guidance requires that inventory measured using any method other than last-in, first-out (LIFO) or the retail inventory method (for example, inventory measured using first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost) be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. This update became effective at the beginning of our 2017 fiscal year. The adoption of this ASU did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

Accounting Standards Issued but Not Yet Adopted

Other Income - Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets. In February 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-05. The amendments in the update clarify a financial asset is within the scope of this guidance if it meets the definition of an in substance nonfinancial asset; this may include nonfinancial assets transferred within a legal entity to a counterparty. This standard is effective at the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating whether the adoption of this new guidance will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. In January 2017, ASU 2017-04 was issued. The update simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under the amendment an entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. This standard is effective at the beginning of our 2020 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating whether the adoption of this new guidance will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. In January 2017, ASU 2017-01 was issued. The update clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of businesses. This standard is effective at the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating whether the adoption of this new guidance will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Cash Flows: Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) - Restricted Cash. In November 2016, ASU 2016-18 was issued. The update requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. This standard is effective at the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating whether the adoption of this new guidance will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory. In October 2016, ASU 2016-16 was issued. The update prohibits the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity asset transfer until the asset has been sold to an outside party. This standard is effective at the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating whether the adoption of this new guidance will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Cash Flows: Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) - Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. In August 2016 ASU 2016-15 was issued. The ASU provides guidance on classification of eight specific cash flows items. This standard is effective at the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating whether the adoption of this new guidance will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Leases (Topic 842). In February 2016, ASU 2016-02 was issued. This standard will require all lessees to recognize a right of use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet, except for leases with durations that are less than twelve months. This standard is effective at the beginning of our 2019 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating whether the adoption of this new guidance will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Financial Instruments: Overall (Subtopic 825-10) - Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. In January 2016, ASU 2016-01 was issued to address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. The ASU supersedes the guidance to classify equity securities with readily determinable fair values into different categories, and requires equity securities (except those that are accounted for under the equity method or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in the fair value recognized through net income. It also simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring assessment for impairment qualitatively at each reporting period. This update is effective at the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating whether the adoption of this new guidance will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

Revenue Recognition (Topic 606): Revenue from Contracts with Customers. In May 2014, ASU 2014-09 was issued. Under this ASU and subsequently issued amendments, an entity is required to recognize the amount of revenue it expects to be entitled to for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The updated standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP. This ASU provides alternative methods of transition, a full retrospective and a modified restrospective approach. The modified retrospective approach would result in recognition of the cumulative impact of a retrospective application as of the beginning of the period of initial application, which in our case is the interim period beginning January 1, 2018.

In preparation for adoption of the standard, we developed a cross-functional team and engaged a third-party service provider to assist us throughout our evaluation. In addition, we have factored the adoption into our ongoing ERP platform upgrade, which we previously committed to perform, as our system readiness is a key element towards the determination of the adoption approach we adopt. We continue to perform our assessment, and while those activities are not complete, we expect to identify similar performance obligations under ASC 606 as compared to those previously identified.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Contingent Put and Call Options in Debt Instruments. In March 2016, ASU 2016-06 was issued. ASU 2016-06 clarifies the steps required to determine bifurcation of an embedded derivative. This update became effective at the beginning of our 2017 fiscal year. The adoption of this ASU did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Effect of Derivative Contract Novations on Existing Hedge Accounting Relationships. In March 2016, ASU 2016-05 was issued which clarifies the change in the counterparty to a derivative instrument that has been designated as a hedging instrument does not, in and of itself, require de-designation of that hedging relationship provided that all other hedge accounting criteria continue to be met. This update became effective at the beginning of our 2017 fiscal year. The adoption of this ASU did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, which simplifies the subsequent measurement of inventory. The updated guidance requires that inventory measured using any method other than last-in, first-out (LIFO) or the retail inventory method (for example, inventory measured using first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost) be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. This update became effective at the beginning of our 2017 fiscal year. The adoption of this ASU did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.