General Steel (GSIH) Inactive 10-Q12 Nov 132013 Q3 Quarterly reportFinancial data

Company Profile

Document_And_Entity_Informatio

Document And Entity Information	9 Months Ended
Document And Entity Information	Sep. 30, 2013	Nov. 05, 2013
Document Information [Line Items]	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'GENERAL STEEL HOLDINGS INC	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001239188	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Smaller Reporting Company	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	55,298,732
Trading Symbol	'GSI	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
ASSETS	'	'
Cash	$62,091	$46,467
Restricted cash	405,781	323,420
Notes receivable	116,900	145,502
Restricted notes receivable	357,250	357,900
Loans receivable - related parties	4,540	69,319
Accounts receivable, net	8,577	6,695
Accounts receivable - related parties	3,252	14,966
Other receivables, net	56,494	8,407
Other receivables - related parties	51,501	68,382
Inventories	177,383	212,671
Advances on inventory purchase	79,855	79,715
Advances on inventory purchase - related parties	29,667	46,416
Prepaid expense and other	1,490	450
Prepaid taxes	16,415	24,116
Short-term investment	2,771	2,619
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS	1,373,967	1,407,045
PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net	1,250,542	1,167,836
OTHER ASSETS:	'	'
Advances on equipment purchase	21,715	6,499
Long-term other receivable	0	43,008
Investment in unconsolidated entities	1,161	1,166
Long-term deferred expense	713	1,062
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	23,928	24,066
TOTAL OTHER ASSETS	47,517	75,801
TOTAL ASSETS	2,672,026	2,650,682
LIABILITIES AND DEFICIENCY	'	'
Short term notes payable	987,988	983,813
Accounts payable	495,488	352,052
Accounts payable - related parties	172,259	177,432
Short term loans - bank	254,929	147,124
Short term loans - others	130,170	147,323
Short term loans - related parties	48,889	79,557
Current maturities of long-term loans - related party	47,896	54,885
Other payables and accrued liabilities	52,272	54,589
Other payable - related parties	106,153	73,025
Customer deposits	95,695	125,890
Customer deposits - related parties	14,512	21,998
Deposit due to sales representatives	28,184	33,870
Deposit due to sales representatives - related parties	1,809	1,238
Taxes payable	9,716	16,674
Deferred lease income, current	2,178	2,120
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES	2,448,138	2,271,590
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:	'	'
Long-term loans - related party	24,450	38,088
Long-term other payable - related party	0	43,008
Deferred lease income, noncurrent	75,480	75,079
Capital lease obligations	354,576	330,099
Profit sharing liability	241,090	328,827
Other noncurrent liabilities	1,402	0
TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES	696,998	815,101
TOTAL LIABILITIES	3,145,136	3,086,691
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	'	'
DEFICIENCY:	'	'
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 3,092,899 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012	3	3
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized, 57,771,038 and 57,269,838 shares issued, 55,298,732 and 54,797,532 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	58	57
Treasury stock, at cost, 2,472,306 shares as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012	-4,199	-4,199
Paid-in-capital	106,405	105,714
Statutory reserves	6,263	6,076
Accumulated deficits	-414,696	-381,782
Accumulated other comprehensive income	2,471	10,185
TOTAL GENERAL STEEL HOLDINGS, INC. DEFICIENCY	-303,695	-263,946
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	-169,415	-172,063
TOTAL DEFICIENCY	-473,110	-436,009
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND DEFICIENCY	$2,672,026	$2,650,682

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS [Parenthetical] (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Preferred Stock, par or stated value (in dollars per share)	$0.00	$0.00
Preferred stock, shares authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	3,092,899	3,092,899
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	3,092,899	3,092,899
Common Stock, par or stated value (in dollars per share)	$0.00	$0.00
Common stock, shares authorized	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common stock, shares, issued	57,771,038	57,269,838
Common stock, shares, outstanding	55,298,732	54,797,532
Treasury stock, shares	2,472,306	2,472,306

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
SALES	$514,549	$518,542	$1,534,330	$1,441,325
SALES - RELATED PARTIES	95,546	192,883	380,707	698,824
TOTAL SALES	610,095	711,425	1,915,037	2,140,149
COST OF GOODS SOLD	511,932	528,586	1,550,829	1,426,589
COST OF GOODS SOLD - RELATED PARTIES	89,932	196,435	387,446	693,482
TOTAL COST OF GOODS SOLD	601,864	725,021	1,938,275	2,120,071
GROSS PROFIT (LOSS)	8,231	-13,596	-23,238	20,078
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES	-19,661	-22,787	-59,464	-61,548
CHANGE IN FAIR VALUE OF PROFIT SHARING LIABILITY	41,825	0	107,877	0
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS	30,395	-36,383	25,175	-41,470
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)	'	'	'	'
Interest income	2,835	4,337	8,657	13,039
Finance/interest expense	-25,503	-36,615	-81,355	-138,929
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities	0	-55	1	-48
Gain on disposal of equipment	17	293	113	177
Income from equity investments	47	44	137	80
Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)	322	-581	448	-1,169
Lease income	542	528	1,613	1,588
Other non-operating income (expense), net	770	2,314	1,559	3,316
Other expense, net	-20,970	-29,735	-68,827	-121,946
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES AND NONCONTROLLING INTEREST	9,425	-66,118	-43,652	-163,416
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	'	'	'	'
Current	25	100	201	510
Deferred	0	0	0	169
Provision for income taxes	25	100	201	679
NET INCOME (LOSS)	9,400	-66,218	-43,853	-164,095
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	5,599	-24,620	-10,939	-61,336
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO GENERAL STEEL HOLDINGS, INC.	3,801	-41,598	-32,914	-102,759
NET INCOME (LOSS)	9,400	-66,218	-43,853	-164,095
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	'	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-2,547	-698	-12,283	-577
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	6,853	-66,916	-56,136	-164,672
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	4,782	-24,888	-15,508	-61,721
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO GENERAL STEEL HOLDINGS, INC.	$2,071	($42,028)	($40,628)	($102,951)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES	'	'	'	'
Basic and Diluted (in shares)	55,141	54,466	54,976	54,946
LOSS PER SHARE	'	'	'	'
Basic and Diluted (in dollars per share)	$0.07	($0.76)	($0.60)	($1.87)

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:	'	'
Net loss	($43,853)	($164,095)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	64,955	62,538
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities	-1	48
Gain on disposal of equipment	-113	-177
Provision for doubtful accounts	-251	2,316
Reservation of mine maintenance fee	315	3
Stock issued for services and compensation	692	679
Amortization of deferred financing cost on capital lease	27,778	32,363
Income from equity investments	-137	-80
Foreign currency transaction gain	-448	1,169
Deferred tax assets	0	169
Deferred lease income	-1,613	-1,588
Change in fair value of profit sharing liability	-107,877	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	'	'
Notes receivable	32,138	-99,337
Accounts receivable	-483	5,429
Accounts receivable - related parties	11,968	-7,607
Other receivables	-3,466	-5,460
Other receivables - related parties	-55,744	4,784
Inventories	4,191	73,024
Advances on inventory purchases	1,996	-23,365
Advances on inventory purchases - related parties	-27,882	-88,412
Prepaid expense and other	-1,016	-183
Long-term deferred expense	373	119
Prepaid taxes	8,250	4,168
Accounts payable	113,592	-48,059
Accounts payable - related parties	54,364	31,353
Other payables and accrued liabilities	-3,742	34,286
Other payables - related parties	-12,844	95,746
Customer deposits	-33,185	-9,490
Customer deposits - related parties	-7,981	14,740
Taxes payable	-7,317	-5,195
Other noncurrent liabilities	1,384	0
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	14,043	-90,114
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:	'	'
Restricted cash	-72,676	-35,094
Loans to related parties	1,460	-69,247
Cash proceeds from (made to) short term investment	-80	40
Cash proceeds from sales of equipment	16	19
Equipment purchase and intangible assets	-75,326	-15,909
Effect on cash due to deconsolidating of a subsidiary	0	-2,972
Net cash used in investing activities	-146,606	-123,163
CASH FLOWS FINANCING ACTIVITIES:	'	'
Capital contributed by noncontrolling interest	18,028	0
Payments made for treasury stock acquired	0	-1,404
Notes receivable - restricted	10,218	521,866
Borrowings on short term notes payable	1,348,631	1,382,976
Payments on short term notes payable	-1,370,832	-1,637,570
Borrowings on short term loans - bank	258,357	237,535
Payments on short term loans - bank	-155,390	-355,008
Borrowings on short term loan - others	148,678	160,554
Payments on short term loans - others	-169,558	-193,964
Borrowings on short term loan - related parties	362,202	269,362
Payments on short term loans - related parties	-274,718	-221,134
Deposits due to sales representatives	-6,521	11,939
Deposit due to sales representatives - related parties	531	285
Payments on current maturities of long-term loans - related party	-22,856	0
Net cash provided by financing activities	146,770	175,437
EFFECTS OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGE IN CASH	1,417	1,426
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH	15,624	-36,414
CASH, beginning of period	46,467	120,016
CASH, end of period	$62,091	$83,602

Background

Background	9 Months Ended
Background	Sep. 30, 2013
Background [Abstract]	'
Background [Text Block]	'
	Note 1 – Background

	General Steel Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated on August 5, 2002 in the state of Nevada. The Company through its 100% owned subsidiary, General Steel Investment, operates steel companies serving various industries in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”). The Company’s main operation is manufacturing and sales of steel products such as steel rebar, hot-rolled carbon and silicon sheets and spiral-weld pipes. The Company, together with its subsidiaries, majority owned subsidiaries and variable interest entity, is referred to as the “Group”.

	On April 29, 2011, a 20-year Unified Management Agreement (“the Agreement”) was entered into between the Company, the Company’s 60%-owned subsidiary Shaanxi Longmen Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. (“Longmen Joint Venture”), Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd. (“Shaanxi Coal”) and Shaanxi Iron and Steel Group (“Shaanxi Steel”). Shaanxi Steel is the controlling shareholder of Shaanxi Longmen Iron and Steel Group Co., Ltd (“Long Steel Group”) which is the non-controlling interest holder in Longmen Joint Venture, and Shaanxi Coal, a state owned entity, is the parent company of Shaanxi Steel. Under the terms of the Agreement, all manufacturing machinery and equipment of Longmen Joint Venture and the $603.2 million (or approximately RMB 3.7 billion) of newly constructed iron and steel making facilities owned by Shaanxi Steel, which includes one 400m ² sintering machine, two 1,280m ³ blast furnaces, two 120 ton converters and some auxiliary systems, are managed collectively as a single virtual asset pool (“Asset Pool”). Longmen Joint Venture manages the Asset Pool as the principal operating entity and is responsible for the daily operations of the new and existing facilities.

	The Agreement leverages each of the parties’ operating strengths, allowing the Longmen Joint Venture to derive the greatest benefit from the cooperation and the newly constructed iron and steel making facilities. At the designed efficiency level, these new facilities are expected to contribute three million tons of crude steel production capacity per year.

	Longmen Joint Venture pays Shaanxi Steel for the use of the constructed iron and steel making facilities an amount equaling the depreciation expense on the equipment constructed by Shaanxi Steel as well as 40% of the pre-tax profit generated by the Asset Pool. The remaining 60% of the pre-tax profit is allocated to Longmen Joint Venture. As a result, the Company’s economic interest in the profit generated by Longmen Joint Venture decreased from 60% to 36%. However, the overall capacity under the management of Longmen Joint Venture has increased by three million tons, or 75%. The Agreement is also expected to improve Longmen Joint Venture’s cost structure through sustainable and steady sourcing of key raw materials and reduced transportation costs. The distribution of profit is subject to a prospective adjustment after the first two years based on each entity’s actual investment of time and resources into the Asset Pool.

	The parties to the Agreement have agreed to establish the Shaanxi Longmen Iron and Steel Unified Management Supervisory Committee ("Supervisory Committee") to ensure that the facilities and related resources are being operated and managed according to the stipulations set forth in the Agreement. However, the Board of Directors of Longmen Joint Venture, of which the Company holds 4 out of 7 seats, requires a simple majority vote. Therefore, the Board of Directors of Longmen Joint Venture remains the controlling decision-making body of Longmen Joint Venture and the Asset Pool. See Note 2(c) “Consolidation of VIE.”

	The Agreement constitutes an arrangement that involves a lease which met certain of the criteria of a capital lease and therefore, the lease is accounted for as such by Longmen Joint Venture as a capital lease. See Notes 2 “Summary of significant accounting policies”, 15 “Capital lease obligations” and 16 “Profit sharing liability”.

Summary_of_significant_account

Summary of significant accounting policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Note 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The financial statements include the accounts of all directly, indirectly owned subsidiaries and the variable interest entity listed below. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary to give a fair statement have been included. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with information included in the 2012 annual report filed on Form 10-K filed on June 17, 2013.

(a)

Basis of presentation

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company reflect the activities of the following major directly owned subsidiaries:

Percentage

Subsidiary

of Ownership

General Steel Investment Co., Ltd.

British Virgin Islands

100

General Steel (China) Co., Ltd. (“General Steel (China)”)

PRC

100

Baotou Steel – General Steel Special Steel Pipe Joint Venture Co., Ltd.

PRC

Yangpu Shengtong Investment Co., Ltd.

PRC

99.1

Tianjin Qiu Steel Investment Co., Ltd. (“Qiu Steel”)

PRC

98.7

Longmen Joint Venture

PRC

VIE/60.0

Maoming Hengda Steel Company, Ltd. (“Maoming Hengda”)

PRC

Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co., Ltd (“Tianwu Joint Venture”)

PRC

(b)

Principles of consolidation – subsidiaries

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its subsidiaries, its variable interest entity (“VIE”) for which the Company is the ultimate primary beneficiary, and the VIE’s subsidiaries.

Subsidiaries are those entities in which the Company, directly or indirectly, controls more than one half of the voting power; or has the power to govern the financial and operating policies, to appoint or remove the majority of the members of the board of directors, or to cast a majority of votes at the meeting of directors.

A VIE is an entity in which the Company, or its subsidiary, through contractual arrangements, bears the risks of, and enjoys the rewards normally associated with, ownership of the entity, and therefore the Company or its subsidiary is the primary beneficiary of the entity.

All significant inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.

(c)

Consolidation of VIE

Prior to entering into the Unified Management Agreement on April 29, 2011, Longmen Joint Venture had been consolidated as the Company’s 60% direct owned subsidiary. Upon entering into the Unified Management Agreement on April 29, 2011, Longmen Joint Venture was re-evaluated by the Company to determine if Longmen Joint Venture is a VIE and if the Company is the primary beneficiary.

Based on projected profits in this entity and future operating plans, Longmen Joint Venture ’s equity at risk is considered insufficient to finance its activities and therefore Longmen Joint Venture is considered to be a VIE.

The Company would be considered the primary beneficiary of the VIE if it has both of the following characteristics:

The power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance; and

The obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

A Supervisory Committee was formed during the negotiation of the Unified Management Agreement. Given there is both a Supervisory Committee and a Board with respect to Longmen Joint Venture , the powers (rights and roles) of both bodies were considered to determine which party has the power to direct the activities of Longmen Joint Venture , and by extension, whether the Company continues to have the power to direct Longmen Joint Venture ’s activities after this Supervisory Committee was formed and the significant investment in plant and equipment by owners of the Longmen Joint Venture partner, as discussed in Note 1- “Background”. The Supervisory Committee, which the Company holds 2 out of 4 seats, requires a ¾ majority vote, while the Board, which the Company holds 4 out of 7 seats, requires a simple majority vote. As the Supervisory Committee’s role is limited to supervising and monitoring management of Longmen Joint Venture and in the event there is any disagreement between the Board and the Supervisory Committee, the Board prevails, the Supervisory Committee is considered subordinate to the Board. Thus, the Board of Directors of Longmen Joint Venture continues to be the controlling decision-making body with respect to Longmen Joint Venture. The Company, which controls 60% of the voting rights of the Board of Directors, has control over the operations of Longmen Joint Venture and as such, has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact Longmen Joint Venture ’s economic performance.

In connection with the Unified Management Agreement, the Company, Shaanxi Coal and Shaanxi Steel may provide such support on a discretionary basis or as needed in the future. See Note 2 item (d) Liquidity.

The Company has the obligation to absorb losses and the rights to receive benefits based on the profit allocation as stipulated by the Unified Management Agreement that are significant to the VIE. As both conditions are met, the Company is the primary beneficiary of Longmen Joint Venture and therefore, continues to consolidate Longmen Joint Venture as a VIE.

The Company believes that the Unified Management Agreement between Longmen Joint Venture and Shaanxi Coal is in compliance with PRC law and is legally enforceable. The Board of Directors of Longmen Joint Venture continues to be the controlling decision-making body with respect to Longmen Joint Venture. The Company, which controls 60% of the voting rights of the Board of Directors, has control over the operations of Longmen Joint Venture and as such, has the power to direct the activities of the VIE. However, PRC law and/or uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit the Company’s ability to enforce the Unified Management Agreement, which in turn, may lead to reconsideration of the VIE assessment and the potential for a different conclusion. The Company makes ongoing assessment to determine whether Longmen Joint Venture is a VIE.

The carrying amount of the VIE and its subsidiaries’ consolidated assets and liabilities are as follows:

September 30, 2013

December 31, 2012

(in thousands)

Current assets

1,253,672

1,285,967

Plant and equipment, net

1,239,805

1,154,811

Other noncurrent assets

44,475

72,428

Total assets

2,537,952

2,513,206

Total liabilities

-3,006,938

-2,943,761

Net liabilities

-468,986

-430,555

VIE and its subsidiaries’ liabilities consist of the following:

September 30, 2013

December 31, 2012

(in thousands)

Current liabilities:

Short term notes payable

950,498

971,117

Accounts payable

466,631

324,563

Accounts payable - related parties

171,759

177,160

Short term loans - bank

215,955

114,935

Short term loans - others

123,974

141,290

Short term loans - related parties

42,613

35,839

Current maturities of long-term loans – related party

56,372

54,885

Other payables and accrued liabilities

43,978

29,769

Other payables - related parties

96,901

64,941

Customer deposits

94,767

109,120

Customer deposits - related parties

14,512

21,998

Deposit due to sales representatives

28,184

33,870

Deposit due to sales representatives – related parties

1,809

1,238

Taxes payable

8,258

15,339

Deferred lease income

2,178

2,120

Intercompany payable to be eliminated

30,476

Total current liabilities

2,318,416

2,128,660

Non-current liabilities:

Long term loans - related parties

15,974

38,088

Long-term other payable – related party

43,008

Deferred lease income - noncurrent

75,480

75,079

Capital lease obligations

354,576

330,099

Profit sharing liability

241,090

328,827

Other noncurrent liabilities

1,402

Total non-current liabilities

688,522

815,101

Total liabilities of consolidated VIE

3,006,938

2,943,761

VIE and its subsidiaries’ statements of operations are as follows:

Three months ended

September 30, 2013

September 30, 2012

(in thousands)

Sales

606,444

708,974

Gross profit (loss)

8,122

-18,417

Income (loss) from operations

32,967

-37,000

Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest

8,284

-39,494

Nine months ended

September 30, 2013

September 30, 2012

(in thousands)

Sales

1,903,933

2,126,556

Gross profit (loss)

-23,704

12,628

Income (loss) from operations

32,998

-40,071

Net loss attributable to controlling interest

-18,335

-92,974

Longmen Joint Venture has two 100% owned subsidiaries, Yuxin Trading Co., Ltd. (“Yuxin”) and Yuteng Trading Co., Ltd. (“Yuteng”). Prior to March 1, 2012, Longmen Joint Venture had three consolidated subsidiaries, Hualong Fire Retardant Material Co., Ltd. (“Hualong”), Hancheng Tongxing Metallurgy Co., Ltd. (“Tongxing”) and Beijing Huatianyulong International Steel Trading Co., Ltd. (“Huatianyulong”), in which Longmen Joint Venture did not hold a controlling interest. On March 1, 2012, Longmen Joint Venture sold its equity interest in Tongxing, and, as of March 31, 2012, Longmen Joint Venture has two consolidated subsidiaries, Hualong and Huatianyulong, in which it does not hold a controlling interest. Hualong and Huatianyulong are separate legal entities which were established in the PRC as limited liability companies and subsequently acquired by Longmen Joint Venture in June 2007 and July 2008, respectively. Prior to and subsequent to their acquisition by Longmen Joint Venture, these two entities have been operating as self-sustaining integrated sets of activities and assets conducted and managed for the purpose of providing a return to shareholders consisting of all the inputs, processes and outputs of a business. However, these two entities do not meet the definition of variable interest entities. Further consideration was given to whether consolidation was appropriate under the voting interest model, specifically where the power of control may exist with a lesser percentage of ownership (i.e. less than 50%), for example, by contract, lease, agreement with other stockholders or by court decree.

Hualong

Longmen Joint Venture, the single largest shareholder, holds a 36.0% equity interest in Hualong. The other two shareholders, who own 34.67% and 29.33% respectively, assigned their voting rights to Longmen Joint Venture in writing at the time of the acquisition of Hualong. The voting rights have been assigned through the date Hualong ceases its business operations or the other two shareholders sell their interest in Hualong. Hualong’s main business is to supply refractory.

Tongxing

Prior to March 1, 2012, Longmen Joint Venture held a 22.76% equity interest in Tongxing while hundreds of employees of Longmen Joint Venture owned the remaining 77.24%. Each individual employee shareholder comprising the remaining 77.24% assigned its voting rights to Longmen Joint Venture in writing at the time of the acquisition of Tongxing. The voting rights assigned were effective until Tongxing ceased its business operations or Longmen Joint Venture liquidated its equity interest of Tongxing, whichever came first.

On March 1, 2012, Longmen Joint Venture sold its 22.76% equity interest of Tongxing to two individuals, who are the representatives from Long Steel Group. As of March 1, 2012, Tongxing had a carrying value of net assets of $40.5 million which were included in the consolidated net assets of the Company and a noncontrolling interest in Tongxing of $32.5 million. The Company retained the land use right associated with the Tongxing property adjacent to the Longmen Joint Venture facility, which had a carrying value of $3.6 million immediately prior to the transaction and relinquished its controlling interest in the remaining net assets (primarily operating assets). In connection with the transaction, the Company also settled with a payable in cash of $0.3 million and transferred the dividend receivable of $0.9 million from Tongxing to the two individuals. These arrangements meet the criteria of ASC 810-10-40-6b and 6d, deconsolidation of a Subsidiary with multiple arrangements treated as a single transaction. As the land use rights held in Tongxing have been included as part of the Company’s consolidated assets, this transaction was considered as a change in the Company’s ownership interest in the land use right similar to a change in a parent company’s ownership interest in a subsidiary in accordance with ASC 810-10-45-23 and therefore the carrying value of the land use right was not stepped up to fair value. The net impact of these transactions resulted in a reduction of $3.1 million paid-in capital on March 1, 2012.

Huatianyulong

Longmen Joint Venture holds a 50.0% equity interest in Huatianyulong and the other unrelated shareholder holds the remaining 50.0%. The other shareholder assigned its voting rights to Longmen Joint Venture in writing at the time of acquisition of Huatianyulong. The voting rights have been assigned through the date Huatianyulong ceases its business operation or the other unrelated shareholder sells its interest in Huatianyulong. Huatianyulong mainly sells imported iron ore.

The Company has determined that it is appropriate for Longmen Joint Venture to consolidate Hualong and Huatianyulong with appropriate recognition in the Company’s financial statements of the non-controlling interests in each entity, beginning on the acquisition dates as these were also the effective dates of the agreements with other stockholders granting a majority voting rights in each entity, and thereby, the power of control, to Longmen Joint Venture. The Company also has determined that it is appropriate for Longmen Joint Venture to consolidate Tongxing’s net income from the beginning of the acquisition date to March 1, 2012, the date on which Longmen Joint Venture relinquished its equity interest and majority voting rights in Tongxing, and thereby its power of control of Tongxing.

(d)

Liquidity

The Company’s accounts have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP on a going concern basis. The going concern basis assumes that assets are realized and liabilities are extinguished in the ordinary course of business at amounts disclosed in the financial statements. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern depends upon aligning its sources of funding (debt and equity) with the expenditure requirements of the Company and repayment of the short-term debt facilities as and when they fall due.

The steel business is capital intensive and as a normal industry practice in PRC, the Company is highly leveraged. Debt financing in the form of short term bank loans, loans from related parties, financing sales, bank acceptance notes, and capital leases have been utilized to finance the working capital requirements and the capital expenditures of the Company. As a result, the Company’s debt to equity ratio as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were (6.6) and (7.1), respectively. As of September 30, 2013, the Company’s current liabilities exceed current assets (excluding non-cash item) by $1.1 billion.

