General Steel (GSIH) 10-Q 19 Aug 14 2014 Q2 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_And_Entity_Informatio

Document And Entity Information	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Aug. 01, 2014
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	'
Trading Symbol	'GSI	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	58,314,688
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	30-Jun-14	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q2	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
ASSETS	'	'
Cash	$44,749	$31,967
Restricted cash	448,106	399,333
Notes receivable	36,948	60,054
Restricted notes receivable	106,873	395,589
Loans receivable - related parties	4,540	4,540
Accounts receivable, net	5,277	4,078
Accounts receivable - related parties	5,788	2,942
Other receivables, net	54,804	54,716
Other receivables - related parties	57,983	54,106
Inventories	208,971	212,921
Advances on inventory purchase	58,503	44,897
Advances on inventory purchase - related parties	119,279	83,003
Prepaid expense and other	3,322	1,388
Prepaid taxes	12,489	28,407
Short-term investment	2,763	2,783
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS	1,170,395	1,380,724
PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net	1,253,351	1,271,907
OTHER ASSETS:	'	'
Advances on equipment purchase	92,133	6,409
Investment in unconsolidated entities	16,710	16,943
Long-term deferred expense	552	668
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	23,333	23,707
TOTAL OTHER ASSETS	132,728	47,727
TOTAL ASSETS	2,556,474	2,700,358
LIABILITIES AND DEFICIENCY	'	'
Short term notes payable	875,479	1,017,830
Accounts payable	418,468	434,979
Accounts payable - related parties	262,103	235,692
Short term loans - bank	201,673	301,917
Short term loans - others	64,395	62,067
Short term loans - related parties	153,996	126,693
Current maturities of long-term loans - related party	62,374	53,013
Other payables and accrued liabilities	48,343	45,653
Other payable - related parties	98,209	94,079
Customer deposits	136,288	87,860
Customer deposits - related parties	142,888	64,881
Deposit due to sales representatives	21,435	24,343
Deposit due to sales representatives - related parties	1,658	1,997
Taxes payable	4,181	4,628
Deferred lease income, current	2,171	2,187
Capital lease obligations, current	6,443	4,321
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES	2,500,104	2,562,140
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:	'	'
Long-term loans - related party	9,750	19,644
Deferred lease income, noncurrent	73,620	75,257
Capital lease obligations, noncurrent	384,830	375,019
Profit sharing liability at fair value	164,067	162,295
TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES	632,267	632,215
TOTAL LIABILITIES	3,132,371	3,194,355
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	'	'
DEFICIENCY:	'	'
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 3,092,899 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013	3	3
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized, 58,314,688 and 58,234,688 shares issued, 55,842,382 and 55,762,382 shares outstanding as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	58	58
Treasury stock, at cost, 2,472,306 shares as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013	-4,199	-4,199
Paid-in-capital	107,097	106,878
Statutory reserves	6,408	6,243
Accumulated deficits	-469,381	-414,798
Accumulated other comprehensive income	3,016	729
TOTAL GENERAL STEEL HOLDINGS, INC. DEFICIENCY	-356,998	-305,086
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	-218,899	-188,911
TOTAL DEFICIENCY	-575,897	-493,997
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND DEFICIENCY	$2,556,474	$2,700,358

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS [Parenthetical] (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
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	58,314,688	58,234,688
Common stock, shares, outstanding	55,842,382	55,762,382
Treasury stock, shares	2,472,306	2,472,306

