Note 3 - Inventories

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Inventory Disclosure [Text Block]

3. Inventories:

Inventories consisted of the following: 

	Inventory as of
(in thousands)	September 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
Unprocessed	$	251,088	$	219,401
Processed and finished		78,344		66,970
Totals	$	329,432	$	286,371

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market and include the costs of purchased metals, inbound freight, external processing and applicable labor and overhead costs. Costs of our flat products segment’s inventories, including flat-rolled sheet, coil and plate products are determined using the specific identification method.

The Company values certain of its tubular and pipe products inventory using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, approximately $46.4 million, or 14.1%, of consolidated inventory, and $43.9 million, or 15.3%, of consolidated inventory, respectively, was reported under the LIFO method of accounting. The cost of the remainder of the tubular and pipe products inventory is determined using a weighted average rolling first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

During the third quarter of 2014, $200 thousand of LIFO expense was recorded as the current projections anticipate increased pricing of inventory at December 31, 2014 compared to December 31, 2013. In the first quarter of 2013, the Company made an out-of-period adjustment to record previously unrecognized LIFO adjustments, which resulted in an increase to after-tax income of $1.2 million. In the third quarter of 2013, the Company recorded $188 thousand of LIFO income.

If the FIFO method had been in use, inventories would have been $3.0 million lower than reported at September 30, 2014 and $3.6 million lower than reported at December 31, 2013.