Longmen Joint Venture, as the most important entity of the Company, accounted for majority of total sales of the Company. As such, the majority of the Company’s working capital needs come from Longmen Joint Venture. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern depends heavily on Longmen Joint Venture’s operations. Longmen Joint Venture has obtained different types of financial supports, which are listed below by category:

Line of credit

The Company received lines of credit from the listed major banks totaling $110.8 million with expiration dates ranging from September 27, 2014 to October 26, 2014.

Amount of

Line of Credit

Banks

(in millions)

Repayment Date

Bank of China

6.5

August 25, 2014 to October 26, 2014

China Everbright Bank

48.9

8-Oct-14

Bank of Xi’an

32.6

9-Oct-14

Bank of Jinzhou

22.8

September 27, 2014*

Total

110.8

* Management expects the line of credit will be extended after September 27, 2014.

As of the date of this report, the Company utilized $61.9 million of these lines of credit.

Vendor financing

Longmen Joint Venture signed additional vendor financing agreements, which will provide liquidity to the Company in a total amount of $815.0 million with the following companies:

Financing Amount

Company

Financing period covered

(in millions)

Company A – related party

January 6, 2013 – January 5, 2015

163

Company B – third party

January 6, 2013 – November 7, 2015

163

Company C – third party

October 1, 2013 – March 31, 2015

489

Total

815

Company A, a related party company and Company B, a third party company, are both Longmen Joint Venture’s major coke suppliers. They have been doing business with Longmen Joint Venture for years. Each company has signed a two-year agreement with Longmen Joint Venture which was effective on January 6, 2013 to finance Longmen Joint Venture for its coke purchase for a two-year period. Company B signed an additional two-year agreement with Longmen Joint Venture effective on November 7, 2013. According to the above signed agreement, both Company A and B will not demand any cash payments for next two years. As of the date of this report, our payables to Company A and Company B were approximately$64.3 million and $51.9 million, respectively.

As a critical business stakeholder to the Company’s Tianwu Joint Venture, Company C is a Fortune 500 Company. In October 2012, Company C signed a one year agreement with Longmen Joint Venture to finance Longmen Joint Venture’s purchase of iron ore for an amount up to $158.3 million to commence on October 1, 2012. In June 2013, Company C signed another one year agreement with Longmen Joint Venture to finance Longmen Joint Venture’s purchase of iron ore for an amount up to $318.4 million to commence on October 1, 2013. According to the agreement, Company C agrees to provide an amount not less than $318.4 million in iron ore to Longmen Joint Venture. Subject to the terms of the agreement, Longmen Joint Venture is subject to a penalty of 0.05% of the daily outstanding balance owed to Company C in an event of late payment. The agreement also helps secure Company C’s iron ore sales to Longmen Joint Venture. On June 28, 2013, Company C agreed to increase the finance amount limit to $489.0 million and extended the financing period to March 31, 2015. As of the date of this report, our payable to Company C is approximately$1.2 million.

Financing sales

As part of our working capital management, Longmen Joint Venture has entered into an additional financing sales agreement with a third party company, Company D and two 100% owned subsidiaries of Longmen Joint Venture, named Yuxin Trading Co., Ltd. (“Yuxin”) and Yuteng Trading Co., Ltd. (“Yuteng”) (“financing sales”) to provide liquidity to the Company in the total amount of $81.5 million. See Note 9 for financing sales details.

Based on the contract terms, from December 31, 2012 until the earlier of the expiration date of the contract or December 31, 2013, the advance payment balance from Company D cannot be less than $81.5 million. The contract has been extended to December 31, 2014. The remaining financing sales balance can be paid by installment based on Longmen Joint Venture’s goods delivery volume. As of the date of this report, our payable to Company D is approximately $24.5 million.

Other financing

On January 7, 2013, November 6, 2013 and November 7, 2013, Longmen Joint Venture signed a payment extension agreement with each company listed below. In total, Longmen Joint Venture can get $77.4 million in financial support from a two-year balancing payment extension granted by the following five companies:

Financing Amount

Company

Financing period covered

(in millions)

Company E – related party

January 7, 2013 – January 6, 2015

16.3

Company F – related party

January 7, 2013 – January 6, 2015

21.2

Company G – related party

January 7, 2013 – January 6, 2015

7.3

Company H – related party

November 7, 2013 – November 7, 2015

16.3

Company I – related party

November 6, 2013 – November 6, 2015

16.3

Total

77.4

According to the contract terms, Company E, Company F, Company G, Company H and Company I have agreed to grant a two year payment extension in the amounts of $16.3 million, $21.2 million, $7.3 million, $16.3 million and $16.3 million respectively. As of the date of this report, our payables to Company E, Company F, Company G, Company H and Company I are approximately $17.9 million, $14.0 million, $18.9million, $7.5 million and $0, respectively.

Amount due to sales representatives

Longmen Joint Venture entered into agreements with various entities to act as the Company’s exclusive sales agents in specified geographic areas. These exclusive sales agents must meet certain criteria and are required to deposit a certain amount of money with the Company. In return, the sales agents receive exclusive sales rights in a specified area and discounted prices on products they order. These deposits bear no interest and are required to be returned to the sales agent once the agreement is terminated. As of September 30, 2013, Longmen Joint Venture has collected a total amount of $30.0 million. Historically, this amount is quite stable and we do not expect a big fluctuation in this amount for the next twelve months from September 30, 2013 onwards.

With the financial support from the banks and the companies above, management is of the opinion that the Company has sufficient funds to meet its future operations, working capital requirements and debt obligations until the end of September 30, 2014.The detailed breakdown of Longmen Joint Venture’s estimated cash flows items are listed below.

Cash inflow (outflow)

(in millions)

For the twelve months ended

September 30, 2014

Current liabilities over current assets (excluding non-cash items) as of September 30, 2013 (unaudited)

-1,072.00

Projected cash financing and outflows:

Cash provided by line of credit from banks

110.8

Cash provided by vendor financing

815

Cash provided by financing sales

81.5

Cash provided by other financing

77.4

Cash provided by sales representatives

Cash projected to be used in operations in the twelve months ended September 30, 2014

-28.6

Net projected change in cash for the twelve months ended September 30, 2014

14.1

As a result, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the period ended September 30, 2013 have been prepared on a going concern basis.

(e)

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and footnotes. Significant accounting estimates reflected in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the fair value of the profit sharing liability, the useful lives of and impairment for property, plant and equipment, and potential losses on uncollectible receivables, allowance for inventory valuation, the interest rate used in the financing sales, the fair value of the assets recorded under capital lease and the present value of the net minimum lease payments of the capital lease. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

(f)

Concentration of risks and uncertainties

The Company’s operations are carried out in the PRC. Accordingly, the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations may be influenced by the political, economic and legal environment in the PRC, and by the general state of the PRC’s economy. The Company’s operations in the PRC are subject to specific considerations and significant risks not typically associated with companies in North America and Western Europe. The Company’s results may be adversely affected by changes in governmental policies with respect to laws and regulations, anti-inflationary measures, currency conversion and remittance abroad, and rates and methods of taxation, among other things.

The Company has significant exposure to the fluctuation of raw materials and energy prices as part of its normal operations. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company does not have any open commodity contracts to mitigate such risks.

Cash includes demand deposits in accounts maintained with banks within the PRC, Hong Kong and the United States. Total cash (including restricted cash balances) in these banks on September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 amounted to $467.9 million and $369.9 million, including $3.1 million and $2.3 million that were deposited in Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Financial Co., Ltd., a related party, respectively. As of September 30, 2013, $0.2 million cash in the bank was covered by insurance. The Company has not experienced any losses in other bank accounts and believes it is not exposed to any risks on its cash in bank accounts.

The Company’s five major customers are all distributors and collectively represented approximately 25.5% and 23.4% of the Company’s total sales for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. The Company had five major customers, which represented approximately 27.2% and 34.1% of the Company’s total sales for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. None of the five major customers accounted for more than 10% of total sales for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. These five major customers accounted for 15.9% and 47.8% of total accounts receivable, including related parties, as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. One of the five major customers accounted for more than 10% of total accounts receivable, which amounted to $1.4 million and $10.4 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company purchased approximately 15.3% and 29.3% of its raw materials from five major suppliers, respectively. None of the five major suppliers individually accounted for more than 10% of the total purchases for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013. The purchases from the five major suppliers represent approximately 25.4% and 39.6% of the Company’s total purchases for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. Two of the five major suppliers individually accounted for more than 10% of the total purchases for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. These five vendors accounted for 28.9% and 33.8% of total accounts payable, including related parties, as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. None of the five major suppliers individually accounted for more than 10% of total accounts payable as September 30, 2013 and one of the five major suppliers individually accounted for more than 10% of total accounts payable as December 31, 2012.

(g)

Foreign currency translation and other comprehensive income

The reporting currency of the Company is the U.S. dollar. The Company’s subsidiaries in China use the local currency, Renminbi (RMB), as their functional currency. Assets and liabilities are translated at the unified exchange rate as quoted by the People’s Bank of China at the end of the period. The statement of operations accounts are translated at the average translation rates and the equity accounts are translated at historical rates. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are included in accumulated other comprehensive income in the statement of equity. Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the results of operations as incurred.

Translation adjustments included in accumulated other comprehensive income amounted to $2.5 million and $10.2 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. The balance sheet amounts, with the exception of equity at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were translated at 6.13 RMB and 6.30 RMB to $1.00, respectively. The equity accounts were stated at their historical rate. The average translation rates applied to statement of operations accounts for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 were 6.16 RMB and 6.33 RMB, respectively. The average translation rates applied to statement of operations accounts for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 were 6.21 RMB and 6.31 RMB, respectively. Cash flows are also translated at average translation rates for the periods, therefore, amounts reported on the statement of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the consolidated balance sheet.

The PRC government imposes significant exchange restrictions on fund transfers out of the PRC that are not related to business operations. These restrictions have not had a material impact on the Company because it has not engaged in any significant transactions that are subject to the restrictions.

(h)

Financial instruments

The accounting standards regarding fair value of financial instruments and related fair value measurements defines financial instruments and requires disclosure of the fair value of financial instruments held by the Company. The Company considers the carrying amount of cash, short term investment, accounts receivable, other receivables, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, to approximate their fair values because of the short period of time between the origination of such instruments and their expected realization. For short term loans and notes payable, the Company concluded the carrying values are a reasonable estimate of fair values because of the short period of time between the origination and repayment and as their stated interest rates approximate current rates available.

The Company analyzes all financial instruments with features of both liabilities and equity, pursuant to which the Company’s warrants were required to be recorded as a liability at fair value and marked to market each reporting period.

The accounting standards define fair value, establish a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosures of fair value measurement and enhance disclosure requirements for fair value measures. The three levels are defined as follow:

Level 1 inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2 inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the assets or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instruments.

Level 3 inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value.

On December 13, 2007, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) with certain institutional investors issuing $40.0 million (“Notes”) and 1,154,958 warrants. The warrants can be exercised for common stock through May 13, 2013 at $13.51 per share, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments. On December 24, 2009, the holders of the existing warrants of 1,154,958 shares entered into an agreement with the Company that reset the exercise price from $13.51 to $5 per share and increased the number of warrants from 1,154,958 to 3,900,871, which expired on May 13, 2013.

In December 2009, the Company issued an additional 2,777,778 warrants in connection with a registered direct offering, which expired as of June 24, 2012.

The aforementioned warrants meet the definition of a derivative instrument in the accounting standards. Therefore these instruments were accounted for as derivative liabilities and recorded at their fair value as of each reporting period. The change in the value of the derivative liabilities is charged against or credited to income. The fair value was determined using the Cox Rubenstein Binomial Model, defined in the accounting standard as Level 2 inputs, and recorded the change in earnings. See Note 12– “Convertible notes and derivative liabilities” for the variables used in the Cox Rubenstein Binomial model.

The Company determined the carrying value of the profit sharing liability using Level 3 inputs by considering the present value of Longmen Joint Venture’s projected profits/losses with a discount rate of 7.3% based on the Company’s average borrowing rate. The projected profits/losses in Longmen Joint Venture were based upon, but not limited to, the following assumptions until April 30, 2031:

projected selling units and growth in the steel market

projected unit selling price in the steel market

projected unit purchase cost in the coal and iron ore markets

selling and general and administrative expenses to be in line with the growth in the steel market

projected bank borrowings

The above assumptions were reviewed by the Company at September 30, 2013 and the Company changed those assumptions as compared to the assumption used at December 31, 2012 because of the changes in market conditions in PRC. Since the Company had the most updated information from the banks, GDP report and the operating results from the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, all of the above information indicated the downward trend in the steel manufacturing industry in the coming years. As a result, the Company re-measured the fair value of the 40% profit sharing liability as of the period ended September 30, 2013 and recorded a gain on change in fair value of profit sharing liability of $41.8 million and $107.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.

If there will be any slight changes in any of the assumptions that we used, the fair value of the profit sharing liability will be changed accordingly. If we would reduce the projected bank borrowings rate by 1.0% and other factors remained unchanged, our profit sharing liability as of the beginning of the period ended September 30, 2013 would have been $254.9 million and we would reduce the gain from the change in the fair value of profit sharing liabilities by $32.9 million.If we would reduce the projected selling units and growth in the steel market rate by 1.0% and other factors remained unchanged, our profit sharing liability as of the beginning of the period ended September 30, 2013 would have been $214.3 million and we would increase the gain from the change in the fair value of profit sharing liabilities by $8.3 million.

The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy, the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2013:

Carrying Value as

Fair Value Measurements at September 30,

of September 30,

2013

(in thousands)

2013

Using Fair Value Hierarchy

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Profit sharing liability

241,090

Total

241,090

The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2012:

Carrying Value as

Fair Value Measurements at December 31,

of December 31,

2012

(in thousands)

2012

Using Fair Value Hierarchy

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Derivative liabilities

Profit sharing liability

328,827

Total

328,828

328,827

The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of the assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the nine month ended September 30, 2013 and for the year ended December 31, 2012:

September 30, 2013

December 31, 2012

(in thousands)

Beginning balance

328,828

303,243

Change in fair value of profit sharing liability

-107,877

Current period interest expense accreted

12,440

22,499

Change of derivative liabilities charged to earnings

Exchange rate effect

7,698

3,077

Ending balance

241,090

328,828

Except for the derivative liabilities and profit sharing liability, the Company did not identify any other assets or liabilities that are required to be presented on the balance sheet at fair value in accordance with the accounting standard. The carrying value of the long term loans-related party approximates to its fair value as of the reporting date.

(i)

Notes receivable

Notes receivable represents trade accounts receivable due from various customers where the customers’ banks have guaranteed the payment. The notes are non-interest bearing and normally paid within three to six months. The Company has the ability to submit request for payment to the customer’s bank earlier than the scheduled payment date, but will incur an interest charge and a processing fee.

Restricted notes receivable represents notes receivable pledged as collateral for short-term loans and short-term notes payable issued by banks.

Interest expenses for early submission request of payment for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 amounted to $9.6 million and $16.3 million, respectively, and amounted to $26.9 million and $65.6 million, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.

(j)

Plant and equipment, net

Plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets with a 3%-5% residual value. The depreciation expense on assets acquired under capital leases is included with depreciation expense on owned assets. The estimated useful lives are as follows:

Buildings and Improvements

10-40 Years

Machinery

10-30 Years

Machinery and equipment under capital lease

20 Years

Other equipment

5 Years

Transportation Equipment

5 Years

The Company assesses all significant leases for purposes of classification as either operating or capital. At lease inception, if the lease meets any of the four following criteria, the Company will classify it as a capital lease; otherwise it will be treated as an operating lease: a) transfer of ownership to lessee at the end of the lease term, b) bargain purchase option, c) lease term is equal to 75% or more of the estimated economic life of the leased property, d) the present value of the minimum lease payments is 90% or more of the fair value of the leased asset.

Construction in progress represents the costs incurred in connection with the construction of buildings or new additions to the Company’s plant facilities. No depreciation is provided for construction in progress until such time as the assets are completed and are placed into service, maintenance, repairs and minor renewals are charged directly to expense as incurred. Major additions and betterment to buildings and equipment are capitalized. Interest incurred during construction is capitalized into construction in progress. All other interest is expensed as incurred.

Long lived assets, including buildings and improvements, equipment and intangible assets are reviewed if events and changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable, to determine whether their carrying value has become impaired. The Company considers assets to be impaired if the carrying value exceeds the future projected cash flows from related operations. The Company also re-evaluates the periods of depreciation and amortization to determine whether subsequent events and circumstances warrant revised estimates of useful lives.

(j)

Intangible assets

Finite lived intangible assets of the Company are reviewed for impairment if events and circumstances require. The Company considers assets to be impaired if the carrying value exceeds the future projected cash flows from related operations. The Company also re-evaluates the periods of amortization to determine whether subsequent events and circumstances warrant revised estimates of useful lives. As of September 30, 2013, the Company expects these assets to be fully recoverable.

Land use rights

All land in the PRC is owned by the government. However, the government grants “land use rights.” General Steel (China) acquired land use rights in 2001 for a total of $3.9 million (RMB 23.7 million). These land use rights are for 50 years and expire in 2050 and 2053. The Company amortizes the land use rights over the twenty-year business term because its business license had a twenty-year term.

Long Steel Group contributed land use rights for a total amount of $24.2 million (RMB 148.6 million) to the Longmen Joint Venture. The contributed land use rights are for 50 years and expire in 2048 to 2052.

Maoming Hengda has land use rights amounting to $2.7 million (RMB 16.6 million) for 50 years that expire in 2054.

Other than the land use rights that General Steel (China) acquired in 2001, the Company amortizes the land use rights over their 50 year term.

Entity

Original Cost

Expires on

(in thousands)

General Steel (China)

3,867

2050 & 2053

Longmen Joint Venture

24,226

2048 & 2052

Maoming Hengda

2,705

2054

Mining right

Mining rights are capitalized at cost when acquired, including amounts associated with any value beyond proven and probable reserves, and amortized to operations as depletion expense using the units-of-production method over the estimated proven and probable recoverable tons. Longmen Joint Venture has iron ore mining right amounting to $2.4 million (RMB 15.0 million), which is amortized over the estimated recoverable reserve of 4.2 million tons.

(k)

Investments in unconsolidated entities

Entities in which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, but does not have a controlling interest, are accounted for using the equity method. Significant influence is generally considered to exist when the Company has an ownership interest in the voting stock between 20% and 50%, and other factors, such as representation on the Board of Directors, voting rights and the impact of commercial arrangements, are considered in determining whether the equity method of accounting is appropriate. The Company accounts for investments with ownership less than 20% using the cost method.

The table below summarizes Longmen Joint Venture’s investment holdings as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

September 30,

December 31,

2013

2012

Year

Net investment

Owned

Net investment

Owned

Unconsolidated entities

acquired

(In thousands)

Xian Delong Powder Engineering Materials Co., Ltd.

2007

1,161

24.1

1,166

24.1

Total investment income in unconsolidated subsidiaries amounted to $0.05 million and $0.04 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, which was included in “Loss from equity investments” in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

(l)

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications have no effect on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and cash flows.

Loans_receivable_related_parti

Loans receivable - related parties	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Loans and Leases Receivable, Related Parties Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Loans Receivable Related Parties Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 3 – Loans receivable – related parties

	Loans receivable – related parties represents amounts the Company expects to collect from related parties upon maturity.

	The Company had the following loans receivable – related parties due within one year as of:

		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Loans to Long Steel Group; due on demand and non-interest bearing.		-		63,319
	Loan to Teamlink Investment Co., Ltd; due in December 2013, June 2014, and July 2014; interest rate was 4.75%		4,540		6,000
	Total loans receivable – related parties	$	4,540	$	69,319

	See Note 20 “Related party transactions and balances” for the nature of the relationship of related parties.

	Total interest income for the loans amounted to $0.1 million and $0 for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

	Total interest income for the loans amounted to $0.2 million and $1.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Accounts_receivable_including_

Accounts receivable (including related parties), net	9 Months Ended
Accounts receivable (including related parties), net	Sep. 30, 2013
Receivables [Abstract]	'
Accounts Receivable [Text Block]	'
	Note 4 – Accounts receivable (including related parties), net

	Accounts receivable, including related party receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts consists of the following:

		30-Sep-13		31-Dec-12
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Accounts receivable	$	9,729	$	8,062
	Less: allowance for doubtful accounts		-1,152		-1,367
	Accounts receivable – related parties		3,252		14,966
	Net accounts receivable	$	11,829	$	21,661


	Movement of allowance for doubtful accounts is as follows:

		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Beginning balance	$	1,367	$	2,023
	Charge to expense		-		433
	Less: recovery		-249		-1,109
	Exchange rate effect		34		20
	Ending balance	$	1,152	$	1,367

Inventories

Inventories	9 Months Ended
Inventories	Sep. 30, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventory Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 5 – Inventories

	Inventories consist of the following:

		30-Sep-13		31-Dec-12
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Supplies	$	23,302	$	23,123
	Raw materials		138,951		141,503
	Finished goods		22,527		57,630
	Less: allowance for inventory valuation		-7,397		-9,585
	Total inventories	$	177,383	$	212,671

	Raw materials consist primarily of iron ore and coke at Longmen Joint Venture. The cost of finished goods includes direct costs of raw materials as well as direct labor used in production. Indirect production costs at normal capacity such as utilities and indirect labor related to production such as assembling, shipping and handling costs for purchasing are also included in the cost of inventory.

	The Company values its inventory at the lower of cost or market, determined on a weighted average method, or net realizable value. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company had provided allowance for inventory valuation in the amounts of $7.3 million and $9.6 million, respectively.

	Movement of allowance for inventory valuation is as follows:

		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Beginning balance	$	9,585	$	38,143
	Addition		7,305		9,582
	Less: write-off		-9,722		-38,519
	Exchange rate effect		229		379
	Ending balance	$	7,397	$	9,585

Advances_on_inventory_purchase

Advances on inventory purchases	9 Months Ended
Advances on inventory purchases	Sep. 30, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Advances On Inventory Purchase [Text Block]	'
	Note 6 – Advances on inventory purchases

	Advances on inventory purchases are monies deposited or advanced to outside vendors or related parties on future inventory purchases. Most of the Company’s vendors require a certain amount of money to be deposited with them as a guarantee that the Company will complete its purchases on a timely basis.

	This amount is refundable and bears no interest. The Company has legally binding contracts with its vendors, which require the deposit to be returned to the Company or netted against accounts payable due to its vendors to the extent there are unpaid balances when the contract ends. The inventory is normally delivered within one month after the monies have been advanced. The total outstanding amount, including advances to related parties, was $109.5 million and $126.1 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

Plant_and_equipment_net

Plant and equipment, net	9 Months Ended
Plant and equipment, net	Sep. 30, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 7 – Plant and equipment, net

	Plant and equipment consist of the following:

		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Buildings and improvements	$	253,621	$	214,661
	Machinery		616,813		573,572
	Machinery under capital lease		603,248		587,334
	Transportation and other equipment		22,085		20,274
	Construction in progress		58,111		4,645
	Subtotal		1,553,878		1,400,486
	Less: accumulated depreciation		-303,336		-232,650
	Total	$	1,250,542	$	1,167,836

	Construction in progress consisted of the following as of September 30, 2013:

	Construction in progress	Value		Completion
	description	(In thousands)		date
	1.2 million tons high-strength steel production line		32,268		Dec-13
	Iron-making system dust removing equipment		3,307		Nov-13
	Drainage system		499		Nov-13
	Factory wall repair		241		Nov-13
	Gas pipe repair		121		Nov-13
	Office buildings		1,336		Nov-13
	Equipment updates		7,381		Nov-13
	#5 blast furnace construction		208		Sep-14
	Reconstruction of miscellaneous factory buildings		690		Jan-14
	Project materials		2,154
	Others		9,906
	Total	$	58,111

	The Group is obligated under a capital lease for the iron and steel making facilities, including one sintering machine, two converters, two blast furnaces and some auxiliary systems that expire on April 30, 2031. The carrying value of assets acquired under the capital lease consists of the following:

		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Machinery	$	603,248	$	587,334
	Less: accumulated depreciation		-69,248		-46,497
	Carrying value of leased assets	$	534,000	$	540,837

	The Company assessed the recoverability of all of its remaining long-lived assets at December 31, 2012, and the sum of the discounted future cash flows expected to result from the long-lived assets and their disposition was less than the carrying value by $20.2 million (RMB 127.2 million), which was impaired and included in the selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2012. The discounted cash flows were determined using certain expected changes to the current operational assumptions. If those expectations are not met, the Company may be required to record additional impairment charges in future periods.