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
SALES	$508,637	$517,350	$1,020,642	$1,019,781
SALES - RELATED PARTIES	79,376	136,301	161,582	285,161
TOTAL SALES	588,013	653,651	1,182,224	1,304,942
COST OF GOODS SOLD	482,011	540,271	1,012,755	1,038,897
COST OF GOODS SOLD - RELATED PARTIES	77,908	148,916	163,936	297,514
TOTAL COST OF GOODS SOLD	559,919	689,187	1,176,691	1,336,411
GROSS PROFIT (LOSS)	28,094	-35,536	5,533	-31,469
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES	-18,849	-20,848	-39,902	-39,803
CHANGE IN FAIR VALUE OF PROFIT SHARING LIABILITY	-2,920	9,494	-2,969	56,273
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS	6,325	-46,890	-37,338	-14,999
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)	'	'	'	'
Interest income	4,066	3,383	7,258	5,822
Finance/interest expense	-26,619	-21,216	-55,314	-46,073
Gain (loss) on disposal of equipment and intangible assets	-142	-235	-96	96
Income from equity investments	54	132	67	90
Foreign currency transaction gain	-963	98	-1,817	126
Lease income	542	539	1,088	1,071
Other non-operating (expense) income, net	302	521	126	790
Other expense, net	-22,760	-16,778	-48,688	-38,078
LOSS BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES AND NONCONTROLLING INTEREST	-16,435	-63,668	-86,026	-53,077
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	'	'	'	'
Current	107	105	112	176
Deferred	0	0	0	0
Provision for income taxes	107	105	112	176
NET LOSS	-16,542	-63,773	-86,138	-53,253
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	-5,523	-23,955	-31,555	-16,538
NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO GENERAL STEEL HOLDINGS, INC.	-11,019	-39,818	-54,583	-36,715
NET LOSS	-16,542	-63,773	-86,138	-53,253
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS	'	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-929	-7,210	3,741	-9,736
COMPREHENSIVE LOSS	-17,471	-70,983	-82,397	-62,989
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	-5,875	-26,745	-30,101	-20,290
COMPREHENSIVE LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO GENERAL STEEL HOLDINGS, INC.	($11,596)	($44,238)	($52,296)	($42,699)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES	'	'	'	'
Basic and Diluted (in shares)	55,842	54,980	55,828	54,893
LOSS PER SHARE	'	'	'	'
Basic and Diluted (in dollars per share)	($0.20)	($0.72)	($0.98)	($0.67)

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:	'	'
Net loss	($86,138)	($53,253)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	47,788	43,067
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities - warrants	0	-1
Change in fair value of profit sharing liability	2,969	-56,273
(Gain) loss on disposal of equipment and intangible assets	96	-96
Provision for doubtful accounts	-250	-169
Reservation of mine maintenance fee	278	215
Stock issued for services and compensation	219	480
Amortization of deferred financing cost on capital lease	9,253	10,217
Income from equity investments	-67	-90
Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss	1,817	-126
Deferred lease income	-1,088	-1,071
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	'	'
Notes receivable	45,931	-64,424
Accounts receivable	-1,008	-33,951
Accounts receivable - related parties	-2,875	8,969
Other receivables	-307	-857
Other receivables - related parties	-4,275	10,275
Inventories	1,286	38,014
Advances on inventory purchases	-13,968	23,215
Advances on inventory purchases - related parties	-36,971	-48,019
Prepaid expense and other	-1,947	-1,115
Long-term deferred expense	111	317
Prepaid taxes	15,747	2,742
Accounts payable	-18,050	43,122
Accounts payable - related parties	28,204	55,227
Other payables and accrued liabilities	2,637	5,002
Other payables - related parties	4,824	-16,987
Customer deposits	49,187	-6,103
Customer deposits - related parties	78,667	-14,502
Taxes payable	-413	-6,639
Other noncurrent liabilities	0	1,378
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	121,657	-61,436
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:	'	'
Restricted cash	-51,820	-49,988
Cash proceeds from short term investment	0	80
Cash proceeds from sales of equipments and intangible assets	24	16
Equipment purchase and intangible assets	-112,713	-52,350
Net cash used in investing activities	-164,509	-102,242
CASH FLOWS FINANCING ACTIVITIES:	'	'
Restricted notes receivable	286,485	244,940
Borrowings on short term notes payable	900,202	812,577
Payments on short term notes payable	-1,035,408	-1,001,301
Borrowings on short term loans - bank	185,023	141,484
Payments on short term loans - bank	-285,100	-83,433
Borrowings on short term loan - others	19,949	47,903
Payments on short term loans - others	-25,417	-47,055
Borrowings on short term loan - related parties	32,576	213,576
Payments on short term loans - related parties	-19,233	-124,059
Deposits due to sales representatives	-2,736	-3,734
Deposit due to sales representatives - related parties	-326	529
Payments on long-term loans - related party	0	-17,544
Net cash provided by financing activities	56,015	183,883
EFFECTS OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGE IN CASH	-381	1,199
INCREASE IN CASH	12,782	21,404
CASH, beginning of period	31,967	46,467
CASH, end of period	$44,749	$67,871