	The Company assessed the recoverability of all of its remaining long lived assets at September 30, 2013 and such assessment did not result in any other impairment charges for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013.

	Depreciation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 amounted to $21.6 million and $20.8 million, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, amounted to $64.1 and $61.4 million, respectively. These amounts include depreciation of assets held under capital leases for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, which amounted to $7.1 million and $7.0 million, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, amounted to $21.2 and $20.9 million, respectively.

Intangible_assets_net

Intangible assets, net	9 Months Ended
Intangible assets, net	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 8 – Intangible assets, net

	Intangible assets consist of the following:

		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Land use rights	$	30,798	$	29,986
	Mining right		2,448		2,384
	Software		742		692
	Subtotal		33,988		33,062
	Less:
	Accumulated amortization – land use rights		-8,387		-7,577
	Accumulated amortization – mining right		-1,144		-993
	Accumulated amortization – software		-529		-426
	Subtotal		-10,060		-8,996
	Intangible assets, net	$	23,928	$	24,066

	The gross amount of the intangible assets amounted to $34.0 million and $33.1 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. The remaining weighted average amortization period is 33.7 years as of September 30, 2013.

	Total amortization expense for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 amounted to $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, amounted to $0.7 million and $0.9 million, respectively.

	Total depletion expense for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 amounted to $0.02 million and $0.1 million, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, amounted to $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

	The estimated aggregate amortization and depletion expenses for each of the five succeeding years is as follows:

		Estimated
		amortization and		Gross carrying
	Year ending	depletion expenses		amount
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	30-Jun-14	$	1,082		22,846
	30-Jun-15		1,082		21,764
	30-Jun-16		1,082		20,682
	30-Jun-17		1,082		19,600
	30-Jun-18		1,082		18,518
	Thereafter		18,518		-
	Total	$	23,928

Debt

Debt	9 Months Ended
Debt	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 9 – Debt

	Short-term notes payable

	Short-term notes payable are lines of credit extended by banks. Banks in turn issue the Company a bank acceptance note, which can be endorsed and assigned to vendors as payments for purchases. The notes payable are generally payable within three to six months. This short-term note payable is guaranteed by the bank for its complete face value. The banks do not charge interest on these notes, but usually charge a transaction fee of 0.05% of the notes value. In addition, the banks usually require the Company to deposit either a certain amount of cash at the bank as a guarantee deposit, which is classified on the balance sheet as restricted cash, or provide notes receivable as security, which are classified on the balance sheet as restricted notes receivable. Restricted cash as a guarantee for the notes payable amounted to $405.8 million and $322.7 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. Restricted notes receivable as a guarantee for the notes payable amounted to $237.2 million and $345.8 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

	The Company had the following short-term notes payable as of:

			September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
			(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	General Steel (China): Notes payable to various banks in China, due various dates from October 2013 to March 2014. Restricted cash required of $24.5 million and $6.3 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively; guaranteed by third parties. These notes payable were either repaid or renewed subsequently on the due dates.		$	37,490		$	12,696
	Longmen Joint Venture: Notes payable to various banks in China, due various dates from October 2013 to August 2014. $381.3 million restricted cash and $237.2 million notes receivable are secured for notes payable as of September 30, 2013, and comparatively $316.4 million restricted cash and $345.8 million notes receivable secured as of December 31, 2012, respectively; some notes are further guaranteed by third parties. These notes payable were either repaid or renewed subsequently on the due dates.			950,498			971,117
	Total short-term notes payable		$	987,988		$	983,813

	Short-term loans

	Short-term loans represent amounts due to various banks, other companies and individuals, including related parties, normally due within one year. The principal of the loans are due at maturity but can be renewed at the bank’s option. Accrued interest is due either monthly or quarterly.

	Short term loans due to banks, related parties and other parties consisted of the following as of:

	Due to banks

			September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
			(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	General Steel (China): Loans from various banks in China, due various dates from December 2013 to September 2014. Weighted average interest rate was 7.2% per annum and 7.6% per annum as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively; some are guaranteed by third parties while others are secured by equipment and inventory. These loans were either repaid or renewed subsequently on the due dates.		$	38,973		$	32,189
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loans from various banks in China, due various dates from November 2013 to August 2014. Weighted average interest rate was 6.5% per annum and 6.8% per annum as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively; some are guaranteed by third parties, restricted cash or notes receivables. $120.0 million and $76.0 million restricted notes receivable were secured for the loans as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively; These loans were either repaid or renewed subsequently on the due dates.			215,956			114,935
	Total short-term loans - bank		$	254,929		$	147,124

	As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company had not met its financial covenants stipulated by certain loan agreements related to the Company’s debt to asset ratio. Based on the financial covenants, the Company should have kept its debt to asset ratio below 20% and 85% as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. However, as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company's debt to asset ratio was 117.7% and 116.4%, respectively.

	Furthermore, the Company is a party to a loan agreement with a cross default clause whereby any breach of loan covenants will automatically result in default of the loan. The outstanding balance of the short term loans affected by the above breach of covenants and cross default as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $6.4 million and $12.7 million, respectively. According to the Company’s short term loan agreements, the banks have the rights to request for more collateral or additional guarantees if the breach of covenant is not remedied or request early repayment of the loan if the Company does not cure such breach within a certain period of time. As of the date of this report, the Company has not received any notice from the banks to request more collateral, additional guarantees or early repayment of the short term loans due to the breach of covenant.

	Due to unrelated parties

			September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
			(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loans from various unrelated companies and individuals, due various dates from October 2013 to February 2014, and weighted average interest rate was 5.2% per annum and 6.0% per annum as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. These loans were either repaid or renewed subsequently on the due dates.		$	33,294		$	25,324
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loans from financing sales.			90,680			115,966
	Maoming Hengda: Loans from one unrelated parties and one related party, due on demand, none interest bearing.			6,196			6,033
	Total short-term loans – others		$	130,170		$	147,323

	The Company had various loans from unrelated companies amounting to $130.2 million and $147.3 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. Of the $130.2 million, $6.2 million loans carry no interest, $90.7 million of financing sales are subject to interest rates ranging between 4.2% and 5.9%, and the remaining $33.3 million are subject to interest rates ranging from 4.7% to 12.0%. All short term loans from unrelated companies are payable on demand and unsecured.

	As part of its working capital management, Longmen Joint Venture has entered into a number of sale and purchase back contracts ("contracts") with third party companies and Yuxin and Yuteng. According to the contracts, Longmen Joint Venture sells rebar to the third party companies at a certain price, and within the same month, Yuxin and Yuteng will purchase back the rebar from the third party companies at a price of 4.2% to 5.9% higher than the original selling price from Longmen Joint Venture. Based on the contract terms, Longmen Joint Venture is paid in advance for the rebar sold to the third party companies and Yuxin and Yuteng are given a credit period of several months to one year from the third party companies. There is no physical movement of the inventory during the sale and purchase back arrangement. The margin of 4.2% to 5.9% is determined by reference to the bank loan interest rates at the time when the contracts are entered into, plus an estimated premium based on the financing sale amount, which represents the interest charged by the third party companies for financing Longmen Joint Venture through the above sale and purchase back arrangement. The revenue and cost of goods sold arising from the above transactions are eliminated and the incremental amounts paid by Yuxin and Yuteng to purchase back the goods are treated as financing costs in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

	Total financing sales for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 amounted to $166.2 million and $307.1 million, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, amounted to $519.5 million and $600.8 million, respectively, which are eliminated in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. The financial cost related to financing sales for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, accounted to $1.1 million and $2.1 million, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, amounted to $4.2 million and $6.8 million, respectively.

	Short term loans due to related parties

			September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
			(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Baotou Steel: Loans from Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd, due on demand, and interest rates is 10% per annum.		$	3,430		$	4,133
	General Steel China: Loans from Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd., due on demand, and interest rates is 10% per annum.			-			15,416
	General Steel China: Loans from Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co, Ltd., due on demand, and interest rates is 10% per annum.			-			21,397
	General Steel China:Loans from Beijing Shenhua Xinyuan Metal Materials Co., Ltd., due on demand, and interest rates is 10% per annum.			1,395			1,359
	General Steel China: Loans from Yangpu Capital Automobile, due on demand, and interest rates is 10% per annum.			1,451			1,413
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loan from Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd., due in December 2013, and interest rate is 7.0% per annum.			33,580			-
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loans from financing sales.			9,033			35,839
	Total short-term loans - related parties		$	48,889		$	79,557

	Long-term loans due to related party

			September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Longmen Joint Venture: Loans from Shaanxi Steel Group, due on various dates through November 2015 and interest rate are 5.6% - 5.9% per annum.		$	72,346		$	92,973
Less: Current maturities of long-term loans – related party			-47,896			-54,885
Long-term loans - related party		$	24,450		$	38,088

Total interest expense, net of capitalized interest, amounted to $15.5 million and $36.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Total interest expense, net of capitalized interest, amounted to $54.5 million and $138.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Capitalized interest amounted to $1.3 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Capitalized interest amounted to $2.1 million and $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Customer_deposits

Customer deposits	9 Months Ended
Customer deposits	Sep. 30, 2013
Deposits [Abstract]	'
Customer Deposits Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 10 – Customer deposits

	Customer deposits represent amounts advanced by customers on product orders. The product normally is shipped within one month after receipt of the advance payment, and the related sale is recognized in accordance with the Company’s revenue recognition policy. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, customer deposits amounted to $110.2 million and $147.9 million, respectively, including deposits received from related parties, which amounted to $14.5 million and $22.0 million, respectively.

Deposits_due_to_sales_represen

Deposits due to sales representatives	9 Months Ended
Deposits due to sales representatives	Sep. 30, 2013
Deposits Due To Sales Representatives [Abstract]	'
Deposits Due To Sales Representatives [Text Block]	'
	Note 11 – Deposits due to sales representatives

	Longmen Joint Venture entered into agreements with various entities to act as the Company’s exclusive sales agent in a specified geographic area. These exclusive sales agents must meet certain criteria and are required to deposit a certain amount of money with the Company. In return the sales agents receive exclusive sales rights in a specified area and at discounted prices on products they order. These deposits bear no interest and are required to be returned to the sales agent once the agreement is terminated. The agreement is normally entered/or renewed on an annual basis. Termination of the agreement can be mutually agreed to by both parties at any time. The Company had $30.0 million and $35.1 million in deposits due to sales representatives, including deposits due to related parties, as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

Convertible_notes_and_derivati

Convertible notes and derivative liabilities	9 Months Ended
Convertible notes and derivative liabilities	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Convertible Notes and Derivative Liabilities [Text Block]	'
	Note 12 – Convertible notes and derivative liabilities

	The Company had 3,900,871 outstanding warrants in connection with the $40 million convertible notes issued in 2007, which expired on May 13, 2013, and 2,777,778 warrants in connection with a registered direct offering in 2009, which expired on June 24, 2012. The aforementioned warrants met the definition of a derivative instrument in the accounting standards and are recorded at their fair value on each reporting date. The change in the value of the derivative liabilities is charged against or credited to income each period.

	The fair value of the warrants as of December 31, 2012 was calculated using the Cox Rubenstein Binomial model based on the following variables:

		31-Dec-12
	Expected volatility		86	%
	Expected dividend yield		0	%
	Risk-free interest rate		0.08	%
	Expected lives		0.36 years
	Market price	$	0.99
	Strike price	$	5

	As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, derivative liabilities, which were included in other payables and accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets, amounted to $0 and $1.0 thousand, respectively.

	The Company has the following warrants outstanding:

	Outstanding as of December 31, 2011	6,678,649
	Granted	-
	Forfeited / expired	-2,777,778
	Exercised	-
	Outstanding as of December 31, 2012	3,900,871
	Granted	-
	Forfeited / expired	-3,900,871
	Exercised	-
	Outstanding as of September 30, 2013	-

Supplemental_disclosure_of_cas

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information	9 Months Ended
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information	Sep. 30, 2013
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]	'
Cash Flow Supplemental Disclosures [Text Block]	'
	Note 13 - Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

	Interest paid, net of capitalized, amounted to $11.5 million and $20.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

	The Company paid income tax amounted to $0.3 million and $0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company had receivables of $1.0 million as a result of the disposal of equipment that has not been collected.

	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company converted $1.0 million of equipment into inventory productions.

	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company used $37.3 million inventory in plant and equipment constructions.

	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company offset $64.2 million and $0, respectively, accounts payable to related party as loan receivable – related party repayment.

	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company offset $119.9 million and $29.9 million, respectively, advance on inventory purchases and other receivables to related parties as short-term loan repayments.

	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company reclassified $3.8 million refundable advances on inventory purchase – related parties to other receivables – related parties.

	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company incurred $18.7 million accounts payable to be paid for constructions in process.

	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, one of the Company’s unconsolidated entities declared dividend and the Company was entitled for the dividend amounted to $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively, which was not yet collected.

	During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company sold its 22.76% equity interest of Tongxing at the carrying value of $8.0 million to two individuals who are representatives from Long Steel Group, a related party. In connection with this transaction, the Company received a land use rights from Tongxing at carrying value for $3.6 million and settled with a payable in cash of $0.3 million that the Company has not been paid. In addition, the Company determined that dividend receivables of $0.9 million will be transferring to the two individuals and will not be collected from Tongxing after these transactions.

	During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company converted $48.0 million of our accounts payable and other payables from our related parties to short term loans upon the execution of the loan agreements.

Deferred_lease_income

Deferred lease income	9 Months Ended
Deferred lease income	Sep. 30, 2013
Deferred Revenue [Abstract]	'
Deferred Revenue Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 14 - Deferred lease income

	To compensate the Group for costs and economic losses incurred during construction of the iron and steel making facilities owned by Shaanxi Steel, Shaanxi Steel reimbursed Longmen Joint Venture $11.4 million (RMB 70.1 million) in the fourth quarter of 2010 for the value of assets dismantled and rent under a 40-year property sub-lease that was entered into by the parties in June 2009 (the "Longmen Sub-lease"), and $29.8 million (RMB 183.1 million) for the reduced production efficiency caused by the construction. In addition, in 2010 and 2011, Shaanxi Steel reimbursed Longmen Joint Venture $14.6 million (RMB 89.5 million) and $14.6 million (RMB 89.3 million), respectively, for trial production costs related to the new equipment.

	During the period from June 2010 to March 2011, as construction progressed and certain of the assets came online, Longmen Joint Venture used the assets free of charge to produce saleable units of steel products during this period. As such, the cost of using these assets and therefore the fair value of the free rent received was imputed with reference to what the depreciation charge would have been on these assets had they been owned or under capital lease to Longmen Joint Venture during the free use period. This cost of $7.2 million (RMB 43.9 million) each year were deferred and will be recognized over the term of the land sub-lease similar to the other charges and credits related to the construction of these assets.

	The deferred lease income is amortized to income over the remaining term of the 40-year land sub-lease. For the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company recognized $0.5 million in each period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company recognized $1.6 million in each period. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the balance of deferred lease income amounted to $77.7 million and $77.2 million, respectively, of which $2.2 million and $2.1 million represents balance to be amortized within one year.

Capital_lease_obligation

Capital lease obligation	9 Months Ended
Capital lease obligation	Sep. 30, 2013
Leases, Capital [Abstract]	'
Capital Leases in Financial Statements of Lessee Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 15 - Capital lease obligation

	On April 29, 2011, the Company’s subsidiary, Longmen Joint Venture entered into a Unified Management Agreement with Shaanxi Steel and Shaanxi Coal under which Longmen Joint Venture uses new iron and steel making facilities including one sintering machine, two converters, two blast furnaces and other auxiliary systems constructed by Shaanxi Steel. As the 20-year term of the agreement exceeds 75% of the assets’ useful lives, this arrangement is accounted for as a capital lease. The ongoing lease payments are comprised of two elements: (1) a monthly payment based on Shaanxi Steel’s cost to construct the assets of $2.3 million (RMB14.6 million) to be paid over the term of the Unified Management Agreement of 20 years and (2) 40% of any remaining pre-tax profits from the Asset Pool which includes Longmen Joint Venture and the newly constructed iron and steel making facilities. In October 2012, Shaanxi Steel agreed that it will not demand capital lease payment from Longmen Joint Venture until October 2014. The profit sharing component does not meet the definition of contingent rent because it is based on future revenue and is therefore considered part of the financing for the capital leased assets which is related to the Unified Management Agreement. For purposes of determining the value of the leased asset and obligation at the inception of the lease, the lease liability is then reduced by the value of the profit sharing component, which is recognized as a separate financial liability carried at fair value. See Note 16 – “Profit sharing liability”.

	Presented below is a schedule of estimated minimum lease payments on the capital lease obligation as well as payments for the profit sharing liability for the next five years as of September 30, 2013:

		Capital Lease Obligation		Capital Lease Obligation
	Year ending September 30,	Minimum Lease Payments		Profit (Loss) Sharing		Total
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	2014	$	-	$	-	$	-
	2015		126,557		-		126,557
	2016		28,654		-		28,654
	2017		28,654		-		28,654
	2018		28,654		-		28,654
	Thereafter		360,567		650,586		1,011,153
	Total minimum lease payments		573,086		650,586		1,223,672
	Less: amounts representing interest		-218,510		-409,496		-628,006
	Ending balance	$	354,576	$	241,090	$	595,666

	Longmen Joint Venture does not expect to make payments on the profit sharing payment until year 2022 when Longmen Joint Venture will start to generating accumulated profit after recovering from the previous years’ losses.

	Interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 on the minimum lease payments were $5.1 million and $5.1 million, respectively.

	Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 on the minimum lease payments were $15.3 million and $15.5 million, respectively.

	Interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 on the profit sharing liability were $2.6 million and $5.6 million, respectively.

	Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 on the profit sharing liability were $12.4 million and $16.9 million, respectively.

Profit_sharing_liability

Profit sharing liability	9 Months Ended
Profit sharing liability	Sep. 30, 2013
Profit Sharing Liability [Abstract]	'
Profit Sharing Liability [Text Block]	'
	Note 16 –Profit sharing liability

	The profit sharing liability is recognized initially at its estimated fair value at the lease commencement date and included in the initial measurement and recognition of the capital lease in addition to the fixed payment component of the minimum lease payments. Subsequently, this financial instrument is accounted for separately from the lease accounting (Note 15 - “Capital lease obligation”). The initial fair value of the expected payments under the profit sharing component of the Unified Management Agreement is amortized over the term of the agreement using the effective interest method. The value of the profit sharing liability will be reassessed each reporting period with any change in fair value accounted for on a prospective basis. Refer to Note 2(h) – “Financial instruments” for details.

	Based on the performance of the Asset Pool, no profit sharing payment, which is not required until net cumulative profits are achieved, was made for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012. Payments to Shaanxi Steel for the profit sharing are made based on net cumulative profits.

Other_income_expense

Other income (expense)	9 Months Ended
Other income (expense)	Sep. 30, 2013
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]	'
Other Income and Other Expense Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 17 – Other income (expense)

	Lease income

	The deferred lease income from the reimbursement from Shaanxi Steel for the net book value of the fixed assets that were demolished and for the inefficiency costs caused by the construction and loss incurred in the beginning stages of the system production is amortized to income over the remaining sub-lease term. For the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company recognized lease income of $0.5 million and $0.5 million, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, amounted to $1.6 million and $1.6 million, respectively.

Taxes

Taxes	9 Months Ended
Taxes	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 18 – Taxes

	Income tax

	Significant components of the provision for income taxes on earnings and deferred taxes on net operating losses from operations for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:


		For the three months ended		For the three months ended
	(In thousands)	September 30, 2013		September 30, 2012
	Current	$	25	$	100
	Deferred		-		-
	Total provision for income taxes	$	25	$	100

		For the nine months ended		For the nine months ended
	(In thousands)	September 30, 2013		September 30, 2012
	Current	$	201	$	510
	Deferred		-		169
	Total provision (benefit) for income taxes	$	201	$	679

	Under the Income Tax Laws of the PRC, General Steel (China), Baotou Steel Pipe Joint Venture (located in Inner Mongolia province), Maoming Hengda (located in Guangdong province) and Tianwu Joint Venture (located in Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone) are subject to income tax at a rate of 25%.

	Longmen Joint Venture is located in the Mid-West region of China and as such, qualifies for the “Go-West” tax rate of 15% promulgated by the government. In 2010, the Chinese government announced that the “Go-West” tax initiative would be extended for 10 years, and thus, the preferential tax rate of 15% will be in effect until 2020. This special tax treatment for Longmen Joint Venture will be evaluated on a year-to-year basis by the local tax bureau.

	Deferred taxes assets – China

	According to Chinese tax regulations, net operating losses can be carried forward to offset operating income for the next five years. The Group’s losses carried forward of $436.9 million will begin to expire in 2014. The Chinese government recently announced several policies to curb the real estate price increases across the country which led to a slowdown in demand for construction steel products. Additionally due to the continued global economic slowdown and the overcapacity issues in China's steel market, management expected there would be a sustained increase in margin pressure in the next five years until all the existing but outdated steel capacity across the whole industry are eliminated. Management took into consideration this potential negative impact on average selling price and gross margin of its products, re-performed an operating forecast for the next five years and concluded that the beginning-of-the-year balance of deferred tax assets mainly relating to the net operating loss carry forward may not be fully realizable due to the reduction in the projection of income to be available in the next 5 years. Management therefore decided to provide 100% valuation allowance for the deferred tax assets. The valuation allowance as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $86.9 million and $72.9 million, respectively. Management will review this valuation allowance periodically and make adjustments as warranted. Temporary differences, representing tax and book differences in various items, such as receivable allowances, inventory allowances, impairments on fixed assets and deferred lease income.

	Movement of valuation allowance:
		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Beginning balance	$	72,891	$	47,703
	Current period addition		12,776		25,180
	Current period reversal		-857		-
	Deconsolidation of Tongxing		-		-216
	Exchange difference		2,125		224
	Ending balance	$	86,935	$	72,891

	Deferred taxes assets – U.S.

	General Steel Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in the United States and has incurred net operating losses for income tax purposes for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The net operating loss carry forwards for United States income taxes amounted to $1.6 million, which may be available to reduce future years’ taxable income. These carry forwards will expire, if not utilized, starting from 2026 through 2032. Management believes that the realization of the benefits from these losses appears uncertain due to the Company’s limited operating history and continuing losses for United States income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Company has provided a 100% valuation allowance on the deferred tax asset benefit to reduce the asset to zero. The valuation allowance as of September 30, 2013 was $0.5 million. The net change in the valuation allowance for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $0. Management will review this valuation allowance periodically and make adjustments as warranted.

	The Company has cumulative proportionate retained earnings from profitable subsidiaries of approximately $0.1 million as of September 30, 2013. Accordingly, no provision has been made for U.S. deferred taxes related to future repatriation of these earnings, nor is it practicable to estimate the amount of income taxes that would have to be provided if we concluded that such earnings will be remitted in the future.

	Value added tax

	Enterprises or individuals who sell commodities, engage in repair and maintenance or import and export goods in the PRC are subject to a value added tax in accordance with PRC laws. The value added tax (“VAT”) standard rates are 13% to 17% of the gross sales price. A credit is available whereby VAT paid on the purchases of semi-finished products or raw materials used in the production of the Company’s finished products can be used to offset the VAT due on sales of the finished product. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company had $3.1 million and $4.2 million in value added tax credit which are available to offset future VAT payables, respectively.

	Sales and purchases are recorded net of VAT collected and paid as the Company acts as an agent for the government for VAT collection. VAT on sales and VAT on purchases amounted to $160.5 million and $156.2 million, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and $209.7 million and $206.7 million, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2012. VAT on sales and VAT on purchases amounted to $513.7 million and $494.4 million, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, $620.6 million and $594.1 million, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

	Taxes payable consisted of the following:
		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	VAT taxes payable	$	7,309	$	13,579
	Income taxes payable		20		68
	Misc. taxes		2,387		3,027
	Totals	$	9,716	$	16,674

Earnings_Loss_per_share

Earnings (Loss) per share	9 Months Ended
Earnings (Loss) per share	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings Per Share [Text Block]	'
	Note 19 – Earnings (Loss) per share

	The computation of earnings (loss) per share is as follows:

	(in thousands, except per share data)
		For the three		For the three
		months ended		months ended
		September 30, 2013		September 30, 2012
	Income (loss) attributable to holders of common stock	$	3,801	$	-41,598
	Basic and diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding		55,141		54,466
	Earnings (loss) per share
	Basic and diluted	$	0.07	$	-0.76

		For the nine		For the nine
		months ended		months ended
		September 30, 2013		September 30, 2012
	Loss attributable to holders of common stock	$	-32,914	$	-102,759
	Basic and diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding		54,976		54,946
	Loss per share
	Basic and diluted	$	-0.6	$	-1.87

	The Company had warrants exercisable for 3,900,871 shares of the Company’s common stock at September 30, 2012. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, all outstanding warrants were excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation since they are anti-dilutive.

	Other than the aforementioned potentially dilutive securities, there were no other potentially dilutive securities outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.

Related_party_transactions_and

Related party transactions and balances	9 Months Ended
Related party transactions and balances	Sep. 30, 2013
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 20 – Related party transactions and balances

	Related party transactions

	a.	Capital lease

	As disclosed in Notes 15 – “Capital lease obligations”, Longmen Joint Venture entered into a capital lease arrangement on April 29, 2011, with Shaanxi Coal and Shaanxi Steel, which are related parties of the Group. The following is an analysis of the leased assets under the capital lease:

			September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
			(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Machinery		$	603,248		$	587,334
	Less: accumulated depreciation			-69,248			-46,497
	Carrying value of leased assets		$	534,000		$	540,837

	b. On January 1, 2010, General Steel (China), entered into a lease agreement with Tianjin Daqiuzhuang Steel Plates Co., Ltd. (the “Lessee”), whereby General Steel (China) leases its facility located at No. 1, Tonga Street, Daqiuzhuang Town, Jinghai County, Tianjin City to the Lessee (the “Lease Agreement”). The Lease Agreement provides approximately 776,078 square feet of workshops, land, equipment and other facilities amounting to RMB 215.8 million ($34.4 million) to the Lessee and allows the Company to reduce overhead costs while providing a recurring monthly income stream resulting from payments due under the lease. The term of the Lease Agreement was from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011 and the monthly base rental rate due to General Steel (China) was approximately $0.2 million (RMB 1.7 million). On July 28, 2011, General Steel (China) (lessor) signed a supplemental agreement with the lessee to extend the lease for an additional five years to December 31, 2016. However, due to current steel market conditions, the lessee informed the Company that they did not intend to extend the lease at June 30, 2012 and has terminated the supplemental agreement early. There was no penalty for early termination. The Company assessed the recoverability of all of its remaining long lived assets at September 30, 2013 and such assessment did not result in any other impairment charges for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013.

	For the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, General Steel (China) did not realize any rental income the related party, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, General Steel (China) realized rental income $0 million and $1.6 million, respectively, which has been included in “other non-operating income (expense), net” in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

	c. The following chart summarized sales to related parties for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.

					Three months ended			Three months ended
	Name of related parties		Relationship		September 30, 2013			September 30, 2012
					(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	63,793		$	123,631
	Sichuan Yutai Trading Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group**			-			16,998
	Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group			1,081			-
	Shaanxi Haiyan Trade Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group			85			12,480
	Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group			19,866			7,599
	Shaanxi Steel		Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group			979			25
	Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co., Ltd		Subsidiary of Long Steel Group			9			11,392
	Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd		Investee of Long Steel Group			1,782			20,758
	Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd		Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel			7,951			-
	Others		Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			-			-
	Total				$	95,546		$	192,883

	**Long Steel Group has the ability to significantly influence the operating and financial decisions of the entity through equity ownership either directly or through key employees, commercial contractual terms, or the ability to assign management personnel.

					Nine months ended			Nine months ended
	Name of related parties		Relationship		September 30, 2013			September 30, 2012
					(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	226,754		$	360,820
	Sichuan Yutai Trading Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group			72			147,847
	Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group			21,491			41,433
	Shaanxi Haiyan Trade Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group			15,681			43,015
	Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group			56,545			34,132
	Shaanxi Steel		Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group			2,390			634
	Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co., Ltd		Subsidiary of Long Steel Group			2,122			31,485
	Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd		Investee of Long Steel Group			33,075			37,965
	Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd		Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel			22,577			-
	Others		Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			-			1,493
	Total				$	380,707		$	698,824

	d. The following charts summarize purchases from related parties for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.

					Three months ended			Three months ended
	Name of related parties		Relationship		September 30, 2013			September 30, 2012
					(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	101,606		$	123,637
	Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co., Ltd		Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			31,331			47,487
	Xi’an Pinghe Metallurgical Raw Material Co., Ltd		Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			1,181			16,674
	Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co., Ltd		Subsidiary of Long Steel Group			-			1,568
	Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd		Investee of Long Steel Group			1			2,257
	Shaanxi Huafu New Energy Co., Ltd		Significant influence by the Long Steel Group			10,529			10,322
Beijing Daishang Trading Co., Ltd.		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary			1,726			1,049
Others		Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			64			91
Total				$	146,438		$	203,085

				Nine months ended			Nine months ended
Name of related parties		Relationship		September 30, 2013			September 30, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	376,104		$	453,947
Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co., Ltd		Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			148,322			195,861
Xi’an Pinghe Metallurgical Raw Material Co., Ltd		Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			13,678			83,251
Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co., Ltd		Subsidiary of Long Steel Group			53			5,332
Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd		Investee of Long Steel Group			212			4,417
Shaanxi Huafu New Energy Co., Ltd		Significant influence by the Long Steel Group			28,618			24,347
Beijing Daishang Trading Co., Ltd.		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary			6,635			3,653
Others		Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			300			305
Total				$	573,922		$	771,113

Related party balances

a.	Loans receivable – related parties:

Name of related parties		Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	-		$	63,319
Teamlink Investment Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO* through indirect shareholding			4,540			6,000
Total				$	4,540		$	69,319

*The CEO is referred to herein as the chief executive officer of General Steel Holdings, Inc.

See Note 3 – loans receivable – related parties for loan details.

b.	Accounts receivables – related parties:


Name of related parties		Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	1,834		$	10,409
Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co., Ltd		Subsidiary of Long Steel Group			-			2,017
Tianjin Daqiuzhuang Steel Plates		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			19			18
Shaanxi Steel		Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group			1,227			2,435
Others					172			87
Total				$	3,252		$	14,966

c.	Other receivables – related parties:

Other receivables - related parties are those nontrade receivables arising from transactions between the Company and its related parties, such as advances or payments made on behalf of these related parties.


Name of related parties		Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	561		$	301
Shaanxi Steel		Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group			44,811			65,981
Tianjin General Quigang Pipe Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			1,228			1,195
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co, Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			489			476
Maoming Shengze Trading Co., Ltd.		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			3,834			-
Others		Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			578			429
Total				$	51,501		$	68,382

d.	Advances on inventory purchase – related parties:

Name of related parties		Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	1,377		$	1,367
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			6,254			-
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			12,805			-
Tianjin General Qiugang Pipe Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			9,210			41,316
Maoming Shengze Trading Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			-			3,733
Others		Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			21			-
Total				$	29,667		$	46,416

e.	Accounts payable - related parties:

Name of related parties		Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co., Ltd		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	60,463		$	58,661
Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture			100,579			91,511
Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd.		Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel			-			5,652
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			954			3
Xi’an Pinghe Metallurgical Raw Material Co., Ltd		Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			7,838			5,278
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			1			13,919
Henan Xinmi Kanghua Fire Refractory Co., Ltd		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary			722			1,146
Beijing Daishang Trading Co., Ltd		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary			1,149			875
Tianjin General Qiugang Pipe Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			-			52
Others		Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			553			335
Total				$	172,259		$	177,432

f.	Short-term loans - related parties:

Name of related parties		Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Shaanxi Steel		Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group		$	-		$	35,839
Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd		Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel			33,580			-
Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture			1,547			-
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			10,916			19,549
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			-			21,397
Beijing Shenhua Xinyuan Metal Materials Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			1,395			1,359
Yangpu Capital Automobile		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			1,451			1,413
Total				$	48,889		$	79,557

See Note 9 – Debt for the loan details.

g.	Current maturities of long-term loans – related parties

Name of related party		Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Shaanxi Steel		Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group		$	47,896		$	54,885
Total				$	47,896		$	54,885

h.	Other payables – related parties:

Other payables – related parties are those nontrade payables arising from transactions between the Company and its related parties, such as advances or payments from these related parties on behalf of the Group.

				September 30,			December 31,
Name of related parties		Relationship		2013			2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co, Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding		$	876		$	2,770
Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture			51,919			60,180
Shaanxi Steel		Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group			44,173			-
Wendlar Investment & Management Group Co., Ltd		Common control under CEO			911			836
Yangpu Capital Automobile		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			254			141
Xi’an Pinghe Metallurgical Raw Material Co., Ltd		Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			-			4,761
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			4,020			3,695
Maoming Shengze Trading Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			1,566			-
Victory Energy Resource Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			1,375			-
Others		Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			1,059			642
Total				$	106,153		$	73,025

i.	Customer deposits – related parties:

Name of related parties		Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group		$	10		$	4,869
Sichuan Yutai Trading Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group			-			2,163
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co, Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			-			90
Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture			13,600			8,864
Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd		Investee of Long Steel Group			679			5,615
Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group			-			353
Others		Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			223			44
Total				$	14,512		$	21,998

j.	Deposits due to sales representatives – related parties

Name of related parties		Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co., Ltd		Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group		$	587		$	619
Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd		Investee of Long Steel Group			635			619
Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group			587			-
Total				$	1,809		$	1,238

k.	Long-term loans – related party:

Name of related party		Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Shaanxi Steel		Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group		$	24,450		$	38,088
Total				$	24,450		$	38,088

The Company also provided guarantee on related parties’ bank loans amounting to $139.9 million and $118.0 million as of September 30, 2013 and as of December 31, 2012, respectively.

l.	Long-term other payable – related party:

Long-term other payable – related party is a nontrade payable arising from a transaction between the Company and its related party, Shaanxi Steel, in which the Company received an advance from Shaanxi Steel to make payment to a third party for a construction project.

Name of related party		Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Shaanxi Steel		Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group		$	-		$	43,008
Total				$	-		$	43,008

m.	Deferred lease income

		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Beginning balance		$	77,199		$	78,524
Less: Lease income realized			-1,613			-2,119
Exchange rate effect			2,072			794
Ending balance			77,658			77,199
Current portion			-2,178			-2,120
Noncurrent portion		$	75,480		$	75,079

For the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company realized lease income from Shaanxi Steel, a related party, amounted to $0.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company realized lease income from Shaanxi Steel, a related party, amounted to $1.6 million and $1.6 million, respectively.

Equity

Equity	9 Months Ended
Equity	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 21 - Equity

	2013 Equity Transactions

	On March 28, 2013, the Company granted senior management and directors 174,900 shares of common stock at $1.01 per share, as compensation under the Company’s 2008 Equity Incentive Plan. The shares were valued at the quoted market price on the grant date.

	On June 27, 2013, the Company granted senior management and directors 163,150 shares of common stock at $1.02 per share, as compensation under the Company’s 2008 Equity Incentive Plan. The shares were valued at the quoted market price on the grant date.

	On August 16, 2013, an additional $45.1 million (or RMB 280 million) was contributed to Tianwu Joint Venture with $27.0 million (or RMB 168 million) contributed by the Company and $18.0 million (or RMB 112 million) contributed by Tianjin Material and Equipment Group Corporation (“TME Group”). The Company’s controlling interest of Tianwu Joint Venture remains at 60% after the capital contribution.

	On September 28, the Company granted senior management and directors 163,150 shares of common stock at $0.88 per share as compensation under the Company’s 2008 Equity Incentive Plan. The shares were valued at the quoted market price on the grant date.

Retirement_plan

Retirement plan	9 Months Ended
Retirement plan	Sep. 30, 2013
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 22 – Retirement plan

	Regulations in the PRC require the Company to contribute to a defined contribution retirement plan for all employees. All the employees of the Company’s entities in China are entitled to a retirement pension amount calculated based upon their salary at their date of retirement and their length of service in accordance with a government managed pension plan. The PRC government is responsible for the pension liability to the retired staff. The Company’s entities in China are required to contribute based on the higher of 20% of the employees’ monthly base salary or 12% of the minimum social average salary of the city where the facilities are located. Employees are required to contribute 8% of their base salary to the plan. The minimum social average salary is announced by the local Social Security bureau and updated annually. Total pension expense incurred by the Company was $2.3 million and $1.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 amounted to $6.4 million and $5.5 million, respectively.

Statutory_reserves

Statutory reserves	9 Months Ended
Statutory reserves	Sep. 30, 2013
Statutory Reserves [Abstract]	'
Statutory Reserves [Text Block]	'
	Note 23 – Statutory reserves

	The laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China require that before a foreign -invested enterprise distributes profits to its shareholders, it must first satisfy all tax liabilities, provision for losses in previous years, and make allocations, in proportions determined at the discretion of the board of directors, to the statutory reserves. The statutory reserves include the surplus reserve funds and the enterprise fund and these statutory reserves represent restricted retained earnings.

	Surplus reserve fund

	The Company is required to transfer 10% of its net income, as determined in accordance with the PRC accounting rules and regulations, to a statutory surplus reserve fund until such reserve balance reaches 50% of the Company’s registered capital.

	The transfer to this reserve must be made before distribution of any dividend to shareholders. The surplus reserve fund is non-distributable other than during liquidation and can be used to fund previous years’ losses, if any, and may be utilized for business expansion or converted into share capital by issuing new shares to existing shareholders in proportion to their shareholding or by increasing the par value of the shares currently held by them, provided that the remaining reserve balance after such issue is not less than 25% of the registered capital. For the periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company did not make any contributions to these reserves.

	Special reserve

	The Company is required by the PRC government to reserve safety and maintenance expense to the cost of production based on the actual quantity of mineral exploited. The amount of reserves is determined within the unit price range provided by Ministry of Finance of PRC. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company made contributions of $0.7 million and $0.9 million to these reserves, respectively and used $0.4 million and $0.9 million of safety and maintenance expense, respectively.

Commitment_and_contingencies

Commitment and contingencies	9 Months Ended
Commitment and contingencies	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 24 – Commitment and contingencies

	Operating Lease Commitments

	Total operating lease commitments for rental of offices, buildings, equipment and land use rights of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries as of September 30, 2013 is as follows:

	Year ending September 30,	Minimum lease payment
		(in thousands)
		(Unaudited)
	2014	$	1,445
	2015		680
	2016		559
	2017		559
	2018		559
	Years after		20,185
	Total minimum payments required	$	23,987

	Total rental expense was $0.8 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $2.4 million and $2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

	Contractual Commitments

	Longmen Joint Venture has $211.6 million contractual obligations related to construction projects as of September 30, 2013 estimated to be fulfilled between November 2013 and September 2014.

	Contingencies

	As of September 30, 2013, Longmen Joint Venture provided guarantees to related parties’ and third parties’ bank loans, including lines of credit and others, amounting to $304.6 million.

		Guarantee
	Nature of guarantee	amount		Guaranty Due Date
		(In thousands)
	Line of credit	$	178,931	Various from October 2013 to August 2015
	Three-party financing agreements		42,315	Various from October 2013 to January 2014
	Confirming storage		19,951	Various from December 2013 to September 2014
	Financing by the rights of goods delivery in future		63,374	Various from December 2013 to March 2015
	Total	$	304,571

		Guarantee
	Name of parties being guaranteed	amount		Guaranty Due Date
		(In thousands)
	Long Steel Group	$	74,819	Various from October 2013 to August 2015
	Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co., Ltd		42,315	Various from October 2013 to January 2014
	Long Steel Group Fuping Rolling Steel Co., Ltd		11,271	Various from January to June 2014
	Yichang Zhongyi Industrial Co., Ltd		25,428	Jun-14
	Xi’an Laisheng Logistics Co., Ltd		4,303	May-14
	Xi'an Kaiyuan Steel Sales Co., Ltd		3,733	Various from November 2013 to January 2014
	Shaanxi Hongan Material Co., Ltd.		5,379	Various from October to December 2013
	Shaanxi Anlin Logistics Co., Ltd		7,726	Various from December 2013 to April 2014
	Chengdu Zhongyi Steel Co., Ltd		3,977	Dec-13
	Shaanxi Huatai Huineng Group Co., Ltd		24,450	Mar-14
	Hancheng Sanli Furnace Burden Co., Ltd.		16,300	Mar-15
	Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd		44,238	Various from January 2014 to March 2015
	Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd		19,637	Various from January to July 2014
	Tianjin Qiu Steel Pipe Industry Co., Ltd		11,410	Apr-14
	Jinmen Desheng Metallurty Co., Ltd		3,260	Aug-14
	Shaanxi Baolong Industry Co., Ltd		2,347	Nov-13
	Shaanxi Longan Industrial Development Co., Ltd		3,978	Nov-13
	Total	$	304,571

	As of September 30, 2013, the Company did not accrue any liability for the amounts the Group has guaranteed for third and related parties because those parties are current in their payment obligations and the Company has not experienced any losses from providing guarantees. The Company has evaluated the debt guarantees and concluded that the likelihood of having to make payments under the guarantees is remote and that the fair value of the stand-ready obligation under these commitments is not material.

Segments

Segments	9 Months Ended
Segments	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 25 – Segments

	The Company’s chief operating decision maker evaluates performance and determines resource allocations based on a number of factors, the primary measure being income from operations of the Group’s four regional divisions in the PRC: Longmen Joint Venture in Shaanxi province, Maoming Hengda in Guangdong province, Baotou Steel Pipe Joint Venture in Inner Mongolia province and General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture in Tianjin City.

	The Group operates in one business segment that includes four different divisions. These reportable divisions are consistent with the way the Company manages its business, each division operates under separate management groups and produces discrete financial information. The accounting principles applied at the operating division level in determining income from operations is generally the same as those applied at the consolidated financial statement level.
	The following represents results of division operations for three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012:

	(In thousands)
	Sales:		2013			2012
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	606,444		$	708,974
	Maoming Hengda			252			1,134
	Baotou Steel Pipe Joint Venture			2,921			1,322
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			4,236			129,341
	Total sales			613,853			840,771
	Interdivision sales			-3,758			-129,346
	Consolidated sales		$	610,095		$	711,425

	Gross profit (loss):		2013			2012
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	8,122		$	-18,417
	Maoming Hengda			-57			-761
	Baotou Steel			160			120
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			6			5,462
	Total gross profit (loss)			8,231			-13,596
	Interdivision gross profit			-			-
	Consolidated gross profit (loss)		$	8,231		$	-13,596

	Income (loss) from operations:		2013			2012
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	32,967		$	-37,000
	Maoming Hengda			-719			-1,062
	Baotou Steel			20			630
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-695			2,399
	Total income (loss) from operations			31,572			-35,033
	Interdivision income (loss) from operations			-			-
	Reconciling item (1)			-1,177			-1,350
	Consolidated income (loss) from operations		$	30,395		$	-36,383

	Net income (loss) attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.:		2013			2012
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	8,284		$	-39,494
	Maoming Hengda			-694			-1,073
	Baotou Steel			16			403
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-2,689			-26
	Total net income (loss) attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.			4,917			-40,190
	Interdivision net income			-			-
	Reconciling item (1)			-1,116			-1,408
	Consolidated net income (loss) attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.		$	3,801		$	-41,598


	Depreciation, amortization and depletion:		2013			2012
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	21,014		$	19,915
	Maoming Hengda			307			451
	Baotou Steel			62			52
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			505			790
	Consolidated depreciation, amortization and depletion		$	21,888		$	21,208

	Finance/interest expenses:		2013			2012
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	23,252		$	33,989
	Maoming Hengda			1			35
	Baotou Steel			-			127
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			2,249			2,467
	Interdivision interest expenses			-			-
	Reconciling item (1)			1			-3
	Consolidated interest expenses		$	25,503		$	36,615

Capital expenditures:		2013			2012
Longmen Joint Venture		$	16,455		$	3,259
Maoming Hengda			-			23
Baotou Steel			-			1
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-			15
Reconciling item (1)			-			-
Consolidated capital expenditures		$	16,455		$	3,298

The following represents results of division operations for nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012:

(In thousands)
Sales:		2013			2012
Longmen Joint Venture		$	1,903,933		$	2,126,556
Maoming Hengda			3,124			4,003
Baotou Steel Pipe Joint Venture			3,902			3,923
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			58,416			141,668
Total sales			1,969,375			2,276,150
Interdivision sales			-54,338			-136,001
Consolidated sales		$	1,915,037		$	2,140,149

Gross profit (loss):		2013			2012
Longmen Joint Venture		$	-23,704		$	12,628
Maoming Hengda			188			-1,174
Baotou Steel			249			193
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			29			8,431
Total gross profit (loss)			-23,238			20,078
Interdivision gross profit			-			-
Consolidated gross profit (loss)		$	-23,238		$	20,078

Income (loss) from operations:		2013			2012
Longmen Joint Venture		$	32,998		$	-40,071
Maoming Hengda			-1,741			-2,498
Baotou Steel			-285			224
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-2,293			4,878
Total income (loss) from operations			28,679			-37,467
Interdivision income (loss) from operations			-			-
Reconciling item (1)			-3,504			-4,003
Consolidated income (loss) from operations		$	25,175		$	-41,470


Net loss attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.:		2013			2012
Longmen Joint Venture		$	-18,335		$	-92,974
Maoming Hengda			-1,681			-2,393
Baotou Steel			-227			-263
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-9,373			-3,079
Total net loss attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.			-29,616			-98,709
Interdivision net income			-			-
Reconciling item (1)			-3,298			-4,050
Consolidated net loss attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.		$	-32,914		$	-102,759

Depreciation, amortization and depletion:		2013			2012
Longmen Joint Venture		$	62,295		$	58,573
Maoming Hengda			933			1,447
Baotou Steel			185			134
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			1,542			2,384
Consolidated depreciation, amortization and depletion		$	64,955		$	62,538

Finance/interest expenses:		2013			2012
Longmen Joint Venture		$	73,424		$	129,683
Maoming Hengda			1			47
Baotou Steel			-			381
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			7,927			8,819
Interdivision interest expenses			-			-
Reconciling item (1)			3			-1
Consolidated interest expenses		$	81,355		$	138,929

Capital expenditures:		2013			2012
Longmen Joint Venture		$	60,461		$	19,604
Maoming Hengda			2			38
Baotou Steel			8			6
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			3			18
Reconciling item (1)			-			-
Consolidated capital expenditures		$	60,474		$	19,666

Total Assets as of:		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
Longmen Joint Venture		$	2,537,952		$	2,513,206
Maoming Hengda			29,340			29,687
Baotou Steel Pipe Joint Venture			5,116			5,186
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			178,844			152,965
Interdivision assets			-84,880			-57,436
Reconciling item (2)			5,654			7,074
Total Assets		$	2,672,026		$	2,650,682

	-1	Reconciling item represents the unallocated income or expenses of the Company, arising from General Steel Investment Co., Ltd, Yangpu Shengtong Investment Co., Ltd and Qiu Steel for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.

	-2	Reconciling item represents assets held at General Steel Holdings, Inc., General Steel Investment Co., Ltd, Yangpu Shengtong Investment Co., Ltd and Qiu Steel as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

Summary_of_significant_account1

Summary of significant accounting policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

(a)

Basis of presentation

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company reflect the activities of the following major directly owned subsidiaries:

Percentage

Subsidiary

of Ownership

General Steel Investment Co., Ltd.

British Virgin Islands

100

General Steel (China) Co., Ltd. (“General Steel (China)”)

PRC

100

Baotou Steel – General Steel Special Steel Pipe Joint Venture Co., Ltd.

PRC

Yangpu Shengtong Investment Co., Ltd.

PRC

99.1

Tianjin Qiu Steel Investment Co., Ltd. (“Qiu Steel”)

PRC

98.7

Longmen Joint Venture

PRC

VIE/60.0

Maoming Hengda Steel Company, Ltd. (“Maoming Hengda”)

PRC

Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co., Ltd (“Tianwu Joint Venture”)

PRC

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

(b)

Principles of consolidation – subsidiaries

All significant inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.