Organization_and_Operations

Organization and Operations	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Organization And Operations [Abstract]	'
Organization And Operations [Text Block]	'
	Note 1 – Organization and Operations
	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 $605.8 million (or approximately RMB 3.7 billion) of the constructed iron and steel making facilities owned by Shaanxi Steel, which includes one 400 m2 sintering machine, two 1,280 m3 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 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, the facilities 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 or loss generated by Longmen Joint Venture decreased from 60% to 36%. However, the overall capacity under the management of Longmen Joint Venture increased by three million tons, or 75%. The Agreement improved 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. There has been no adjustment to the Agreement from its inception to the present time nor intention to make future adjustment by the Company and Shaanxi Steel.
	The parties to the Agreement established the Shaanxi Longmen Iron and Steel Unified Management Supervisory Committee ("Supervisory Committee") to ensure that the facilities and related resources are operated and managed according to the stipulations set forth in the Agreement. The Board of Directors of Longmen Joint Venture, of which the Company holds 4 out of 7 seats, requires a simple majority vote and 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 meets certain of the criteria of a capital lease and therefore the assets constructed by Shaanxi Steel are accounted for by Longmen Joint Venture as a capital lease. The profit sharing liability portion of the lease obligation, representing 40% of the pre-tax profit generated by the Asset Pool, is accounted for by Longmen Joint Venture as a derivative financial instrument at fair value. 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

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

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 and 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 for a fair presentation of the financial statements have been included. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year. The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with information included in the 2013 annual report on Form 10-K/A filed on August 19, 2014.

(a)

Basis of presentation

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

Subsidiary

Percentage

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. (“Yangpu Shengtong”)

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

Prior to November 19, 2013, the Company held a 60.0% equity interest in Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co., Ltd. (“Tianwu”). 32% interest was held by General Steel (China) and 28% interest was held by Yangpu Shengtong. On November 19, 2013, the Company sold its 28% equity interest of Tianwu held by Yangpu Shengtong to Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd., a related party through indirect common ownership, for $13.6 million (RMB 84.3 million) while retaining 32% interest held by General Steel (China). As a result of this transaction, the Company met the criteria under ASC 810-10-40-4 to deconsolidate Tianwu at the disposal date and recognized a gain of $1.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 in accordance with ASC 810-10-40-5. At the same time, General Steel (China)’s remaining 32% interest is accounted for as an investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries using the equity method. See Note 2(t) - Investments in unconsolidated entities for details.

(b)

Principles of consolidation – subsidiaries

The accompanying 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.

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:

a.

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

b.

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 of Directors 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. The Supervisory Committee, in which the Company holds 2 out of 4 seats, requires a ¾ majority vote, while the Board of Directors, on 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. 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. If the Unified Management Agreement cannot be enforced, the Company would not consolidate Longmen Joint Venture as a VIE. However, the current PRC legal system has not limited the Company’s ability to enforce the Unified Management Agreement nor does the Company believe it is likely to do so in the future. The Company makes an 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:

June 30, 2014

December 31, 2013

(in thousands)

(in thousands)

Current assets

$

990,397

$

1,282,054

Plant and equipment, net

1,245,144

1,262,144

Other noncurrent assets

114,372

29,014

Total assets

2,349,913

2,573,212

Total liabilities

-2,891,359

-3,040,879

Net liabilities

$

-541,446

$

-467,667

VIE and its subsidiaries’ liabilities consist of the following:

June 30, 2014

December 31, 2013

(in thousands)

(in thousands)

Current liabilities:

Short term notes payable

$

864,104

$

988,364

Accounts payable

409,550

393,816

Accounts payable - related parties

261,437

235,116

Short term loans - bank

149,348

267,688

Short term loans - others

58,218

55,844

Short term loans - related parties

152,550

125,236

Current maturities of long-term loans – related party

62,374

56,614

Other payables and accrued liabilities

39,685

37,028

Other payables - related parties

93,742

88,914

Customer deposits

66,595

87,661

Customer deposits - related parties

45,589

18,359

Deposit due to sales representatives

21,435

24,343

Deposit due to sales representatives – related parties

1,658

1,997

Taxes payable

2,930

3,357

Deferred lease income

2,171

2,187

Capital lease obligations, current

6,443

4,321

Intercompany payable to be eliminated

21,263

21,420

Total current liabilities

2,259,092

2,412,265

Non-current liabilities:

Long term loans - related parties

9,750

16,043

Deferred lease income - noncurrent

73,620

75,257

Capital lease obligations, noncurrent

384,830

375,019

Profit sharing liability at fair value

164,067

162,295

Total non-current liabilities

632,267

628,614

Total liabilities of consolidated VIE

$

2,891,359

$

3,040,879

Three months ended

Three months ended

June 30, 2014

June 30, 2013

(in thousands)

(in thousands)

Sales

$

587,314

$

650,741

Gross profit (loss)

$

28,229

$

-36,193

Income (loss) from operations

$

8,128

$

-44,684

Net loss attributable to controlling interest

$

-8,077

$

-34,944

Six months ended

Six months ended

June 30, 2014

June 30, 2013

(in thousands)

(in thousands)

Sales

$

1,181,328

$

1,297,489

Gross profit (loss)

$

6,010

$

-31,826

Loss from operations

$

-31,166

$

-9,747

Net loss attributable to controlling interest

$

-46,111

$

-26,619

Longmen Joint Venture has two 100% owned subsidiaries, Yuxin Trading Co., Ltd. (“Yuxin”) and Yuteng Trading Co., Ltd. (“Yuteng”). Longmen Joint Venture also 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 invested in by Longmen Joint Venture in June 2007 and July 2008, respectively. 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. The assets, liabilities and the operating results of Hualong are immaterial to the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

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 assets, liabilities and the operating results of Huatianyulong are immaterial to the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

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 majority voting rights in each entity, and thereby, the power of control, to Longmen Joint Venture.

(d)

Liquidity

The Company’s accounts have been prepared under the 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 options (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 the 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 June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were (5.4) and (6.5), respectively. As of June 30, 2014, the Company’s current liabilities exceed current assets by $1.3 billion.

Longmen Joint Venture, as the most important entity of the Company, accounted for a majority of the 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, as well as its ability to obtain external financial supports, including but not limited to lines of credit from banks and vendor financing. If Longmen Joint Venture does not maintain a sufficient level of financial support by renewing its financing terms with existing financing sources or obtaining new sources of financial support, there may be an immediate negative impact on the Company’s operations and its ability to continue as a going concern. Longmen Joint Venture has obtained different types of financial support, which are listed below by category:

Lines of credit

The Company has lines of credit from the listed major banks totaling $147.9 million with expiration dates ranging from June 16, 2015 to November 28, 2015.

Banks

Amount of

Repayment Date

Line of Credit

(in millions)

China Minsheng Bank

97.5

28-Nov-15

China CITIC Bank

32.5

16-Jun-15

Bank of Communication

17.9

17-Jul-15

Total

$

147.9

Management expects the above lines of credit will be extended after the repayment dates.

As of the date of this report, the Company utilized $50.4 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 $811.5 million with the following companies:

Company

Financing Period

Financing Amount

(in millions)

Company A – related party

July 30, 2014 – July 30, 2019

$

243.8

Company B – third party

January 22, 2014 – January 22, 2017

162.5

Company C – third party

October 1, 2013 – March 31, 2016

487.5

Total

$

893.8

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 many years. On July 30, 2014, Company A signed a five-year agreement with Longmen Joint Venture to finance its coke purchases up to $243.8 million. Company B signed a three-year agreement with Longmen Joint Venture on January 22, 2014 to finance its coke purchases up to $162.5 million. According to the above signed agreements, both Company A and B will not demand any cash payments during their respective financing periods. As of the date of this report, our payables to Company A and Company B were approximately $68.2 million and $65.4 million, respectively.