Consolidation, Variable Interest Entity, Policy [Policy Text Block]

(c)

Consolidation of VIE

The Company would be considered the primary beneficiary of the VIE if it has both of the following characteristics:

The power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance; and

The obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

The carrying amount of the VIE and its subsidiaries’ consolidated assets and liabilities are as follows:

September 30, 2013

December 31, 2012

(in thousands)

Current assets

1,253,672

1,285,967

Plant and equipment, net

1,239,805

1,154,811

Other noncurrent assets

44,475

72,428

Total assets

2,537,952

2,513,206

Total liabilities

-3,006,938

-2,943,761

Net liabilities

-468,986

-430,555

VIE and its subsidiaries’ liabilities consist of the following:

September 30, 2013

December 31, 2012

(in thousands)

Current liabilities:

Short term notes payable

950,498

971,117

Accounts payable

466,631

324,563

Accounts payable - related parties

171,759

177,160

Short term loans - bank

215,955

114,935

Short term loans - others

123,974

141,290

Short term loans - related parties

42,613

35,839

Current maturities of long-term loans – related party

56,372

54,885

Other payables and accrued liabilities

43,978

29,769

Other payables - related parties

96,901

64,941

Customer deposits

94,767

109,120

Customer deposits - related parties

14,512

21,998

Deposit due to sales representatives

28,184

33,870

Deposit due to sales representatives – related parties

1,809

1,238

Taxes payable

8,258

15,339

Deferred lease income

2,178

2,120

Intercompany payable to be eliminated

30,476

Total current liabilities

2,318,416

2,128,660

Non-current liabilities:

Long term loans - related parties

15,974

38,088

Long-term other payable – related party

43,008

Deferred lease income - noncurrent

75,480

75,079

Capital lease obligations

354,576

330,099

Profit sharing liability

241,090

328,827

Other noncurrent liabilities

1,402

Total non-current liabilities

688,522

815,101

Total liabilities of consolidated VIE

3,006,938

2,943,761

VIE and its subsidiaries’ statements of operations are as follows:

Three months ended

September 30, 2013

September 30, 2012

(in thousands)

Sales

606,444

708,974

Gross profit (loss)

8,122

-18,417

Income (loss) from operations

32,967

-37,000

Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest

8,284

-39,494

Nine months ended

September 30, 2013

September 30, 2012

(in thousands)

Sales

1,903,933

2,126,556

Gross profit (loss)

-23,704

12,628

Income (loss) from operations

32,998

-40,071

Net loss attributable to controlling interest

-18,335

-92,974

Hualong

Tongxing

Huatianyulong

Liquidity Disclosure [Policy Text Block]

(d)

Liquidity

Line of credit

The Company received lines of credit from the listed major banks totaling $110.8 million with expiration dates ranging from September 27, 2014 to October 26, 2014.

Amount of

Line of Credit

Banks

(in millions)

Repayment Date

Bank of China

6.5

August 25, 2014 to October 26, 2014

China Everbright Bank

48.9

8-Oct-14

Bank of Xi’an

32.6

9-Oct-14

Bank of Jinzhou

22.8

September 27, 2014*

Total

110.8

* Management expects the line of credit will be extended after September 27, 2014.

As of the date of this report, the Company utilized $61.9 million of these lines of credit.

Vendor financing

Longmen Joint Venture signed additional vendor financing agreements, which will provide liquidity to the Company in a total amount of $815.0 million with the following companies:

Financing Amount

Company

Financing period covered

(in millions)

Company A – related party

January 6, 2013 – January 5, 2015

163

Company B – third party

January 6, 2013 – November 7, 2015

163

Company C – third party

October 1, 2013 – March 31, 2015

489

Total

815

Financing sales

Other financing

On January 7, 2013, November 6, 2013, November 7, 2013, Longmen Joint Venture signed a payment extension agreement with each company listed below. In total, Longmen Joint Venture can get $77.4 million in financial support from a two-year balancing payment extension granted by the following five companies:

Financing Amount

Company

Financing period covered

(in millions)

Company E – related party

January 7, 2013 – January 6, 2015

16.3

Company F – related party

January 7, 2013 – January 6, 2015

21.2

Company G – related party

January 7, 2013 – January 6, 2015

7.3

Company H – related party

November 7, 2013 – November 7, 2015

16.3

Company I – related party

November 6, 2013 – November 6, 2015

16.3

Total

77.4

Amount due to sales representatives

Cash inflow (outflow)

(in millions)

For the twelve months ended

September 30, 2014

Current liabilities over current assets (excluding non-cash items) as of September 30, 2013 (unaudited)

-1,072.00

Projected cash financing and outflows:

Cash provided by line of credit from banks

110.8

Cash provided by vendor financing

815

Cash provided by financing sales

81.5

Cash provided by other financing

77.4

Cash provided by sales representatives

Cash projected to be used in operations in the twelve months ended September 30, 2014

-28.6

Net projected change in cash for the twelve months ended September 30, 2014

14.1

As a result, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the period ended September 30, 2013 have been prepared on a going concern basis.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

(e)

Use of estimates

Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]

(f)

Concentration of risks and uncertainties

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]

(g)

Foreign currency translation and other comprehensive income

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

(h)

Financial instruments

Level 1 inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 3 inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value.

In December 2009, the Company issued an additional 2,777,778 warrants in connection with a registered direct offering, which expired as of June 24, 2012.

projected selling units and growth in the steel market

projected unit selling price in the steel market

projected unit purchase cost in the coal and iron ore markets

selling and general and administrative expenses to be in line with the growth in the steel market

projected bank borrowings

Carrying Value as

Fair Value Measurements at September 30,

of September 30,

2013

(in thousands)

2013

Using Fair Value Hierarchy

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Profit sharing liability

241,090

Total

241,090

Carrying Value as

Fair Value Measurements at December 31,

of December 31,

2012

(in thousands)

2012

Using Fair Value Hierarchy

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Derivative liabilities

Profit sharing liability

328,827

Total

328,828

328,827

September 30, 2013

December 31, 2012

(in thousands)

Beginning balance

328,828

303,243

Change in fair value of profit sharing liability

-107,877

Current period interest expense accreted

12,440

22,499

Change of derivative liabilities charged to earnings

Exchange rate effect

7,698

3,077

Ending balance

241,090

328,828

Notes Receivable [Policy Text Block]

(i)

Notes receivable

Restricted notes receivable represents notes receivable pledged as collateral for short-term loans and short-term notes payable issued by banks.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

(j)

Plant and equipment, net

Buildings and Improvements

10-40 Years

Machinery

10-30 Years

Machinery and equipment under capital lease

20 Years

Other equipment

5 Years

Transportation Equipment

5 Years

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

(j)

Intangible assets

Land use rights

Maoming Hengda has land use rights amounting to $2.7 million (RMB 16.6 million) for 50 years that expire in 2054.

Other than the land use rights that General Steel (China) acquired in 2001, the Company amortizes the land use rights over their 50 year term.

Entity

Original Cost

Expires on

(in thousands)

General Steel (China)

3,867

2050 & 2053

Longmen Joint Venture

24,226

2048 & 2052

Maoming Hengda

2,705

2054

Mining right

Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

(k)

Investments in unconsolidated entities

The table below summarizes Longmen Joint Venture’s investment holdings as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

September 30,

December 31,

2013

2012

Year

Net investment

Owned

Net investment

Owned

Unconsolidated entities

acquired

(In thousands)

Xian Delong Powder Engineering Materials Co., Ltd.

2007

1,161

24.1

1,166

24.1

Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]

(l)

Reclassifications

Summary_of_significant_account2

Summary of significant accounting policies (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Summary of significant accounting policies (Tables)	Sep. 30, 2013
Schedule of Subsidiary of Limited Liability Company or Limited Partnership, Description [Table Text Block]	'
	The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company reflect the activities of the following major directly owned subsidiaries:

				Percentage
	Subsidiary			of Ownership
	General Steel Investment Co., Ltd.	British Virgin Islands			100	%
	General Steel (China) Co., Ltd. (“General Steel (China)”)	PRC			100	%
	Baotou Steel – General Steel Special Steel Pipe Joint Venture Co., Ltd.	PRC			80	%
	Yangpu Shengtong Investment Co., Ltd.	PRC			99.1	%
	Tianjin Qiu Steel Investment Co., Ltd. (“Qiu Steel”)	PRC			98.7	%
	Longmen Joint Venture	PRC			VIE/60.0	%
	Maoming Hengda Steel Company, Ltd. (“Maoming Hengda”)	PRC			99	%
	Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co., Ltd (“Tianwu Joint Venture”)	PRC			60	%

Schedule Of Consolidated Assets and Liabilities Of Variable Interest Entities and Subsidiaries [Table Text Block]	'
	The carrying amount of the VIE and its subsidiaries’ consolidated assets and liabilities are as follows:

		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Current assets	$	1,253,672		$	1,285,967
	Plant and equipment, net		1,239,805			1,154,811
	Other noncurrent assets		44,475			72,428
	Total assets		2,537,952			2,513,206
	Total liabilities		-3,006,938			-2,943,761
	Net liabilities	$	-468,986		$	-430,555

Schedule Of Liabilities Of Variable Interest Entities and Subsidiaries [Table Text Block]	'
	VIE and its subsidiaries’ liabilities consist of the following:

		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Current liabilities:
	Short term notes payable	$	950,498		$	971,117
	Accounts payable		466,631			324,563
	Accounts payable - related parties		171,759			177,160
	Short term loans - bank		215,955			114,935
	Short term loans - others		123,974			141,290
	Short term loans - related parties		42,613			35,839
	Current maturities of long-term loans – related party		56,372			54,885
	Other payables and accrued liabilities		43,978			29,769
	Other payables - related parties		96,901			64,941
	Customer deposits		94,767			109,120
	Customer deposits - related parties		14,512			21,998
	Deposit due to sales representatives		28,184			33,870
	Deposit due to sales representatives – related parties		1,809			1,238
	Taxes payable		8,258			15,339
	Deferred lease income		2,178			2,120
	Intercompany payable to be eliminated		-			30,476
	Total current liabilities		2,318,416			2,128,660
	Non-current liabilities:
	Long term loans - related parties		15,974			38,088
	Long-term other payable – related party		-			43,008
	Deferred lease income - noncurrent		75,480			75,079
	Capital lease obligations		354,576			330,099
	Profit sharing liability		241,090			328,827
	Other noncurrent liabilities		1,402			-
	Total non-current liabilities		688,522			815,101
	Total liabilities of consolidated VIE	$	3,006,938		$	2,943,761

Schedule Of Statement Of Operations Of Variable Interest Entities and Subsidiaries [Table Text Block]	'
	VIE and its subsidiaries’ statements of operations are as follows:

		Three months ended			Three months ended
		September 30, 2013			September 30, 2012
		(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Sales	$	606,444		$	708,974
	Gross profit (loss)	$	8,122		$	-18,417
	Income (loss) from operations	$	32,967		$	-37,000
	Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	$	8,284		$	-39,494

		Nine months ended			Nine months ended
		September 30, 2013			September 30, 2012
		(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Sales	$	1,903,933		$	2,126,556
	Gross profit (loss)	$	-23,704		$	12,628
	Income (loss) from operations	$	32,998		$	-40,071
	Net loss attributable to controlling interest	$	-18,335		$	-92,974

Schedule of Line of Credit Facilities [Table Text Block]	'
	The Company received lines of credit from the listed major banks totaling $110.8 million with expiration dates ranging from September 27, 2014 to October 26, 2014.

		Amount of
		Line of Credit
	Banks	(in millions)			Repayment Date
	Bank of China		6.5		August 25, 2014 to October 26, 2014
	China Everbright Bank		48.9		8-Oct-14
	Bank of Xi’an		32.6		9-Oct-14
	Bank of Jinzhou		22.8		September 27, 2014*
	Total	$	110.8

	* Management expects the line of credit will be extended after September 27, 2014.

Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy, the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2013:

		Carrying Value as			Fair Value Measurements at September 30,
		of September 30,			2013
	(in thousands)	2013			Using Fair Value Hierarchy
					Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	Profit sharing liability	$	241,090		$	-	$	-	$	241,090

	Total	$	241,090		$	-	$	-	$	241,090

	The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2012:

		Carrying Value as			Fair Value Measurements at December 31,
		of December 31,			2012
	(in thousands)	2012			Using Fair Value Hierarchy
					Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	Derivative liabilities	$	1		$	-	$	1	$	-
	Profit sharing liability		328,827			-		-		328,827
	Total	$	328,828		$	-	$	1	$	328,827

Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block]	'
	The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of the assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the nine month ended September 30, 2013 and for the year ended December 31, 2012:

		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Beginning balance	$	328,828		$	303,243
	Change in fair value of profit sharing liability		-107,877			-
	Current period interest expense accreted		12,440			22,499
	Change of derivative liabilities charged to earnings		1			9
	Exchange rate effect		7,698			3,077
	Ending balance	$	241,090		$	328,828

Schedule Of Property Plant and Equipment Estimated Useful Life [Table Text Block]	'
	The estimated useful lives are as follows:

	Buildings and Improvements	10-40 Years
	Machinery	10-30 Years
	Machinery and equipment under capital lease	20 Years
	Other equipment	5 Years
	Transportation Equipment	5 Years

Schedule of Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Table Text Block]	'
	Other than the land use rights that General Steel (China) acquired in 2001, the Company amortizes the land use rights over their 50 year term.

	Entity	Original Cost			Expires on
		(in thousands)
	General Steel (China)	$	3,867			2050 & 2053
	Longmen Joint Venture	$	24,226			2048 & 2052
	Maoming Hengda	$	2,705			2054

Schedule Of Investments By Affiliates [Table Text Block]	'
	The table below summarizes Longmen Joint Venture’s investment holdings as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

					September 30,				December 31,
					2013				2012
		Year			Net investment		Owned		Net investment		Owned
	Unconsolidated entities	acquired			(In thousands)		%		(In thousands)		%
	Xian Delong Powder Engineering Materials Co., Ltd.		2007		$	1,161		24.1	$	1,166		24.1

Longmen Joint Venture [Member]	'
Schedule Of Estimated Cash Flow [Table Text Block]	'
	The detailed breakdown of Longmen Joint Venture’s estimated cash flows items are listed below.

		Cash inflow (outflow)
		(in millions)
		For the twelve months ended
		September 30, 2014
	Current liabilities over current assets (excluding non-cash items) as of September 30, 2013 (unaudited)	$	-1,072.00
	Projected cash financing and outflows:
	Cash provided by line of credit from banks		110.8
	Cash provided by vendor financing		815
	Cash provided by financing sales		81.5
	Cash provided by other financing		77.4
	Cash provided by sales representatives		30
	Cash projected to be used in operations in the twelve months ended September 30, 2014		-28.6
	Net projected change in cash for the twelve months ended September 30, 2014	$	14.1

Vendor Financing [Member]	'
Schedule Of Estimated Cash Flow [Table Text Block]	'
	Longmen Joint Venture signed additional vendor financing agreements, which will provide liquidity to the Company in a total amount of $815.0 million with the following companies:

				Financing Amount
	Company	Financing period covered		(in millions)

	Company A – related party	January 6, 2013 – January 5, 2015		$	163
	Company B – third party	January 6, 2013 – November 7, 2015			163
	Company C – third party	October 1, 2013 – March 31, 2015			489
	Total			$	815

Other Financing [Member]	'
Schedule Of Estimated Cash Flow [Table Text Block]	'
	On January 7, 2013, November 6, 2013, November 7, 2013, Longmen Joint Venture signed a payment extension agreement with each company listed below. In total, Longmen Joint Venture can get $77.4 million in financial support from a two-year balancing payment extension granted by the following five companies:

					Financing Amount
	Company	Financing period covered			(in millions)

	Company E – related party	January 7, 2013 – January 6, 2015		$	16.3
	Company F – related party	January 7, 2013 – January 6, 2015			21.2
	Company G – related party	January 7, 2013 – January 6, 2015			7.3
	Company H – related party	November 7, 2013 – November 7, 2015			16.3
	Company I – related party	November 6, 2013 – November 6, 2015			16.3
	Total			$	77.4

Loans_receivable_related_parti1

Loans receivable - related parties (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Loans receivable - related parties (Tables)	Sep. 30, 2013
Loans and Leases Receivable, Related Parties Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Loans Receivable Related Parties Current [Table Text Block]	'
	The Company had the following loans receivable – related parties due within one year as of:

		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Loans to Long Steel Group; due on demand and non-interest bearing.		-		63,319
	Loan to Teamlink Investment Co., Ltd; due in December 2013, June 2014, and July 2014; interest rate was 4.75%		4,540		6,000
	Total loans receivable – related parties	$	4,540	$	69,319

Accounts_receivable_including_1

Accounts receivable (including related parties), net (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Receivables [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Table Text Block]	'
	Accounts receivable, including related party receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts consists of the following:

		30-Sep-13		31-Dec-12
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Accounts receivable	$	9,729	$	8,062
	Less: allowance for doubtful accounts		-1,152		-1,367
	Accounts receivable – related parties		3,252		14,966
	Net accounts receivable	$	11,829	$	21,661

Schedule Of Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable [Table Text Block]	'
	Movement of allowance for doubtful accounts is as follows:

		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Beginning balance	$	1,367	$	2,023
	Charge to expense		-		433
	Less: recovery		-249		-1,109
	Exchange rate effect		34		20
	Ending balance	$	1,152	$	1,367

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Inventories (Tables)	Sep. 30, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]	'
	Inventories consist of the following:

		30-Sep-13		31-Dec-12
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Supplies	$	23,302	$	23,123
	Raw materials		138,951		141,503
	Finished goods		22,527		57,630
	Less: allowance for inventory valuation		-7,397		-9,585
	Total inventories	$	177,383	$	212,671

Summary Of Inventory Valuation Allowance [Table Text Block]	'
	Movement of allowance for inventory valuation is as follows:

		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Beginning balance	$	9,585	$	38,143
	Addition		7,305		9,582
	Less: write-off		-9,722		-38,519
	Exchange rate effect		229		379
	Ending balance	$	7,397	$	9,585

Plant_and_equipment_net_Tables

Plant and equipment, net (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Plant and equipment, net (Tables)	Sep. 30, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]	'
	Plant and equipment consist of the following:

		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Buildings and improvements	$	253,621	$	214,661
	Machinery		616,813		573,572
	Machinery under capital lease		603,248		587,334
	Transportation and other equipment		22,085		20,274
	Construction in progress		58,111		4,645
	Subtotal		1,553,878		1,400,486
	Less: accumulated depreciation		-303,336		-232,650
	Total	$	1,250,542	$	1,167,836

Schedule Of Construction In Progress [Table Text Block]	'
	Construction in progress consisted of the following as of September 30, 2013:

	Construction in progress	Value		Completion
	description	(In thousands)		date
	1.2 million tons high-strength steel production line		32,268		Dec-13
	Iron-making system dust removing equipment		3,307		Nov-13
	Drainage system		499		Nov-13
	Factory wall repair		241		Nov-13
	Gas pipe repair		121		Nov-13
	Office buildings		1,336		Nov-13
	Equipment updates		7,381		Nov-13
	#5 blast furnace construction		208		Sep-14
	Reconstruction of miscellaneous factory buildings		690		Jan-14
	Project materials		2,154
	Others		9,906
	Total	$	58,111

Schedule of Capital Leased Assets [Table Text Block]	'
	The carrying value of assets acquired under the capital lease consists of the following:

		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Machinery	$	603,248	$	587,334
	Less: accumulated depreciation		-69,248		-46,497
	Carrying value of leased assets	$	534,000	$	540,837

Intangible_assets_net_Tables

Intangible assets, net (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Intangible assets, net (Tables)	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]	'
	Intangible assets consist of the following:

		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Land use rights	$	30,798	$	29,986
	Mining right		2,448		2,384
	Software		742		692
	Subtotal		33,988		33,062
	Less:
	Accumulated amortization – land use rights		-8,387		-7,577
	Accumulated amortization – mining right		-1,144		-993
	Accumulated amortization – software		-529		-426
	Subtotal		-10,060		-8,996
	Intangible assets, net	$	23,928	$	24,066

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]	'
	The estimated aggregate amortization and depletion expenses for each of the five succeeding years is as follows:

		Estimated
		amortization and		Gross carrying
	Year ending	depletion expenses		amount
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	30-Jun-14	$	1,082		22,846
	30-Jun-15		1,082		21,764
	30-Jun-16		1,082		20,682
	30-Jun-17		1,082		19,600
	30-Jun-18		1,082		18,518
	Thereafter		18,518		-
	Total	$	23,928

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Debt (Tables)	Sep. 30, 2013
Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table Text Block]	'
	Long-term loans due to related party

		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loans from Shaanxi Steel Group, due November 2015 and interest rate are 5.6% - 5.9% per annum.	$	72,346	$	92,973
	Less: Current maturities of long-term loans – related party		-47,896		-54,885
	Long-term loans - related party	$	24,450	$	38,088

Short Term Notes Payable [Member]	'
Schedule of Short-term Debt [Table Text Block]	'
	The Company had the following short-term notes payable as of:

		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	General Steel (China): Notes payable to various banks in China, due various dates from October 2013 to March 2014. Restricted cash required of $24.5 million and $6.3 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively; guaranteed by third parties. These notes payable were either repaid or renewed subsequently on the due dates.	$	37,490	$	12,696
	Longmen Joint Venture: Notes payable to various banks in China, due various dates from October 2013 to August 2014. $381.3 million restricted cash and $237.2 million notes receivable are secured for notes payable as of September 30, 2013, and comparatively $316.4 million restricted cash and $345.8 million notes receivable secured as of December 31, 2012, respectively; some notes are further guaranteed by third parties. These notes payable were either repaid or renewed subsequently on the due dates.		950,498		971,117
	Total short-term notes payable	$	987,988	$	983,813

Due To Banks [Member]	'
Schedule of Short-term Debt [Table Text Block]	'
	Due to banks

		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	General Steel (China): Loans from various banks in China, due various dates from December 2013 to September 2014. Weighted average interest rate was 7.2% per annum and 7.6% per annum as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively; some are guaranteed by third parties while others are secured by equipment and inventory. These loans were either repaid or renewed subsequently on the due dates.	$	38,973	$	32,189
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loans from various banks in China, due various dates from November 2013 to August 2014. Weighted average interest rate was 6.5% per annum and 6.8% per annum as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively; some are guaranteed by third parties, restricted cash or notes receivables. $120.0 million and $76.0 million restricted notes receivable were secured for the loans as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively; These loans were either repaid or renewed subsequently on the due dates.		215,956		114,935
	Total short-term loans - bank	$	254,929	$	147,124

Due To Unrelated Parties [Member]	'
Schedule of Short-term Debt [Table Text Block]	'
	Due to unrelated parties

		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loans from various unrelated companies and individuals, due various dates from October 2013 to February 2014, and weighted average interest rate was 5.2% per annum and 6.0% per annum as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. These loans were either repaid or renewed subsequently on the due dates.	$	33,294	$	25,324
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loans from financing sales.		90,680		115,966
	Maoming Hengda: Loans from one unrelated parties and one related party, due on demand, none interest bearing.		6,196		6,033
	Total short-term loans – others	$	130,170	$	147,323

Due To Related Parties [Member]	'
Schedule of Short-term Debt [Table Text Block]	'
	Short term loans due to related parties

		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Baotou Steel: Loans from Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd, due on demand, and interest rates is 10% per annum.	$	3,430	$	4,133
	General Steel China: Loans from Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd., due on demand, and interest rates is 10% per annum.		-		15,416
	General Steel China: Loans from Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co, Ltd., due on demand, and interest rates is 10% per annum.		-		21,397
	General Steel China: Loans from Beijing Shenhua Xinyuan Metal Materials Co., Ltd., due on demand, and interest rates is 10% per annum.		1,395		1,359
	General Steel China: Loans from Yangpu Capital Automobile, due on demand, and interest rates is 10% per annum.		1,451		1,413
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loan from Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd., due in December 2013, and interest rate is 7.0% per annum.		33,580		-
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loans from financing sales.		9,033		35,839
	Total short-term loans - related parties	$	48,889	$	79,557

Convertible_notes_and_derivati1

Convertible notes and derivative liabilities (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Convertible notes and derivative liabilities (Tables)	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table Text Block]	'
	The fair value of the warrants as of December 31, 2012 was calculated using the Cox Rubenstein Binomial model based on the following variables:

		31-Dec-12
	Expected volatility		86	%
	Expected dividend yield		0	%
	Risk-free interest rate		0.08	%
	Expected lives		0.36 years
	Market price	$	0.99
	Strike price	$	5

Schedule of Stockholders' Equity Note, Warrants or Rights [Table Text Block]	'
	The Company has the following warrants outstanding:

	Outstanding as of December 31, 2011	6,678,649
	Granted	-
	Forfeited / expired	-2,777,778
	Exercised	-
	Outstanding as of December 31, 2012	3,900,871
	Granted	-
	Forfeited / expired	-3,900,871
	Exercised	-
	Outstanding as of September 30, 2013	-

Capital_lease_obligation_Table

Capital lease obligation (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Capital lease obligation (Tables)	Sep. 30, 2013
Leases, Capital [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Future Minimum Lease Payments for Capital Leases [Table Text Block]	'
	Presented below is a schedule of estimated minimum lease payments on the capital lease obligation as well as payments for the profit sharing liability for the next five years as of September 30, 2013:

		Capital Lease Obligation		Capital Lease Obligation
	Year ending September 30,	Minimum Lease Payments		Profit (Loss) Sharing		Total
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	2014	$	-	$	-	$	-
	2015		126,557		-		126,557
	2016		28,654		-		28,654
	2017		28,654		-		28,654
	2018		28,654		-		28,654
	Thereafter		360,567		650,586		1,011,153
	Total minimum lease payments		573,086		650,586		1,223,672
	Less: amounts representing interest		-218,510		-409,496		-628,006
	Ending balance	$	354,576	$	241,090	$	595,666

Taxes_Tables

Taxes (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Taxes (Tables)	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]	'
	Significant components of the provision for income taxes on earnings and deferred taxes on net operating losses from operations for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:


		For the three months ended		For the three months ended
	(In thousands)	September 30, 2013		September 30, 2012
	Current	$	25	$	100
	Deferred		-		-
	Total provision for income taxes	$	25	$	100

		For the nine months ended		For the nine months ended
	(In thousands)	September 30, 2013		September 30, 2012
	Current	$	201	$	510
	Deferred		-		169
	Total provision (benefit) for income taxes	$	201	$	679

Summary of Valuation Allowance [Table Text Block]	'
	Movement of valuation allowance:
		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Beginning balance	$	72,891	$	47,703
	Current period addition		12,776		25,180
	Current period reversal		-857		-
	Deconsolidation of Tongxing		-		-216
	Exchange difference		2,125		224
	Ending balance	$	86,935	$	72,891

Schedule Of Taxes Payable [Table Text Block]	'
	Taxes payable consisted of the following:
		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	VAT taxes payable	$	7,309	$	13,579
	Income taxes payable		20		68
	Misc. taxes		2,387		3,027
	Totals	$	9,716	$	16,674

Earnings_Loss_per_share_Tables

Earnings (Loss) per share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Earnings (Loss) per share (Tables)	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]	'
	The computation of earnings (loss) per share is as follows:

	(in thousands, except per share data)
		For the three		For the three
		months ended		months ended
		September 30, 2013		September 30, 2012
	Income (loss) attributable to holders of common stock	$	3,801	$	-41,598
	Basic and diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding		55,141		54,466
	Earnings (loss) per share
	Basic and diluted	$	0.07	$	-0.76

		For the nine		For the nine
		months ended		months ended
		September 30, 2013		September 30, 2012
	Loss attributable to holders of common stock	$	-32,914	$	-102,759
	Basic and diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding		54,976		54,946
	Loss per share
	Basic and diluted	$	-0.6	$	-1.87

Related_party_transactions_and1

Related party transactions and balances (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Related party transactions and balances (Tables)	Sep. 30, 2013
Schedule of Capital Leased Assets [Table Text Block]	'
	The carrying value of assets acquired under the capital lease consists of the following:

		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Machinery	$	603,248		$	587,334
	Less: accumulated depreciation		-69,248			-46,497
	Carrying value of leased assets	$	534,000		$	540,837

Schedule Of Related Party Sales [Table Text Block]	'
	The following chart summarized sales to related parties for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.

				Three months ended			Three months ended
	Name of related parties	Relationship		September 30, 2013			September 30, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	63,793		$	123,631
	Sichuan Yutai Trading Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group**			-			16,998
	Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group			1,081			-
	Shaanxi Haiyan Trade Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group			85			12,480
	Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group			19,866			7,599
	Shaanxi Steel	Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group			979			25
	Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co., Ltd	Subsidiary of Long Steel Group			9			11,392
	Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd	Investee of Long Steel Group			1,782			20,758
	Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd	Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel			7,951			-
	Others	Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			-			-
	Total			$	95,546		$	192,883

	**Long Steel Group has the ability to significantly influence the operating and financial decisions of the entity through equity ownership either directly or through key employees, commercial contractual terms, or the ability to assign management personnel.

				Nine months ended			Nine months ended
	Name of related parties	Relationship		September 30, 2013			September 30, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	226,754		$	360,820
	Sichuan Yutai Trading Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group			72			147,847
	Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group			21,491			41,433
	Shaanxi Haiyan Trade Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group			15,681			43,015
	Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group			56,545			34,132
	Shaanxi Steel	Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group			2,390			634
	Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co., Ltd	Subsidiary of Long Steel Group			2,122			31,485
	Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd	Investee of Long Steel Group			33,075			37,965
	Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd	Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel			22,577			-
	Others	Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			-			1,493
	Total			$	380,707		$	698,824

Schedule Of Related Party Purchases [Table Text Block]	'
	The following charts summarize purchases from related parties for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.

				Three months ended			Three months ended
	Name of related parties	Relationship		September 30, 2013			September 30, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	101,606		$	123,637
	Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co., Ltd	Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			31,331			47,487
	Xi’an Pinghe Metallurgical Raw Material Co., Ltd	Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			1,181			16,674
	Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co., Ltd	Subsidiary of Long Steel Group			-			1,568
	Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd	Investee of Long Steel Group			1			2,257
	Shaanxi Huafu New Energy Co., Ltd	Significant influence by the Long Steel Group			10,529			10,322
	Beijing Daishang Trading Co., Ltd.	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary			1,726			1,049
	Others	Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			64			91
	Total			$	146,438		$	203,085

				Nine months ended			Nine months ended
	Name of related parties	Relationship		September 30, 2013			September 30, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	376,104		$	453,947
	Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co., Ltd	Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			148,322			195,861
	Xi’an Pinghe Metallurgical Raw Material Co., Ltd	Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			13,678			83,251
	Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co., Ltd	Subsidiary of Long Steel Group			53			5,332
	Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd	Investee of Long Steel Group			212			4,417
	Shaanxi Huafu New Energy Co., Ltd	Significant influence by the Long Steel Group			28,618			24,347
	Beijing Daishang Trading Co., Ltd.	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary			6,635			3,653
	Others	Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			300			305
	Total			$	573,922		$	771,113

Schedule Of Related Party Transactions Loan Receivables From Related Party [Table Text Block]	'
	Loans receivable – related parties:

	Name of related parties	Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	-		$	63,319
	Teamlink Investment Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO* through indirect shareholding			4,540			6,000
	Total			$	4,540		$	69,319

	*The CEO is referred to herein as the chief executive officer of General Steel Holdings, Inc.

Schedule Of Related Party Transactions, Accounts Receivables From Related Party [Table Text Block]	'
	Accounts receivables – related parties:


	Name of related parties	Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	1,834		$	10,409
	Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co., Ltd	Subsidiary of Long Steel Group			-			2,017
	Tianjin Daqiuzhuang Steel Plates	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			19			18
	Shaanxi Steel	Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group			1,227			2,435
	Others				172			87
	Total			$	3,252		$	14,966

Schedule Of Related Party Transactions, Other Receivables Related Parties [Table Text Block]	'
	Other receivables – related parties:

	Other receivables - related parties are those nontrade receivables arising from transactions between the Company and its related parties, such as advances or payments made on behalf of these related parties.


	Name of related parties	Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	561		$	301
	Shaanxi Steel	Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group			44,811			65,981
	Tianjin General Quigang Pipe Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			1,228			1,195
	Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co, Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			489			476
	Maoming Shengze Trading Co., Ltd.	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			3,834			-
	Others	Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			578			429
	Total			$	51,501		$	68,382

Schedule Of Related Party Transactions, Advances On Inventory Purchase From Related Parties [Table Text Block]	'
	Advances on inventory purchase – related parties:

	Name of related parties	Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	1,377		$	1,367
	Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			6,254			-
	Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			12,805			-
	Tianjin General Qiugang Pipe Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			9,210			41,316
	Maoming Shengze Trading Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			-			3,733
	Others	Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			21			-
	Total			$	29,667		$	46,416

Schedule Of Related Party Transactions, Accounts Payable Related Parties [Table Text Block]	'
	Accounts payable - related parties:

	Name of related parties	Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co., Ltd	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	60,463		$	58,661
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture			100,579			91,511
	Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd.	Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel			-			5,652
	Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			954			3
	Xi’an Pinghe Metallurgical Raw Material Co., Ltd	Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			7,838			5,278
	Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			1			13,919
	Henan Xinmi Kanghua Fire Refractory Co., Ltd	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary			722			1,146
	Beijing Daishang Trading Co., Ltd	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary			1,149			875
	Tianjin General Qiugang Pipe Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			-			52
	Others	Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			553			335
	Total			$	172,259		$	177,432

Schedule Of Related Party Transactions, Short Term Loans Related Parties [Table Text Block]	'
	Short-term loans - related parties:

	Name of related parties	Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Shaanxi Steel	Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group		$	-		$	35,839
	Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd	Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel			33,580			-
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture			1,547			-
	Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			10,916			19,549
	Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			-			21,397
	Beijing Shenhua Xinyuan Metal Materials Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			1,395			1,359
	Yangpu Capital Automobile	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			1,451			1,413
	Total			$	48,889		$	79,557

Schedule Of Related Party Transactions Current Maturities Of Long Term Loans Related Parties [Table Text Block]	'
	Current maturities of long-term loans – related parties

	Name of related party	Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Shaanxi Steel	Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group		$	47,896		$	54,885
	Total			$	47,896		$	54,885

Schedule Of Related Party Transactions, Other Payable Related Parties [Table Text Block]	'
	Other payables – related parties:

	Other payables – related parties are those nontrade payables arising from transactions between the Company and its related parties, such as advances or payments from these related parties on behalf of the Group.

				September 30,			December 31,
	Name of related parties	Relationship		2013			2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Tianjin Hengying Trading Co, Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding		$	876		$	2,770
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture			51,919			60,180
	Shaanxi Steel	Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group			44,173			-
	Wendlar Investment & Management Group Co., Ltd	Common control under CEO			911			836
	Yangpu Capital Automobile	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			254			141
	Xi’an Pinghe Metallurgical Raw Material Co., Ltd	Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			-			4,761
	Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			4,020			3,695
	Maoming Shengze Trading Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			1,566			-
	Victory Energy Resource Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			1,375			-
	Others	Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			1,059			642
	Total			$	106,153		$	73,025

Schedule Of Related Party Transactions, Customer Deposits Related Parties [Table Text Block]	'
	Customer deposits – related parties:

	Name of related parties	Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group		$	10		$	4,869
	Sichuan Yutai Trading Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group			-			2,163
	Tianjin Hengying Trading Co, Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			-			90
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture			13,600			8,864
	Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd	Investee of Long Steel Group			679			5,615
	Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group			-			353
	Others	Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			223			44
	Total			$	14,512		$	21,998

Schedule Of Related Party Transactions, Deposits Due To Sales Representatives [Table Text Block]	'
	Deposits due to sales representatives – related parties

	Name of related parties	Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co., Ltd	Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group		$	587		$	619
	Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd	Investee of Long Steel Group			635			619
	Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group			587			-
	Total			$	1,809		$	1,238

Schedule Of Related Party Transactions, Long Term Loans Related Parties [Table Text Block]	'
	Long-term loans – related party:

	Name of related party	Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Shaanxi Steel	Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group		$	24,450		$	38,088
	Total			$	24,450		$	38,088

Schedule Of Related Party Transactions Long Term Other Payable [Table Text Block]	'
	Long-term other payable – related party:

	Long-term other payable – related party is a nontrade payable arising from a transaction between the Company and its related party, Shaanxi Steel, in which the Company received an advance from Shaanxi Steel to make payment to a third party for a construction project.

	Name of related party	Relationship		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Shaanxi Steel	Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group		$	-		$	43,008
	Total			$	-		$	43,008

Schedule Of Related Party Transactions, Deferred Lease Income [Table Text Block]	'
	Deferred lease income

		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Beginning balance	$	77,199		$	78,524
	Less: Lease income realized		-1,613			-2,119
	Exchange rate effect		2,072			794
	Ending balance		77,658			77,199
	Current portion		-2,178			-2,120
	Noncurrent portion	$	75,480		$	75,079

Shaanxi Coal and Shaanxi Steel [Member]	'
Schedule of Capital Leased Assets [Table Text Block]	'
	The following is an analysis of the leased assets under the capital lease:

		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Machinery	$	603,248		$	587,334
	Less: accumulated depreciation		-69,248			-46,497
	Carrying value of leased assets	$	534,000		$	540,837

Commitment_and_contingencies_T

Commitment and contingencies (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Commitment and contingencies (Tables)	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases [Table Text Block]	'
	Total operating lease commitments for rental of offices, buildings, equipment and land use rights of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries as of September 30, 2013 is as follows:

	Year ending September 30,	Minimum lease payment
		(in thousands)
		(Unaudited)
	2014	$	1,445
	2015		680
	2016		559
	2017		559
	2018		559
	Years after		20,185
	Total minimum payments required	$	23,987

Schedule of Guarantor Obligations [Table Text Block]	'
	As of September 30, 2013, Longmen Joint Venture provided guarantees to related parties’ and third parties’ bank loans, including lines of credit and others, amounting to $304.6 million.

		Guarantee
	Nature of guarantee	amount		Guaranty Due Date
		(In thousands)
	Line of credit	$	178,931	Various from October 2013 to August 2015
	Three-party financing agreements		42,315	Various from October 2013 to January 2014
	Confirming storage		19,951	Various from December 2013 to September 2014
	Financing by the rights of goods delivery in future		63,374	Various from December 2013 to March 2015
	Total	$	304,571

Schedule Of Parties Being Guaranteed [Table Text Block]	'

		Guarantee
	Name of parties being guaranteed	amount		Guaranty Due Date
		(In thousands)
	Long Steel Group	$	74,819	Various from October 2013 to August 2015
	Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co., Ltd		42,315	Various from October 2013 to January 2014
	Long Steel Group Fuping Rolling Steel Co., Ltd		11,271	Various from January to June 2014
	Yichang Zhongyi Industrial Co., Ltd		25,428	Jun-14
	Xi’an Laisheng Logistics Co., Ltd		4,303	May-14
	Xi'an Kaiyuan Steel Sales Co., Ltd		3,733	Various from November 2013 to January 2014
	Shaanxi Hongan Material Co., Ltd.		5,379	Various from October to December 2013
	Shaanxi Anlin Logistics Co., Ltd		7,726	Various from December 2013 to April 2014
	Chengdu Zhongyi Steel Co., Ltd		3,977	Dec-13
	Shaanxi Huatai Huineng Group Co., Ltd		24,450	Mar-14
	Hancheng Sanli Furnace Burden Co., Ltd.		16,300	Mar-15
	Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd		44,238	Various from January 2014 to March 2015
	Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd		19,637	Various from January to July 2014
	Tianjin Qiu Steel Pipe Industry Co., Ltd		11,410	Apr-14
	Jinmen Desheng Metallurty Co., Ltd		3,260	Aug-14
	Shaanxi Baolong Industry Co., Ltd		2,347	Nov-13
	Shaanxi Longan Industrial Development Co., Ltd		3,978	Nov-13
	Total	$	304,571

Segments_Tables

Segments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Segments (Tables)	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]	'
	The following represents results of division operations for three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012:

	(In thousands)
	Sales:		2013			2012
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	606,444		$	708,974
	Maoming Hengda			252			1,134
	Baotou Steel Pipe Joint Venture			2,921			1,322
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			4,236			129,341
	Total sales			613,853			840,771
	Interdivision sales			-3,758			-129,346
	Consolidated sales		$	610,095		$	711,425

	Gross profit (loss):		2013			2012
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	8,122		$	-18,417
	Maoming Hengda			-57			-761
	Baotou Steel			160			120
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			6			5,462
	Total gross profit (loss)			8,231			-13,596
	Interdivision gross profit			-			-
	Consolidated gross profit (loss)		$	8,231		$	-13,596

	Income (loss) from operations:		2013			2012
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	32,967		$	-37,000
	Maoming Hengda			-719			-1,062
	Baotou Steel			20			630
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-695			2,399
	Total income (loss) from operations			31,572			-35,033
	Interdivision income (loss) from operations			-			-
	Reconciling item (1)			-1,177			-1,350
	Consolidated income (loss) from operations		$	30,395		$	-36,383

	Net income (loss) attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.:		2013			2012
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	8,284		$	-39,494
	Maoming Hengda			-694			-1,073
	Baotou Steel			16			403
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-2,689			-26
	Total net income (loss) attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.			4,917			-40,190
	Interdivision net income			-			-
	Reconciling item (1)			-1,116			-1,408
	Consolidated net income (loss) attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.		$	3,801		$	-41,598


	Depreciation, amortization and depletion:		2013			2012
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	21,014		$	19,915
	Maoming Hengda			307			451
	Baotou Steel			62			52
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			505			790
	Consolidated depreciation, amortization and depletion		$	21,888		$	21,208

	Finance/interest expenses:		2013			2012
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	23,252		$	33,989
	Maoming Hengda			1			35
	Baotou Steel			-			127
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			2,249			2,467
	Interdivision interest expenses			-			-
	Reconciling item (1)			1			-3
	Consolidated interest expenses		$	25,503		$	36,615

	Capital expenditures:		2013			2012
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	16,455		$	3,259
	Maoming Hengda			-			23
	Baotou Steel			-			1
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-			15
Reconciling item (1)			-			-
Consolidated capital expenditures		$	16,455		$	3,298

The following represents results of division operations for nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012:

(In thousands)
Sales:		2013			2012
Longmen Joint Venture		$	1,903,933		$	2,126,556
Maoming Hengda			3,124			4,003
Baotou Steel Pipe Joint Venture			3,902			3,923
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			58,416			141,668
Total sales			1,969,375			2,276,150
Interdivision sales			-54,338			-136,001
Consolidated sales		$	1,915,037		$	2,140,149

Gross profit (loss):		2013			2012
Longmen Joint Venture		$	-23,704		$	12,628
Maoming Hengda			188			-1,174
Baotou Steel			249			193
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			29			8,431
Total gross profit (loss)			-23,238			20,078
Interdivision gross profit			-			-
Consolidated gross profit (loss)		$	-23,238		$	20,078

Income (loss) from operations:		2013			2012
Longmen Joint Venture		$	32,998		$	-40,071
Maoming Hengda			-1,741			-2,498
Baotou Steel			-285			224
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-2,293			4,878
Total income (loss) from operations			28,679			-37,467
Interdivision income (loss) from operations			-			-
Reconciling item (1)			-3,504			-4,003
Consolidated income (loss) from operations		$	25,175		$	-41,470


Net loss attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.:		2013			2012
Longmen Joint Venture		$	-18,335		$	-92,974
Maoming Hengda			-1,681			-2,393
Baotou Steel			-227			-263
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-9,373			-3,079
Total net loss attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.			-29,616			-98,709
Interdivision net income			-			-
Reconciling item (1)			-3,298			-4,050
Consolidated net loss attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.		$	-32,914		$	-102,759

Depreciation, amortization and depletion:		2013			2012
Longmen Joint Venture		$	62,295		$	58,573
Maoming Hengda			933			1,447
Baotou Steel			185			134
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			1,542			2,384
Consolidated depreciation, amortization and depletion		$	64,955		$	62,538

Finance/interest expenses:		2013			2012
Longmen Joint Venture		$	73,424		$	129,683
Maoming Hengda			1			47
Baotou Steel			-			381
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			7,927			8,819
Interdivision interest expenses			-			-
Reconciling item (1)			3			-1
Consolidated interest expenses		$	81,355		$	138,929

Capital expenditures:		2013			2012
Longmen Joint Venture		$	60,461		$	19,604
Maoming Hengda			2			38
Baotou Steel			8			6
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			3			18
Reconciling item (1)			-			-
Consolidated capital expenditures		$	60,474		$	19,666

Total Assets as of:		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
Longmen Joint Venture		$	2,537,952		$	2,513,206
Maoming Hengda			29,340			29,687
Baotou Steel Pipe Joint Venture			5,116			5,186
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			178,844			152,965
Interdivision assets			-84,880			-57,436
Reconciling item (2)			5,654			7,074
Total Assets		$	2,672,026		$	2,650,682

	-1	Reconciling item represents the unallocated income or expenses of the Company, arising from General Steel Investment Co., Ltd, Yangpu Shengtong Investment Co., Ltd and Qiu Steel for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.

	-2	Reconciling item represents assets held at General Steel Holdings, Inc., General Steel Investment Co., Ltd, Yangpu Shengtong Investment Co., Ltd and Qiu Steel as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

Background_Details_Textual

Background (Details Textual)	9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Aug. 05, 2002	Sep. 30, 2013	Apr. 29, 2011	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2011	Apr. 29, 2011	Apr. 29, 2011
		General Steel Investment Co Ltd [Member]	General Steel Investment Co Ltd [Member]	Longmen Joint Venture [Member]	Longmen Joint Venture [Member]	Shaanxi Iron and Steel Group [Member]	Shaanxi Iron and Steel Group [Member]	Shaanxi Iron and Steel Group [Member]	Shaanxi Iron and Steel Group [Member]
								USD ($)	CNY
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	'	100.00%	100.00%	60.00%	60.00%	'	'	'	'
Iron and Steel Making Facilities	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$603.20	3,700
Unified Management Agreement, Percentage Of Pretax Profit	'	'	'	60.00%	'	40.00%	40.00%	'	'
Unified Management Agreement, Economic Interest	60.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Unified Management Agreement, Economic Interest Decreased	36.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Percentage Of Overall Capacity	75.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'

Summary_of_significant_account3

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details)	9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Aug. 05, 2002	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Apr. 29, 2011	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
	General Steel Investment Co., Ltd. [Member]	General Steel Investment Co., Ltd. [Member]	General Steel (China) Co., Ltd. ("General Steel (China)") [Member]	Baotou Steel - General Steel Special Steel Pipe Joint Venture Co., Ltd. [Member]	Yangpu Shengtong Investment Co., Ltd. [Member]	Tianjin Qiu Steel Investment Co., Ltd. ("Qiu Steel") [Member]	Longmen Joint Venture [Member]	Longmen Joint Venture [Member]	Maoming Hengda Steel Company, Ltd. ("Maoming Hengda") [Member]	Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co., Ltd ("Tianwu Joint Venture") [Member]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	80.00%	99.10%	98.70%	60.00%	60.00%	99.00%	60.00%
Entity Incorporation, State Country Name	'British Virgin Islands	'	'PRC	'PRC	'PRC	'PRC	'PRC	'	'PRC	'PRC

Summary_of_significant_account4

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 1) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets	$1,373,967	$1,407,045
Plant and equipment, net	1,250,542	1,167,836
TOTAL ASSETS	2,672,026	2,650,682
Total liabilities	-3,145,136	-3,086,691
Variable Interest Entities and Subsidiary [Member]	'	'
Current assets	1,253,672	1,285,967
Plant and equipment, net	1,239,805	1,154,811
Other noncurrent assets	44,475	72,428
TOTAL ASSETS	2,537,952	2,513,206
Total liabilities	-3,006,938	-2,943,761
Net liabilities	($468,986)	($430,555)

Summary_of_significant_account5

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 2) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current liabilities:	'	'
Short term notes payable	$987,988	$983,813
Accounts payable	495,488	352,052
Accounts payable - related parties	172,259	177,432
Short term loans - bank	254,929	147,124
Short term loans - others	130,170	147,323
Short term loans - related parties	48,889	79,557
Current maturities of long-term loans - related party	47,896	54,885
Other payables and accrued liabilities	52,272	54,589
Other payables - related parties	106,153	73,025
Customer deposits	95,695	125,890
Customer deposits - related parties	14,512	21,998
Deposit due to sales representatives	28,184	33,870
Taxes payable	9,716	16,674
Deferred lease income	2,178	2,120
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES	2,448,138	2,271,590
Non-current liabilities:	'	'
Long term loans - related parties	24,450	38,088
Long-term other payable - related party	0	43,008
Deferred lease income - noncurrent	75,480	75,079
Capital lease obligations	354,576	330,099
Profit sharing liability	241,090	328,827
Other noncurrent liabilities	1,402	0
TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES	696,998	815,101
TOTAL LIABILITIES	3,145,136	3,086,691
Variable Interest Entities and Subsidiary [Member]	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'
Short term notes payable	950,498	971,117
Accounts payable	466,631	324,563
Accounts payable - related parties	171,759	177,160
Short term loans - bank	215,955	114,935
Short term loans - others	123,974	141,290
Short term loans - related parties	42,613	35,839
Current maturities of long-term loans - related party	56,372	54,885
Other payables and accrued liabilities	43,978	29,769
Other payables - related parties	96,901	64,941
Customer deposits	94,767	109,120
Customer deposits - related parties	14,512	21,998
Deposit due to sales representatives	28,184	33,870
Deposit due to sales representatives - related parties	1,809	1,238
Taxes payable	8,258	15,339
Deferred lease income	2,178	2,120
Intercompany payable to be eliminated	0	30,476
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES	2,318,416	2,128,660
Non-current liabilities:	'	'
Long term loans - related parties	15,974	38,088
Long-term other payable - related party	0	43,008
Deferred lease income - noncurrent	75,480	75,079
Capital lease obligations	354,576	330,099
Profit sharing liability	241,090	328,827
Other noncurrent liabilities	1,402	0
TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES	688,522	815,101
TOTAL LIABILITIES	$3,006,938	$2,943,761

Summary_of_significant_account6

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Sales	$514,549	$518,542	$1,534,330	$1,441,325
Gross profit (loss)	8,231	-13,596	-23,238	20,078
Income (loss) from operations	30,395	-36,383	25,175	-41,470
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	3,801	-41,598	-32,914	-102,759
Variable Interest Entities and Subsidiary [Member]	'	'	'	'
Sales	606,444	708,974	1,903,933	2,126,556
Gross profit (loss)	8,122	-18,417	-23,704	12,628
Income (loss) from operations	32,967	-37,000	32,998	-40,071
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	$8,284	($39,494)	($18,335)	($92,974)

Summary_of_significant_account7

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 4) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Amount of Line of Credit	$110.80
Bank Of China [Member]	'
Amount of Line of Credit	6.5
Repayment Date	'August 25, 2014 to October 26, 2014
China Everbright Bank [Member]	'
Amount of Line of Credit	48.9
Repayment Date	8-Oct-14
Bank Of Xian [Member]	'
Amount of Line of Credit	32.6
Repayment Date	9-Oct-14
Bank Of Jinzhou [Member]	'
Amount of Line of Credit	$22.80
Repayment Date	'September 27, 2014*	[1]

[1]	Management expects the line of credit will be extended after September 27, 2014.