Company C is a Fortune 500 Company. On June 28, 2013, Company C signed an agreement with Longmen Joint Venture to finance Longmen Joint Venture’s purchase of iron ore for an amount up to $487.5 million to commence on October 1, 2013 and end on March 31, 2015. On August 1, 2014, Company C signed an extension agreement with the Company and extended the financing terms to March 31, 2016. 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. As of the date of this report, our payable to Company C is approximately $1.9 million.

Other financing

On February 20, 2014, March 5, 2014, April 22, 2014 and April 23, 2014 Longmen Joint Venture signed payment extension agreements with each company listed below. In total, Longmen Joint Venture can obtain $362.0 million in financial support from two-year and three-year balancing payment extensions granted by the following five companies:

Company

Financing Period

Financing Amount

(in millions)

Company D – related party

April 22, 2014 – April 22, 2017

$

81.3

Company E – related party

April 23, 2014 – April 23, 2017

86

Company F – related party

April 22, 2014 – April 22, 2017

81.3

Company G – related party

March 5, 2014 – March 5, 2016

56.9

Company H – related party

March 5, 2014 – March 5, 2016

56.9

Total

$

362.4

As of the date of this report, our payables to Company D, Company E, Company F, Company G and Company H are approximately $16.3 million, $21.5 million, $19.0 million, $9.9 million and $1.0 million, 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 June 30, 2014, Longmen Joint Venture has collected a total amount of $23.1 million. Historically, this amount is quite stable and we do not expect a big fluctuation in this amount for the next twelve months from June 30, 2014 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 June 30, 2015. The detailed breakdown of Longmen Joint Venture’s estimated cash flows are listed below.

Cash inflow (outflow)

(in millions)

For the twelve months

ending June 30, 2015

Current liabilities over current assets (excluding deferred lease income) as of June 30, 2014 (unaudited)

$

-1,327.50

Projected cash financing and outflows:

Cash provided by lines of credit from banks

147.9

Cash provided by vendor financing

893.8

Cash provided by other financing

362.4

Cash provided by sales representatives

23.1

Cash projected to be used in operations in the twelve months ending June 30, 2015

-28.8

Cash projected to be used for financing costs in the twelve months ending June 30, 2015

-63.7

Net projected change in cash for the twelve months ending June 30, 2015

$

7.2

As a result, the consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2014 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 consolidated financial statements and footnotes. Significant accounting estimates reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements include the fair value of the profit sharing liability, the useful lives of and impairment of property, plant and equipment, potential losses on uncollectible receivables, the allowance for inventory valuation, the interest rate used in the financing sales, the fair value of the assets recorded under capital leases and the present value of the net minimum lease payments of the capital leases. 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 price fluctuation of raw materials and energy prices as part of its normal operations. The Company does not utilize 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 June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 amounted to $ 492.9 million and $ 431.3 million, including $ 0.6 million and $ 2.0 million that were deposited in Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Financial Co., Ltd., a related party, respectively. As of June 30, 2014, $ 0.1 million cash in the bank was covered by insurance. The Company has not experienced any losses in its bank accounts and deposits its cash in a number of different banks to minimize its exposure to credit risk.