Summary_of_significant_account8

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 5) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Financing Amount	110.8
Company A [Member]	'
Financing period covered	'January 6, 2013 – January 5, 2015
Company B [Member]	'
Financing period covered	'January 6 2013 – November 7 2015
Company C [Member]	'
Financing period covered	'October 1, 2013 – March 31, 2015
Vendor Financing [Member] \| Company A [Member]	'
Financing Amount	163
Vendor Financing [Member] \| Company B [Member]	'
Financing Amount	163
Vendor Financing [Member] \| Company C [Member]	'
Financing Amount	489

Summary_of_significant_account9

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 6) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Financing Amount	77.4
Company E [Member]	'
Financing period covered	'January 7, 2013 – January 6, 2015
Company F [Member]	'
Financing period covered	'January 7, 2013 – January 6, 2015
Company G [Member]	'
Financing period covered	'January 7, 2013 – January 6, 2015
Company H [Member]	'
Financing Amount	16.3
Financing period covered	'November 7 2013 – November 7 2015
Company I [Member]	'
Financing Amount	16.3
Financing period covered	'November 6 2013 – November 6 2015
Other Financing [Member] \| Company E [Member]	'
Financing Amount	16.3
Other Financing [Member] \| Company F [Member]	'
Financing Amount	21.2
Other Financing [Member] \| Company G [Member]	'
Financing Amount	7.3

Recovered_Sheet1

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 7) (Scenario, Forecast [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014
Scenario, Forecast [Member]	'
Current liabilities over current assets (excluding non-cash items) as of September 30, 2013 (unaudited)	($1,072)
Projected cash financing and outflows:	'
Cash provided by line of credit from banks	110.8
Cash provided by vendor financing	815
Cash provided by financing sales	81.5
Cash provided by other financing	77.4
Cash provided by sales representatives	30
Cash projected to be used in operations in the twelve months ended September 30, 2014	-28.6
Net projected change in cash for the twelve months ended September 30, 2014	$14.10

Recovered_Sheet2

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 8) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Derivative liabilities	$0	$1	'
Profit sharing liability	241,090	328,827	'
Total	241,090	328,828	303,243
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative liabilities	'	0	'
Profit sharing liability	0	0	'
Total	0	0	'
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative liabilities	'	1	'
Profit sharing liability	0	0	'
Total	0	1	'
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative liabilities	'	0	'
Profit sharing liability	241,090	328,827	'
Total	$241,090	$328,827	'

Recovered_Sheet3

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 9) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Beginning balance	'	'	$328,828	$303,243	$303,243
Change in fair value of profit sharing liability	-41,800	'	-107,877	'	0
Current period interest expense accreted	'	'	12,440	'	22,499
Change of derivative liabilities charged to earnings	0	-55	1	-48	9
Exchange rate effect	'	'	7,698	'	3,077
Ending balance	$241,090	'	$241,090	'	$328,828

Recovered_Sheet4

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 10)	9 Months Ended
Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 10)	Sep. 30, 2013
Buildings and Improvements [Member] \| Maximum [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'40 years
Buildings and Improvements [Member] \| Minimum [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'10 years
Machinery [Member] \| Maximum [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'30 years
Machinery [Member] \| Minimum [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'10 years
Machinery and equipment under capital lease [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'20 years
Other equipment [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'5 years
Transportation Equipment [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'5 years

Recovered_Sheet5

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 11) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
General Steel (China) [Member]	'
Original Cost	$3,867
Expires on	'2050 & 2053
Longmen Joint Venture [Member]	'
Original Cost	24,226
Expires on	'2048 & 2052
Maoming Hengda [Member]	'
Original Cost	$2,705
Expires on	'2054

Recovered_Sheet6

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 12) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Net investment	$1,161	$1,166
Xian Delong Powder Engineering Materials Co Ltd [Member]	'	'
Year acquired	'2007	'
Net investment	$1,161	$1,166
Owned Percentage	24.10%	24.10%

Recovered_Sheet7

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details Textual)

0 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2009

Sep. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Mar. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Oct. 31, 2012

Dec. 24, 2009

Dec. 31, 2007

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Apr. 29, 2011

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2007

Aug. 05, 2002

Sep. 30, 2013

Mar. 01, 2012

Mar. 31, 2012

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

Criteria One [Member]

Criteria Two [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Mining Rights [Member]

Five Customers [Member]

One Customer [Member]

Five Suppliers [Member]

One Suppliers [Member]

Company E [Member]

Company A [Member]

Company B [Member]

Company D [Member]

Company F [Member]

Company G [Member]

Company H [Member]

Company C [Member]

Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co Ltd [Member]

Longmen Joint Venture [Member]

Yuxin Trading Co Ltd [Member]

Yuteng Trading Co Ltd [Member]

Hualong [Member]

Tongxing [Member]

Huatianyulong [Member]

General Steel Investment Co Ltd [Member]

Maoming Hengda Steel Company Ltd [Member]

Yangpu Shengtong Investment Co Ltd [Member]

Tianjin Qiu Steel Investment Co Ltd [Member]

Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co Ltd [Member]

Hancheng Tongxing Metallurgy Co Ltd [Member]

USD ($)

CNY

Sales [Member]

USD ($)

Subsequent Event [Member]

Company D [Member]

Shareholder One [Member]

Shareholder Two [Member]

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage

60.00%

100.00%

36.00%

34.67%

29.33%

22.76%

50.00%

100.00%

99.00%

99.10%

98.70%

60.00%

Working Capital

$1,100,000,000

Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners

77.24%

Debt To Equity Ratio

6.6

7.1

Due to Related Parties

1,200,000

17,900,000

64,300,000

51,900,000

24,500,000

14,000,000

18,900,000

7,500,000

Vendor Financing, Variable Interest Rate

0.05%

Line Of Credit Amount Utilized

61,900,000

Financing Sales Agreement, Minimum Advance For Rebar Sold

81,500,000

Cash and Cash Equivalents Including Restricted Cash

467,900,000

369,900,000

Cash In Bank, Insurance Coverage

200,000

Deposits Assets

3,100,000

2,300,000

Entity Wide Purchases Major Supplier Percentage

15.30%

10.00%

29.30%

25.40%

39.60%

10.00%

15.90%

47.80%

10.00%

Entity Wide Accounts Payable Major Supplier Percentage

10.00%

28.90%

33.80%

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent

2,500,000

10,200,000

Foreign Currency Exchange Translation Rate Balance Sheet Items

6.13

6.3

Foreign Currency Exchange Average Translation Rate

6.16

6.33

6.21

6.31

Debt Instrument, Face Amount

40,000,000

Warrants Issued

1,154,958

Warrants Exercise Price

$13.51

Warrants Modified Exercise Price

Warrants Issued Increased

3,900,871

Warrants Issued During Period

2,777,778

Percentage Of Profit Sharing Liability

40.00%

Property, Plant and Equipment, Salvage Value, Percentage

5.00%

3.00%

Criteria For Determination Of Nature Of Lease

'The Company assesses all significant leases for purposes of classification as either operating or capital. At lease inception, if the lease meets any of the four following criteria, the Company will classify it as a capital lease; otherwise it will be treated as an operating lease: a) transfer of ownership to lessee at the end of the lease term, b) bargain purchase option, c) lease term is equal to 75% or more of the estimated economic life of the leased property, d) the present value of the minimum lease payments is 90% or more of the fair value of the leased asset.

Percentage Of Ownership, Significant Influence

50.00%

20.00%

Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments, Net of Dividends or Distributions

50,000

40,000

100,000

Sale Of Equity Interest Percentage

22.76%

Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Assets

40,500,000

Noncontrolling Interest in Variable Interest Entity

32,500,000

Sale Of Equity,Non Cash Consideration

3,600,000

Sale Of Equity Non Cash Consideration Dividend

900,000

Sale Of Equity, Cash Consideration

300,000

Deconsolidation of a subsidiary as a reduction to paid-in-capital

2,972,000

3,100,000

Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate

7.30%

Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity

158,300,000

318,400,000

Restricted Notes Receivable Interest Income

9,600,000

16,300,000

26,900,000

65,600,000

Concentration Risk, Percentage

25.50%

27.20%

23.40%

34.10%

Finite lived Intangible Asset Acquired

2,400,000

15,000,000

24,200,000

148,600,000

3,900,000

23,700,000

2,700,000

16,600,000

Profit Sharing Liability Fair Value Criteria

'If we would reduce the projected bank borrowings rate by 1.0% and other factors remained unchanged, our profit sharing liability as of the beginning of the period ended September 30, 2013 would have been $254.9 million and we would reducethe gainfrom the change in the fair value of profit sharing liabilities by $32.9 million.

Profit Sharing Liability

254,900,000

214,300,000

Gain Loss On Change In Fair Value Of Profit Sharing Liability

32,900,000

8,300,000

Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Initial Measurement And Recognition Of Profit Sharing Liability

41,800,000

107,877,000

Account Receivable To Customer

$1,400,000

$10,400,000

$1,400,000

$10,400,000

Loans_receivable_related_parti2

Loans receivable - related parties (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Loans receivable - related parties	$4,540	$69,319
Long Steel Group [Member]	'	'
Loans receivable - related parties	0	63,319
Teamlink Investment Co., Ltd [Member]	'	'
Loans receivable - related parties	$4,540	$6,000

Loans_receivable_related_parti3

Loans receivable - related parties (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Interest Income Related Party	$0.10	$0	$0.20	$1.80
Teamlink Investment Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'	'
Loans Receivable Maturity Date	'	'	'December 2013, June 2014, and July 2014	'
Loans Receivable Interest Rate Stated Percentage	4.75%	'	4.75%	'

Accounts_receivable_including_2

Accounts receivable (including related parties), net (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Accounts receivable	$9,729	$8,062	'
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts	-1,152	-1,367	-2,023
Accounts receivable - related parties	3,252	14,966	'
Net accounts receivable	$11,829	$21,661	'

Accounts_receivable_including_3

Accounts receivable (including related parties), net (Details 1) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Beginning balance	$1,367	$2,023
Charge to expense	0	433
Less: recovery	-249	-1,109
Exchange rate effect	34	20
Ending balance	$1,152	$1,367

Inventories_Details

Inventories (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Supplies	$23,302	$23,123	'
Raw materials	138,951	141,503	'
Finished goods	22,527	57,630	'
Less: allowance for inventory valuation	-7,397	-9,585	-38,143
Total inventories	$177,383	$212,671	'

Inventories_Details_1

Inventories (Details 1) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Beginning balance	$9,585	$38,143
Addition	7,305	9,582
Less: write-off	-9,722	-38,519
Exchange rate effect	229	379
Ending balance	$7,397	$9,585

Advances_on_inventory_purchase1

Advances on inventory purchases (Details Textual) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Advances On Inventory Purchases Including Related Parties	$109.50	$126.10

Plant_and_equipment_net_Detail

Plant and equipment, net (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Buildings and improvements	$253,621	$214,661
Machinery	616,813	573,572
Machinery under capital lease	603,248	587,334
Transportation and other equipment	22,085	20,274
Construction in progress	58,111	4,645
Subtotal	1,553,878	1,400,486
Less: accumulated depreciation	-303,336	-232,650
Total	$1,250,542	$1,167,836

Plant_and_equipment_net_Detail1

Plant and equipment, net (Details 1) (USD $)

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

1.2 million tons high-strength steel production line [Member]

Iron-making system dust removing equipment [Member]

Drainage system [Member]

Factory wall repair [Member]

Gas pipe repair [Member]

Office buildings [Member]

Equipment updates [Member]

5 blast furnace construction [Member]

Reconstruction Of Miscellaneous Factory Buildings [Member]

Project materials [Member]

Others [Member]

Construction in progress

$58,111

$4,645

$32,268

$3,307

$499

$241

$121

$1,336

$7,381

$208

$690

$2,154

$9,906

Construction Completion Date

31-Dec-13

30-Nov-13

30-Sep-14

31-Jan-14

Plant_and_equipment_net_Detail2

Plant and equipment, net (Details 2) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Machinery	$603,248	$587,334
Less: accumulated depreciation	-69,248	-46,497
Carrying value of leased assets	$534,000	$540,837

Plant_and_equipment_net_Detail3

Plant and equipment, net (Details Textual)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	CNY	Assets Held under Capital Leases [Member]	Assets Held under Capital Leases [Member]	Assets Held under Capital Leases [Member]	Assets Held under Capital Leases [Member]
							USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)
Depreciation	$21.60	$20.80	$64.10	$61.40	'	'	$7.10	$7	$21.20	$20.90
Impairment of plant and equipment	'	'	'	'	$20.20	127.2	'	'	'	'
Lease Expiration Date	'	'	30-Apr-31	'	'	'	'	'	'	'

Intangible_assets_net_Details

Intangible assets, net (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	$33,988	$33,062
Less: Accumulated amortization	-10,060	-8,996
Intangible assets, net	23,928	24,066
Land use rights [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	30,798	29,986
Less: Accumulated amortization	-8,387	-7,577
Mining right [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	2,448	2,384
Less: Accumulated amortization	-1,144	-993
Software [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	742	692
Less: Accumulated amortization	($529)	($426)

Intangible_assets_net_Details_

Intangible assets, net (Details 1) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Estimated amortization and depletion expenses, June 30, 2014	$1,082
Estimated amortization and depletion expenses, June 30, 2015	1,082
Estimated amortization and depletion expenses, June 30, 2016	1,082
Estimated amortization and depletion expenses, June 30, 2017	1,082
Estimated amortization and depletion expenses, June 30, 2018	1,082
Estimated amortization and depletion expenses, Thereafter	18,518
Estimated amortization and depletion expenses, Total	23,928
Gross carrying amount, June 30, 2014	22,846
Gross carrying amount, June 30, 2015	21,764
Gross carrying amount, June 30, 2016	20,682
Gross carrying amount, June 30, 2017	19,600
Gross carrying amount, June 30, 2018	18,518
Gross carrying amount, Thereafter	$0

Intangible_assets_net_Details_1

Intangible assets, net (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'	'	'33 years 8 months 12 days	'
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$0.20	$0.30	$0.70	$0.90
Depletion	$0.02	$0.10	$0.10	$0.20

Debt_Details

Debt (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Short term notes payable	$987,988	$983,813
General Steel China Notes Payable To China Agricultural Bank [Member]	'	'
Short term notes payable	37,490	12,696
Longmen Joint Venture Notes Payable To Various Banks In China [Member]	'	'
Short term notes payable	$950,498	$971,117

Debt_Details_1

Debt (Details 1) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Short term loans - bank	$254,929	$147,124
General Steel China Loans From Various Banks In China [Member]	'	'
Short term loans - bank	38,973	32,189
Longmen Joint Venture Loans from various banks in China [Member]	'	'
Short term loans - bank	$215,956	$114,935

Debt_Details_2

Debt (Details 2) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Short term loans - others	$130,170	$147,323
Longmen Joint Venture Loans from various unrelated companies and individuals [Member]	'	'
Short term loans - others	33,294	25,324
Longmen Joint Venture Loans from financing sales [Member]	'	'
Short term loans - others	90,680	115,966
Maoming Hengda Loans from one unrelated parties and one related party [Member]	'	'
Short term loans - others	$6,196	$6,033

Debt_Details_3

Debt (Details 3) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Short term loans - related parties	$48,889	$79,557
Baotou Steel Loans From Tianjin Hengying Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'
Short term loans - related parties	3,430	4,133
General Steel China Loans From Tianjin Hengying Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'
Short term loans - related parties	0	15,416
General Steel China Loans From Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co Ltd [Member]	'	'
Short term loans - related parties	0	21,397
General Steel China Loans From Beijing Shenhua Xinyuan Metal Materials Co Ltd [Member]	'	'
Short term loans - related parties	1,395	1,359
General Steel China Loans From Yangpu Capital Automobile [Member]	'	'
Short term loans - related parties	1,451	1,413
Longmen Joint Venture Loan from Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co Ltd [Member]	'	'
Short term loans - related parties	33,580	0
Longmen Joint Venture Loans From Financing Sales [Member]	'	'
Short term loans - related parties	$9,033	$35,839

Debt_Details_4

Debt (Details 4) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current maturities of long-term loans - related party	$47,896	$54,885
Long-term loans - related party	24,450	38,088
Longmen Joint Venture Loans from Shaanxi Steel Group [Member]	'	'
Current maturities of long-term loans - related party	$72,346	$92,973

Debt_Details_Textual

Debt (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Percentage Of Transaction Fee	'	'	0.05%	'	'
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Guarantee For Notes Payable	$405.80	'	$405.80	'	$322.70
Restricted Notes Receivable Guarantee For Notes Payable	237.2	'	237.2	'	345.8
Debt To Asset Ratio Maximum	20.00%	'	20.00%	'	85.00%
Debt To Asset Ratio	117.70%	'	117.70%	'	116.40%
Short Term Borrowings, Default	6.4	'	6.4	'	12.7
Financing Sales	166.2	307.1	519.5	600.8	'
Financial Services Costs	1.1	2.1	4.2	6.8	'
Interest Costs Capitalized	1.3	0.2	2.1	0.6	'
Interest Expense, Debt	15.5	36.6	54.5	138.9	'
General Steel China Notes Payable To Various Banks In China [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Guarantee For Notes Payable	24.5	'	24.5	'	6.3
Debt Instrument Maturity Dates	'	'	'various dates from October 2013 to March 2014	'	'
Longmen Joint Venture Loans From Various Unrelated Companies and Individuals [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument Maturity Dates	'	'	'various dates from October 2013 to February 2014	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	5.20%	'	5.20%	'	6.00%
Longmen Joint Venture Notes Payable To Various Banks In China [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Guarantee For Notes Payable	381.3	'	381.3	'	237.2
Restricted Notes Receivable Guarantee For Notes Payable	316.4	'	316.4	'	345.8
Debt Instrument Maturity Dates	'	'	'various dates from October 2013 to August 2014	'	'
Longmen Joint Venture Loans From Shaanxi Steel Group [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument Maturity Dates	'	'	'November 2015	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	5.60%	'	5.60%	'	5.90%
Baotou Steel Loans From Tianjin Hengying Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	10.00%	'	10.00%	'	'
General Steel China Loans From Tianjin Hengying Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	10.00%	'	10.00%	'	'
General Steel China Loans From Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	10.00%	'	10.00%	'	'
General Steel China Loans From Beijing Shenhua Xinyuan Metal Materials Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	10.00%	'	10.00%	'	'
General Steel China Loans From Yangpu Capital Automobile [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	10.00%	'	10.00%	'	'
Longmen Joint Venture Loan from Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	'	'	31-Dec-13	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	7.00%	'	7.00%	'	'
Longmen Joint Venture Loans from various banks in China [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Guarantee For Notes Payable	$120	'	$120	'	$76
Debt Instrument Maturity Dates	'	'	'various dates from November 2013 to August 2014	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	6.50%	'	6.50%	'	6.80%
General Steel China Loans From Various Banks In China [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument Maturity Dates	'	'	'various dates from December 2013 to September 2014	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	7.20%	'	7.20%	'	7.60%
Maximum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	'	'	'	'	12.00%
Maximum [Member] \| Longmen Joint Venture Loans From Various Unrelated Companies and Individuals [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	5.90%	'	5.90%	'	5.90%
Maximum [Member] \| Longmen Joint Venture Loans From Financing Sales [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	'	'	'	'	5.90%
Minimum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	4.70%	'	4.70%	'	'
Minimum [Member] \| Longmen Joint Venture Loans From Various Unrelated Companies and Individuals [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	4.20%	'	4.20%	'	'
Minimum [Member] \| Longmen Joint Venture Loans From Financing Sales [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	4.20%	'	4.20%	'	'

Customer_deposits_Details_Text

Customer deposits (Details Textual) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Customer Deposits Including Related Parties	$110,200,000	$147,900,000
Customer deposits - related parties	$14,512,000	$21,998,000

Deposits_due_to_sales_represen1

Deposits due to sales representatives (Details Textual) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Deposits Due To Sales Representative Including Related Parties	$30	$35.10

Convertible_notes_and_derivati2

Convertible notes and derivative liabilities (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012
Expected volatility	86.00%
Expected dividend yield	0.00%
Risk-free interest rate	0.08%
Expected lives (in years)	'4 months 10 days
Market price	$0.99
Strike price	$5

Convertible_notes_and_derivati3

Convertible notes and derivative liabilities (Details 1) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Outstanding Beginning Balance	$3,900,871	$6,678,649
Granted	0	0
Forfeited / expired	-3,900,871	-2,777,778
Exercised	0	0
Outstanding Ending Balance	$0	$3,900,871

Convertible_notes_and_derivati4

Convertible notes and derivative liabilities (Details Textual) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2007
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	'	'	$40,000,000
Derivative liabilities	$0	$1,000	'

Supplemental_disclosure_of_cas1

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information (Details Textual) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Interest Paid, Net	$11.50	$20.20
Income Taxes Paid	0.3	0.1
Minority Interest Ownership By Parent Carrying Value	'	8
Dividend Receivables Value	0.2	0.1
Disposal Of Equipment Value	1	'
Conversion Of Accounts and Other Payable To Short Term Loan	'	48
Repayment For Advances On Inventory Purchases	119.9	29.9
Inventory Productions, Equipment Conversion	1	'
Inventory Utilized In Plant and Equipment Construction	37.3	'
Repayment Of Accounts Payable Related Party	64.2	0
Reclassification Of Inventory Purchases Refundable Advances Related Parties To Other Receivables Related Parties	3.8	'
Construction in Progress Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid	18.7	'
Tongxing [Member]	'	'
Land Use Rights Carrying Value	'	3.6
Settlement With Payable In Cash	'	0.3
Transfer Of Dividend Receivable To Two Individuals	'	$0.90
Long Steel Group [Member]	'	'
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	'	22.76%

Deferred_lease_income_Details_

Deferred lease income (Details Textual)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 30, 2010

USD ($)

Longmen Joint Venture [Member]

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

CNY

Deferred Revenue Leases Reimbursement For Dismantled Assets

$11,400,000

70,100,000

Deferred Revenue Leases Reimbursement For Loss Of Efficiency

29,800,000

183,100,000

Deferred Revenue Leases Reimbursement For Trial Production Costs

14,600,000

89,300,000

14,600,000

89,500,000

Deferred Revenue Leases Deferred Depreciation Cost Free Use Period

7,200,000

43,900,000

Deferred Revenue Leases Lease Income Realized

542,000

528,000

1,613,000

1,588,000

2,119,000

Deferred Revenue, Leases, Net

77,658,000

77,199,000

78,524,000

Deferred Revenue, Leases, Current

$2,178,000

$2,120,000

Capital_lease_obligation_Detai

Capital lease obligation (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Capital Lease Obligation Minimum Lease Payments, Year ended September 30, 2014	$0
Capital Lease Obligation Minimum Lease Payments, Year ended September 30, 2015	126,557
Capital Lease Obligation Minimum Lease Payments, Year ended September 30, 2016	28,654
Capital Lease Obligation Minimum Lease Payments, Year ended September 30, 2017	28,654
Capital Lease Obligation Minimum Lease Payments, Year ended September 30, 2018	28,654
Capital Lease Obligation Minimum Lease Payments, Thereafter	360,567
Capital Lease Obligation Minimum Lease Payments, Total minimum lease payments	573,086
Capital Lease Obligation Minimum Lease Payments, Less: amounts representing interest	-218,510
Capital Lease Obligation Minimum Lease Payments, Ending balance	354,576
Capital Lease Obligation Profit (Loss) Sharing, Year ended September 30, 2014	0
Capital Lease Obligation Profit (Loss) Sharing, Year ended September 30, 2015	0
Capital Lease Obligation Profit (Loss) Sharing, Year ended September 30, 2016	0
Capital Lease Obligation Profit (Loss) Sharing, Year ended September 30, 2017	0
Capital Lease Obligation Profit (Loss) Sharing, Year ended September 30, 2018	0
Capital Lease Obligation Profit (Loss) Sharing, Thereafter	650,586
Capital Lease Obligation Minimum Lease Payments, Total minimum lease payments	650,586
Capital Lease Obligation Profit (Loss) Sharing, Less: amounts representing interest	-409,496
Capital Lease Obligation Profit (Loss) Sharing, Ending balance	241,090
Total, Year ended September 30, 2014	0
Total, Year ended September 30, 2015	126,557
Total, Year ended September 30, 2016	28,654
Total, Year ended September 30, 2017	28,654
Total, Year ended September 30, 2018	28,654
Total, Thereafter	1,011,153
Total, Total minimum lease payments	1,223,672
Total, Less: amounts representing interest	-628,006
Total, Ending balance	$595,666