The Company’s five major customers are all distributors and collectively represented 31.8% and 24.4% of the Company’s total sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively. None of the five major customers individually accounted for more than 10% of the total sales for the three months or the six months ended June 30, 2014. The Company’s five major customers represented 27.8% and 23.3% of the Company’s total sales for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively. None of the five major customers individually accounted for more than 10% of the total sales for the three months or the six months ended June 30, 2013. None of the five major customers has accounts receivable, including related parties, with the Company as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company purchased 47.4% and 43.8% 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 months ended June 30, 2014 and one of the five major suppliers individually accounted for 12.7% of the total purchases for the six months ended June 30, 2014. The purchases from the five major suppliers represented 45.0% and 38.4% of the Company’s total purchases for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively. Two of the five major suppliers individually accounted for 15.6% and 10.7% of the total purchases for the three months ended June 30, 2013, respectively, and one of the five major suppliers individually accounted for 11.6% of the total purchases for the six months ended June 30, 2013. These five vendors accounted for 38.3% and 29.1% of total accounts payable, including related parties, as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. None of the five major suppliers individually accounted for more than 10% of total accounts payable as June 30, 2014 and and December 31, 2013.

(g)

Foreign currency translation and other comprehensive income

The reporting currency of the Company is the U.S. dollar. The Company’s subsidiaries and VIE 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 statements of operations 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 $3.0 million and $0.7 million as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The balance sheet amounts, with the exception of equity, at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were translated at 6.15 RMB and 6.11 RMB to $1.00, respectively. The equity accounts were stated at their historical rate. The average translation rates applied to the statements of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 were 6.16 RMB and 6.20 RMB, respectively. The average translation rates applied to the statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 were 6.14 RMB and 6.24 RMB, respectively. Cash flows are also translated at average translation rates for the periods; as a result,, amounts reported on the statement of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances in 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 standard 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 investments, 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 carrying value of the long term loans-related party approximates its fair value as of the reporting date as their stated interest rates approximate current rates available.

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.

The Company analyzes all financial instruments with features of both liabilities and equity, pursuant to which warrants previously issued by the Company were required to be recorded as a liability at fair value and marked to market each reporting period. The warrants were accounted for as derivative liabilities and recorded at their fair value, with the change in fair value charged or credited to income each period.  The warrants expired unexercised on May 13, 2013. Prior to their expiration, the fair value of the warrants was estimated using a binomial lattice model, using level 3 inputs.

As described in Note 15 - Capital lease obligations, payments related to the capital lease of the Asset Pool consist of two components: (1) a fixed monthly payment of $2.3 million (RMB 14.6 million), based on Shaanxi Steel’s cost to construct the assets, to be paid for the 20 year term of the Unified Management Agreement; and (2) 40% of any remaining pre-tax profits from the Asset Pool, which includes Longmen Joint Venture and the constructed iron and steel making facilities. The aforementioned profit sharing component meets the definition of a derivative instrument under ASC 815-10-15-83 and, accordingly, the profit sharing liability is accounted for separately as a derivative liability. It was recognized initially at its estimated fair value at inception. The estimated fair value is adjusted each reporting period, with changes in the estimated fair value of the profit sharing liability charged or credited to operating income each period.

The Company determines the fair value of the profit sharing liability using Level 3 inputs by considering the present value of Longmen Joint Venture’s projected profits/losses, discounted based on our average borrowing rate, which is currently 7.3%.

The fair value of the profit sharing liability will change each period as a result of (a) any changes in our estimate of Longmen Joint Venture’s projected profits/losses over the remaining term of the Agreement, (b) any change in the discount rate used, based on changes in our current or expected borrowing rate, (c) the change in fair value related to the passage of time and change in the number of future periods over which the present value of future cash flows is estimated and (d) any difference between the previously estimated operating results for the current period and actual results.

Each period, the Company considers whether the discount rate based on the Company’s average borrowing rate should be adjusted based upon the current and expected future financial condition of the Company. To date, the Company has not considered any adjustment to be necessary based upon, but not limited to, the following assumptions:

·

because the joint venture partner of Longmen Joint Venture is a state-owned enterprise with an excellent credit history, PRC banks grant similar credit treatment to Longmen Joint Venture in terms of credit availability

·

the current average borrowing rate of enterprises in the steel industry in the PRC is similar to this borrowing rate

·

the current new/renewal borrowing rates of the Company’s bank loans are similar to prior periods

·

the People’s Bank of China has not recently adjusted any borrowing rate

·

PRC bank interest rates are not industry specific. The downtrend in the steel industry did not materially impact the bank borrowing rates for steel companies