Capital_lease_obligation_Detai1

Capital lease obligation (Details Textual)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	Shaanxi Iron and Steel Group [Member]	Shaanxi Iron and Steel Group [Member]	Shaanxi Iron and Steel Group [Member]
						USD ($)	CNY
Capital Lease Agreement Term	'	'	'	'	'	'20 years	'20 years
Classification Of Lease, Percentage Base	'	'	'	'	'	75.00%	75.00%
Unified Management Agreement, Percentage Of Pretax Profit	'	'	'	'	40.00%	40.00%	40.00%
Unified Management Agreement, Cost Of Asset	'	'	'	'	'	$2.30	14.6
Interest Expense On Minimum Lease Payments	5.1	5.1	15.3	15.5	'	'	'
Interest Expense On Profit Sharing Liability	$2.60	$5.60	$12.40	$16.90	'	'	'

Other_income_expense_Details_T

Other income (expense) (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Lease income	$542	$528	$1,613	$1,588	$2,119

Taxes_Details

Taxes (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Current	$25	$100	$201	$510
Deferred	0	0	0	169
Total provision for income taxes	$25	$100	$201	$679

Taxes_Details_1

Taxes (Details 1) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Beginning balance	$72,891	$47,703
Current period addition	12,776	25,180
Current period reversal	-857	0
Deconsolidation of Tongxing	0	-216
Exchange difference	2,125	224
Ending balance	$86,935	$72,891

Taxes_Details_2

Taxes (Details 2) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
VAT taxes payable	$7,309	$13,579
Income taxes payable	20	68
Misc. taxes	2,387	3,027
Totals	$9,716	$16,674

Taxes_Details_Textual

Taxes (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Taxes (Details Textual) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Preferential Tax Rate	'	'	15.00%	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Subject to Expiration	$436,900,000	'	$436,900,000	'	'	'
Percentage Of Deferred Tax Asset	100.00%	'	100.00%	'	'	'
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Change in Amount	'	'	0	'	'	'
Value Added Tax Receivable	3,100,000	'	3,100,000	'	4,200,000	'
Value Added Tax On Sales	160,500,000	209,700,000	513,700,000	620,600,000	'	'
Value Added Tax On Purchases	156,200,000	206,700,000	494,400,000	594,100,000	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	86,935,000	'	86,935,000	'	72,891,000	47,703,000
Tax Initiative Extension Period	'	'	'10 years	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Date Expiration	'	'	'The Group’s losses carried forward of $436.9 million will begin to expire in 2014.	'	'	'
UNITED STATES	'	'	'	'	'	'
Percentage Of Deferred Tax Asset	100.00%	'	100.00%	'	'	'
Net operating losses carried forward	1,600,000	'	1,600,000	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	500,000	'	500,000	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Date Expiration	'	'	'The net operating loss carry forwards for United States income taxes amounted to $1.6 million, which may be available to reduce future years’ taxable income. These carry forwards will expire, if not utilized, starting from 2026 through 2032.	'	'	'
Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent, Total	'	'	25.00%	'	'	'
Subsidiaries [Member] \| UNITED STATES	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net operating losses carried forward	$100,000	'	$100,000	'	'	'
Subsidiaries [Member] \| Longmen Joint Venture [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent, Total	'	'	15.00%	'	'	'
Maximum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Value Added Tax Rate	'	'	17.00%	'	'	'
Minimum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Value Added Tax Rate	'	'	13.00%	'	'	'

Earnings_Loss_per_share_Detail

Earnings (Loss) per share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income (loss) attributable to holders of common stock	$3,801	($41,598)	($32,914)	($102,759)
Basic and diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding	55,141	54,466	54,976	54,946
Earnings (loss) per share	'	'	'	'
Basic and diluted	$0.07	($0.76)	($0.60)	($1.87)

Earnings_Loss_per_share_Detail1

Earnings (Loss) per share (Details Textual)	Sep. 30, 2012
Warrants Exercisable	3,900,871

Related_party_transactions_and2

Related party transactions and balances (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Machinery	$603,248	$587,334
Less: accumulated depreciation	-69,248	-46,497
Carrying value of leased assets	534,000	540,837
Shaanxi Coal and Shaanxi Steel [Member]	'	'
Machinery	603,248	587,334
Less: accumulated depreciation	-69,248	-46,497
Carrying value of leased assets	$534,000	$540,837

Related_party_transactions_and3

Related party transactions and balances (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenue from Related Parties	$95,546	$192,883	$380,707	$698,824
Long Steel Group [Member]	'	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'
Revenue from Related Parties	63,793	123,631	226,754	360,820
Sichuan Yutai Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group**	'	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	'
Revenue from Related Parties	0	16,998	72	147,847
Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	'	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	'
Revenue from Related Parties	1,081	0	21,491	41,433
Shaanxi Haiyan Trade Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	'	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	'
Revenue from Related Parties	85	12,480	15,681	43,015
Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	'	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	'
Revenue from Related Parties	19,866	7,599	56,545	34,132
Shaanxi Steel [Member]	'	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'
Revenue from Related Parties	979	25	2,390	634
Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Subsidiary of Long Steel Group	'	'Subsidiary of Long Steel Group	'
Revenue from Related Parties	9	11,392	2,122	31,485
Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Investee of Long Steel Group	'	'Investee of Long Steel Group	'
Revenue from Related Parties	1,782	20,758	33,075	37,965
Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel	'	'Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel	'
Revenue from Related Parties	7,951	0	22,577	0
Others [Member]	'	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management	'	'Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management	'
Revenue from Related Parties	$0	$0	$0	$1,493

Related_party_transactions_and4

Related party transactions and balances (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	$146,438	$203,085	$573,922	$771,113
Long Steel Group [Member]	'	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	101,606	123,637	376,104	453,947
Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group	'	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group	'
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	31,331	47,487	148,322	195,861
Xi'an Pinghe Metallurgical Raw Material Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group	'	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group	'
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	1,181	16,674	13,678	83,251
Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Subsidiary of Long Steel Group	'	'Subsidiary of Long Steel Group	'
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	0	1,568	53	5,332
Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Investee of Long Steel Group	'	'Investee of Long Steel Group	'
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	1	2,257	212	4,417
Shaanxi Huafu New Energy Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Significant influence by the Long Steel Group	'	'Significant influence by the Long Steel Group	'
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	10,529	10,322	28,618	24,347
Beijing Daishang Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary	'	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary	'
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	1,726	1,049	6,635	3,653
Others [Member]	'	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management	'	'Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management	'
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	$64	$91	$300	$305

Related_party_transactions_and5

Related party transactions and balances (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Loans receivable - related parties	$4,540	$4,540		$69,319
Long Steel Group [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		'
Loans receivable - related parties	0	0		63,319
Teamlink Investment Co Ltd [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO* through indirect shareholding	[1]	'
Loans receivable - related parties	$4,540	$4,540		$6,000

[1]	The CEO is referred to herein as the chief executive officer of General Steel Holdings, Inc.

Related_party_transactions_and6

Related party transactions and balances (Details 4) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties, Current	$3,252	$3,252	$14,966
Long Steel Group [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties, Current	1,834	1,834	10,409
Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Subsidiary of Long Steel Group	'Subsidiary of Long Steel Group	'
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties, Current	0	0	2,017
Tianjin Daqiuzhuang Steel Plates [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties, Current	19	19	18
Shaanxi Steel [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties, Current	1,227	1,227	2,435
Others [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management	'Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management	'
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties, Current	$172	$172	$87

Related_party_transactions_and7

Related party transactions and balances (Details 5) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Other receivables - related parties	$51,501	$51,501	$68,382
Long Steel Group [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'
Other receivables - related parties	561	561	301
Shaanxi Steel [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'
Other receivables - related parties	44,811	44,811	65,981
Tianjin General Quigang Pipe Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Other receivables - related parties	1,228	1,228	1,195
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Other receivables - related parties	489	489	476
Maoming Shengze Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Other receivables - related parties	3,834	3,834	0
Others [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management	'Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management	'
Other receivables - related parties	$578	$578	$429

Related_party_transactions_and8

Related party transactions and balances (Details 6) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Advances on inventory purchase - related parties	$29,667	$29,667	$46,416
Long Steel Group [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'
Advances on inventory purchase - related parties	1,377	1,377	1,367
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Advances on inventory purchase - related parties	6,254	6,254	0
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Advances on inventory purchase - related parties	12,805	12,805	0
Tianjin General Qiugang Pipe Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Advances on inventory purchase - related parties	9,210	9,210	41,316
Maoming Shengze Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Advances on inventory purchase - related parties	0	0	3,733
Others [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management	'Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management	'
Advances on inventory purchase - related parties	$21	$21	$0

Related_party_transactions_and9

Related party transactions and balances (Details 7) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounts payable - related parties	$172,259	$172,259	$177,432
Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group	'
Accounts payable - related parties	60,463	60,463	58,661
Long Steel Group [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'
Accounts payable - related parties	100,579	100,579	91,511
Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel	'Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel	'
Accounts payable - related parties	0	0	5,652
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Accounts payable - related parties	954	954	3
Xi'an Pinghe Metallurgical Raw Material Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group	'
Accounts payable - related parties	7,838	7,838	5,278
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Accounts payable - related parties	1	1	13,919
Henan Xinmi Kanghua Fire Refractory Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary	'
Accounts payable - related parties	722	722	1,146
Beijing Daishang Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary	'
Accounts payable - related parties	1,149	1,149	875
Tianjin General Qiugang Pipe Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Accounts payable - related parties	0	0	52
Others [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management	'Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management	'
Accounts payable - related parties	$553	$553	$335

Recovered_Sheet8

Related party transactions and balances (Details 8) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Short term loans - related parties	$48,889	$48,889	$79,557
Shaanxi Steel [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'
Short term loans - related parties	0	0	35,839
Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel	'Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel	'
Short term loans - related parties	33,580	33,580	0
Long Steel Group [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'
Short term loans - related parties	1,547	1,547	0
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Short term loans - related parties	10,916	10,916	19,549
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Short term loans - related parties	0	0	21,397
Beijing Shenhua Xinyuan Metal Materials Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Short term loans - related parties	1,395	1,395	1,359
Yangpu Capital Automobile [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Short term loans - related parties	$1,451	$1,451	$1,413

Recovered_Sheet9

Related party transactions and balances (Details 9) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current maturities of long-term loans - related party	$47,896	$47,896	$54,885
Shaanxi Steel [Member]	'	'	'
Current maturities of long-term loans - related party	$47,896	$47,896	$54,885
Related Party Relationship	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'

Recovered_Sheet10

Related party transactions and balances (Details 10) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Other payables - related parties	$106,153	$106,153	$73,025
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Other payables - related parties	876	876	2,770
Long Steel Group [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'
Other payables - related parties	51,919	51,919	60,180
Shaanxi Steel [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'
Other payables - related parties	44,173	44,173	0
Wendlar Investment Management Group Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Common control under CEO	'
Other payables - related parties	911	911	836
Yangpu Capital Automobile [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Other payables - related parties	254	254	141
Xi'an Pinghe Metallurgical Raw Material Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group	'
Other payables - related parties	0	0	4,761
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Other payables - related parties	4,020	4,020	3,695
Maoming Shengze Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Other payables - related parties	1,566	1,566	0
Victory Energy Resource Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Other payables - related parties	1,375	1,375	0
Others [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management	'Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management	'
Other payables - related parties	$1,059	$1,059	$642

Recovered_Sheet11

Related party transactions and balances (Details 11) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Customer deposits - related parties	$14,512	$14,512	$21,998
Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	'
Customer deposits - related parties	10	10	4,869
Sichuan Yutai Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group**	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	'
Customer deposits - related parties	0	0	2,163
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Customer deposits - related parties	0	0	90
Long Steel Group [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'
Customer deposits - related parties	13,600	13,600	8,864
Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Investee of Long Steel Group	'Investee of Long Steel Group	'
Customer deposits - related parties	679	679	5,615
Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	'
Customer deposits - related parties	0	0	353
Others [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management	'Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management	'
Customer deposits - related parties	$223	$223	$44

Recovered_Sheet12

Related party transactions and balances (Details 12) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Deposit due to sales representatives - related parties	$1,809	$1,809	$1,238
Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group	'
Deposit due to sales representatives - related parties	587	587	619
Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Investee of Long Steel Group	'Investee of Long Steel Group	'
Deposit due to sales representatives - related parties	635	635	619
Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	'
Deposit due to sales representatives - related parties	$587	$587	$0

Recovered_Sheet13

Related party transactions and balances (Details 13) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Long-term loans - related party	$24,450	$24,450	$38,088
Shaanxi Steel [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'
Long-term loans - related party	$24,450	$24,450	$38,088

Recovered_Sheet14

Related party transactions and balances (Details 14) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Long-term other receivable	$0	$0	$43,008
Shaanxi Steel [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'
Long-term other receivable	$0	$0	$43,008

Recovered_Sheet15

Related party transactions and balances (Details 15) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Beginning balance	'	'	$77,199	$78,524	$78,524
Less: Lease income realized	-542	-528	-1,613	-1,588	-2,119
Exchange rate effect	'	'	2,072	'	794
Ending balance	77,658	'	77,658	'	77,199
Current portion	-2,178	'	-2,178	'	-2,120
Noncurrent portion	$75,480	'	$75,480	'	$75,079

Recovered_Sheet16

Related party transactions and balances (Details Textual)	9 Months Ended		24 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 30, 2010	Dec. 30, 2010
	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	CNY	USD ($)	Shaanxi Iron and Steel Group [Member]	Shaanxi Iron and Steel Group [Member]	Shaanxi Iron and Steel Group [Member]	Shaanxi Iron and Steel Group [Member]	Tianjin Daqiuzhuang Steel Plates Co Ltd [Member]	Tianjin Daqiuzhuang Steel Plates Co Ltd [Member]
						USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	CNY
Capital Lease, Monthly Base Rental	$0	$1.60	$0.20	1.7	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Related Party Loans Secured	139.9	'	'	'	118	'	'	'	'	'	'
Capital Leases, Income Statement, Lease Revenue	'	'	'	'	'	$0.50	$0.50	$1.60	$1.60	$34.40	215.8

Equity_Details_Textual

Equity (Details Textual)

Sep. 30, 2013

Apr. 29, 2011

Sep. 30, 2013

In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified

Longmen Joint Venture [Member]

Issue One [Member]

Issue Two [Member]

Issue Three [Member]

Issue Four [Member]

USD ($)

CNY

Longmen Joint Venture [Member]

Tianwu Joint Venture [Member]

Tianjin Material and Equipment Group Corporation [Member]

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

CNY

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Net of Forfeitures

174,900

163,150

Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price

$1.01

$1.02

$0.88

Stock Issued During Period, Value, Other

$27

168

$45.10

280

$18

112

Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage

60.00%

Retirement_plan_Details_Textua

Retirement plan (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Defined Contribution Plan Employer Matching Contribution Percent Criteria One	'	'	20.00%	'
Defined Contribution Plan Employer Matching Contribution Percent Criteria Two	'	'	12.00%	'
Pension Expense	$2.30	$1.70	$6.40	$5.50
Defined Contribution Plan Employer Contribution Description	'	'	'The Company’s entities in China are required to contribute based on the higher of 20% of the employees’ monthly base salary or 12% of the minimum social average salary of the city where the facilities are located.	'
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent	'	'	8.00%	'

Statutory_reserves_Details_Tex

Statutory reserves (Details Textual) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Contributions To Statutory Reserve Fund Percentage	10.00%	'
Maximum Percentage Of Reserve Fund Balance	50.00%	'
Minimum Percentage Of Reserve Fund Balance	25.00%	'
Contributions To Special Reserve	$0.70	$0.90
Utilisation Of Special Reserve	$0.40	$0.90

Commitment_and_contingencies_D

Commitment and contingencies (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
2014	$1,445
2015	680
2016	559
2017	559
2018	559
Years after	20,185
Total minimum payments required	$23,987

Commitment_and_contingencies_D1

Commitment and contingencies (Details 1) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	304,571
Line of credit [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from October 2013 to August 2015
Three-party financing agreements [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from October 2013 to January 2014
Confirming storage [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from December 2013 to September 2014
Financing by the rights of goods delivery in future [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from December 2013 to March 2015
Longmen Joint Venture [Member]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	304,571
Longmen Joint Venture [Member] \| Line of credit [Member]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	178,931
Longmen Joint Venture [Member] \| Three-party financing agreements [Member]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	42,315
Longmen Joint Venture [Member] \| Confirming storage [Member]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	19,951
Longmen Joint Venture [Member] \| Financing by the rights of goods delivery in future [Member]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	63,374

Commitment_and_contingencies_D2

Commitment and contingencies (Details 2) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	$304,571
Yichang Zhongyi Industrial Co., Ltd [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'June 2014
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	25,428
Jinmen Desheng Metallurty Co., Ltd [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'August 2014
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	3,260
Shaanxi Hongan Material Co., Ltd. [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from October to December 2013
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	5,379
Chengdu Zhongyi Steel Co., Ltd. [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'December 2013
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	3,977
Shaanxi Huatai Huineng Group, Ltd. [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'March 2014
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	24,450
Hancheng Sanli Furnace Burden Co., Ltd. [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'March 2015
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	16,300
Xi'an Kaiyuan Steel Sales Co., Ltd [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from November 2013 to January 2014
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	3,733
Shaanxi Baolong Industry Co Ltd [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'November 2013
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	2,347
Xiban Laisheng Logistics Co., Ltd [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'May 2014
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	4,303
Shaanxi Anlin Logistics Co., Ltd [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from December 2013 to April 2014
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	7,726
Shaanxi Longan Industrial Development Co., Ltd [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'November 2013
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	3,978
Long Steel Group [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from October 2013 to August 2015
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	74,819
Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co Ltd [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from October 2013 to January 2014
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	42,315
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co Ltd [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from January 2014 to March 2015
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	44,238
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from January to July 2014
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	19,637
Long Steel Group Fuping Rolling Steel Co Ltd [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from January to June 2014
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	11,271
Tianjin Qiu Steel Pipe Industry Co Ltd [Member]	'
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'April 2014
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	$11,410

Commitment_and_contingencies_D3

Commitment and contingencies (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Operating Leases, Rent Expense	$0.80	$0.80	$2.40	$2.40
Contractual Obligation	$211.60	'	$211.60	'

Segments_Details

Segments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2012
Sales:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	$613,853		$840,771		$1,969,375		$2,276,150		'
Interdivisional Sales Revenue	-3,758		-129,346		-54,338		-136,001		'
TOTAL SALES	610,095		711,425		1,915,037		2,140,149		'
Gross profit:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Gross Profit Loss	8,231		-13,596		-23,238		20,078		'
Interdivision Gross Profit Loss	0		0		0		0		'
GROSS PROFIT	8,231		-13,596		-23,238		20,078		'
Income (loss) from operations:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Income Loss From Operations	31,572		-35,033		28,679		-37,467		'
Interdivision Income Loss From Operations	0		0		0		0		'
Unallocated Income Loss From Operations	-1,177	[1]	-1,350	[1]	-3,504	[1]	-4,003	[1]	'
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS	30,395		-36,383		25,175		-41,470		'
Net income (loss) attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Income Loss Net	4,917		-40,190		-29,616		-98,709		'
Interdivision Income Loss Net	0		0		0		0		'
Unallocated Income Loss Net	-1,116	[1]	-1,408	[1]	-3,298	[1]	-4,050	[1]	'
NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO GENERAL STEEL HOLDINGS, INC.	3,801		-41,598		-32,914		-102,759		'
Depreciation and amortization:	'		'		'		'		'
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	21,888		21,208		64,955		62,538		'
Finance/interest expenses:	'		'		'		'		'
Interdivision Interest Expense	0		0		0		0		'
Unallocated Finance Interest Expense	1	[1]	-3	[1]	3	[1]	-1	[1]	'
Finance/interest expenses	25,503		36,615		81,355		138,929		'
Capital expenditures:	'		'		'		'		'
Consolidated capital expenditures	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	'
Equipment purchase and intangible assets	16,455		3,298		75,326		15,909		'
ASSETS	'		'		'		'		'
Interdivision Assets	-84,880		'		-84,880		'		-57,436
Reconciling item	5,654	[2]	'		5,654	[2]	'		7,074	[2]
TOTAL ASSETS	2,672,026		'		2,672,026		'		2,650,682
Longmen Joint Venture [Member]	'		'		'		'		'
Sales:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	606,444		708,974		1,903,933		2,126,556		'
Gross profit:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Gross Profit Loss	8,122		-18,417		-23,704		12,628		'
Income (loss) from operations:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Income Loss From Operations	32,967		-37,000		32,998		-40,071		'
Net income (loss) attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Income Loss Net	8,284		-39,494		-18,335		-92,974		'
Depreciation and amortization:	'		'		'		'		'
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	21,014		19,915		62,295		58,573		'
Finance/interest expenses:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Finance Interest Expense	23,252		33,989		73,424		129,683		'
Capital expenditures:	'		'		'		'		'
Equipment purchase and intangible assets	16,455		3,259		60,461		19,604		'
ASSETS	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Assets	2,537,952		'		2,537,952		'		2,513,206
Maoming Hengda Steel Company Ltd [Member]	'		'		'		'		'
Sales:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	252		1,134		3,124		4,003		'
Gross profit:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Gross Profit Loss	-57		-761		188		-1,174		'
Income (loss) from operations:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Income Loss From Operations	-719		-1,062		-1,741		-2,498		'
Net income (loss) attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Income Loss Net	-694		-1,073		-1,681		-2,393		'
Depreciation and amortization:	'		'		'		'		'
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	307		451		933		1,447		'
Finance/interest expenses:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Finance Interest Expense	1		35		1		47		'
Capital expenditures:	'		'		'		'		'
Equipment purchase and intangible assets	0		23		2		38		'
ASSETS	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Assets	29,340		'		29,340		'		29,687
Baotou Steel Pipe Joint Venture [Member]	'		'		'		'		'
Sales:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	2,921		1,322		3,902		3,923		'
Gross profit:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Gross Profit Loss	160		120		249		193		'
Income (loss) from operations:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Income Loss From Operations	20		630		-285		224		'
Net income (loss) attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Income Loss Net	16		403		-227		-263		'
Depreciation and amortization:	'		'		'		'		'
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	62		52		185		134		'
Finance/interest expenses:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Finance Interest Expense	0		127		0		381		'
Capital expenditures:	'		'		'		'		'
Equipment purchase and intangible assets	0		1		8		6		'
ASSETS	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Assets	5,116		'		5,116		'		5,186
General Steel (China) Tianwu Joint Venture [Member]	'		'		'		'		'
Sales:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	4,236		129,341		58,416		141,668		'
Gross profit:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Gross Profit Loss	6		5,462		29		8,431		'
Income (loss) from operations:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Income Loss From Operations	-695		2,399		-2,293		4,878		'
Net income (loss) attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Income Loss Net	-2,689		-26		-9,373		-3,079		'
Depreciation and amortization:	'		'		'		'		'
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	505		790		1,542		2,384		'
Finance/interest expenses:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Finance Interest Expense	2,249		2,467		7,927		8,819		'
Capital expenditures:	'		'		'		'		'
Equipment purchase and intangible assets	0		15		3		18		'
ASSETS	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Assets	$178,844		'		$178,844		'		$152,965

[1]	Reconciling item represents the unallocated income or expenses of the Company, arising from General Steel Investment Co., Ltd, Yangpu Shengtong Investment Co., Ltd and Qiu Steel for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012.
[2]	Reconciling item represents assets held at General Steel Holdings, Inc., General Steel Investment Co., Ltd, Yangpu Shengtong Investment Co., Ltd and Qiu Steel as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.