·

the bank interest rates are assessed by each individual bank and governed by the Chinese banking regulatory bodies. Reports from credit rating research firms are not commonly used by PRC banks

The projected profits/losses in Longmen Joint Venture are based upon, but not limited to, the following assumptions:

·

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

·

interest rate index

·

gross national product index

·

industry index

·

government policy

From inception to December 31, 2012, the assumptions underlying the estimated fair value did not change significantly. Beginning in the first quarter of 2013, the assumptions related to unit selling prices and costs were revised, resulting in a reduction of the estimated profit sharing liability. These assumptions were further revised during 2013. The above assumptions were again reviewed by the Company at June 30, 2014 but no major change was deemed necessary to the assumptions used at December 31, 2013. For the six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company recognized a loss on the change in the fair value of the profit sharing liability of $2.9 million due to a $5.7 million reduction in the present value discount offset by a $2.8 million gain resulting from the Asset Pool’s operating results for the six months ended June 30, 2014 being slightly less favorable than previously estimated as of December 31, 2013.

The estimated fair value of the profit sharing liability at June 30, 2014 is $164.1 million. Changes in any of the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the profit sharing liability will change the liability accordingly. If we were to reduce the projected bank borrowing rate used to discount the liability to a present value by 1.0% and other factors remained unchanged, our profit sharing liability as of June 30, 2014 would have been $187.3 million and we would increase the loss from the change in the fair value of the profit sharing liability by $23.2 million. If we were to 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 June 30, 2014 would have been $162.2 million and we would decrease the loss from the change in the fair value of the profit sharing liability by $1.9 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 June 30, 2014:

(in thousands)

Carrying Value as

Fair Value Measurements at June 30, 2014

of June 30, 2014

Using Fair Value Hierarchy

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Profit sharing liability

$

164,067

$

-

$

-

$

164,067

Total

$

164,067

$

-

$

-

$

164,067

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, 2013:

(in thousands)

Carrying Value as

Fair Value Measurements at December 31,

of December 31,

2013

2013

Using Fair Value Hierarchy

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Profit sharing liability

$

162,295

$

-

$

-

$

162,295

Total

$

162,295

$

-

$

-

$

162,295

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 six months ended June 30, 2014 and for the year ended December 31, 2013:

June 30, 2014

December 31, 2013

(in thousands)

(in thousands)

Beginning balance

$

162,295

$

328,828

Change in fair value of profit sharing liability:

Change in estimate of future operating profits

-

-174,821

Change in discount rate

-

-

Change in the number of future periods over which the present value of future cash flows is estimated

5,778

16,872

Difference between the previously estimated operating results for the current period and actual results

-2,809

-16,620

Change in derivative liabilities - warrants

-

1

Exchange rate effect

-1,197

8,035

Ending balance

$

164,067

$

162,295

Except for the derivative liabilities related to the profit sharing liability and to the warrants issued by the Company, which expired on May 13, 2013, the Company did not identify any other assets or liabilities that are required to be presented on the balance sheet at fair value.

(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 requests 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 expense for early submission requests for payment for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 amounted to $12.8 million and $6.5 million, respectively, and amounted to $26.9 million and $17.3 million, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.

(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

10-20 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 betterments 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 their 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.

(k)

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 June 30, 2014, 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 has a twenty-year term.

Long Steel Group contributed land use rights for a total amount of $24.1 million (RMB 148.3 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 in

(in thousands)

General Steel (China)

$

3,856

2050 & 2053

Longmen Joint Venture

$

24,097

2048 & 2052

Maoming Hengda

$

2,697

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 rights amounting to $2.4 million (RMB 15.0 million), which is amortized over the estimated recoverable reserve of 4.2 million tons.

(l)

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 June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

Unconsolidated entities

Year

June 30, 2014

Owned %

December 31,

Owned

acquired

Net investment

2013

%

(In thousands)

Net investment

(In thousands)

Xi’an Delong Powder Engineering Materials Co., Ltd.

2007

$

1,098

24.1

$

1,215

24.1

The table below summarizes General Steel (China)’s investment holding (see Note 2(a) - Basis of presentation) as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

Unconsolidated entities

Year

June 30, 2014

Owned %

December 31,

Owned

acquired

Net investment

2013

%

(In thousands)

Net investment

(In thousands)

Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co., Ltd.

2010

$

15,612

32

$

15,728

32

Total investment income (loss) in unconsolidated subsidiaries amounted to $0.05 million and $0.13 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $0.06 million and $0.09 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, which was included in “Income from equity investments” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

(m)

Revenue recognition

Sales are recognized at the date of shipment to customers when a formal arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, the delivery is completed, the Company has no other significant obligations and collectability is reasonably assured. Payments received before all of the relevant criteria for revenue recognition are met are recorded as customer deposits. Sales represent the invoiced value of goods, net of value-added tax (VAT). All of the Company’s products sold in the PRC are subject to a Chinese value-added tax at a rate of 13% or 17% of the gross sales price. This VAT may be offset by VAT paid by the Company on raw materials and other materials included in the cost of producing the finished product.

The Company infrequently engages in trading transactions in which the Company acts as an agent between the suppliers and the customers. The trading arrangements are such that the suppliers are the primary obligors, the Company does not have any general inventory risk, physical inventory loss risk or credit risk, and the Company does not have latitude in establishing price. Sales and cost of goods sold from these trading arrangements are recorded at the net amount retained in accordance with ASC 605-45.

(n)

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. Under the new guidance, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations should be presented as discontinued operations. The new guidance also requires disclosure of the pre-tax income attributable to a disposal of a significant part of an organization that does not qualify for discontinued operations reporting. The amendments in the ASU are effective in the first quarter of 2015 for public organizations with calendar year ends. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance will have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Topic 606. This Update affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets, unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards. The guidance in this Update supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition and most industry-specific guidance. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to illustrate the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new guidance also includes a cohesive set of disclosure requirements that will provide users of financial statements with comprehensive information about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from a reporting organization’s contracts with customers. This ASU is effective retrospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2016 for public companies and 2017 for non-public entities. Management is evaluating the effect, if any, on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

(o)

Reclassifications

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

Loans_receivable_related_parti

Loans receivable - related parties	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
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:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Loan to Teamlink Investment Co., Ltd; due in June, July and December 2014; interest rate is 4.75%	$	4,540	$	4,540
	Total loans receivable – related parties	$	4,540	$	4,540
	See Note 18 “Related party transactions and balances” for the nature of the relationship of related parties.
	Total interest income for the loans amounted to $0.05 million and $0.07 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Total interest income for the loans amounted to $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Accounts_receivable_including_

Accounts receivable (including related parties), net	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
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:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Accounts receivable	$	6,078	$	5,131
	Less: allowance for doubtful accounts		-801		-1,053
	Accounts receivable – related parties		5,788		2,942
	Net accounts receivable	$	11,065	$	7,020
	Changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts are as follows:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Beginning balance	$	1,053	$	1,367
	Charge to expense		-		96
	Less: recovery		-244		-449
	Exchange rate effect		-8		39
	Ending balance	$	801	$	1,053

Inventories

Inventories	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventory Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 5 – Inventories
	Inventories consist of the following:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Supplies	$	23,451	$	21,040
	Raw materials		147,780		164,301
	Finished goods		47,713		42,977
	Less: allowance for inventory valuation		-9,973		-15,397
	Total inventories	$	208,971	$	212,921
	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 June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had provided allowance for inventory valuation in the amounts of $10.0 million and $15.4 million, respectively.
	Changes in the allowance for inventory valuation are as follows:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Beginning balance	$	15,397	$	9,585
	Addition		9,996		15,194
	Less: write-off		-15,319		-9,757
	Exchange rate effect		-101		375
	Ending balance	$	9,973	$	15,397

Advances_on_inventory_purchase

Advances on inventory purchases	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
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 $177.8 million and $127.9 million as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Plant_and_equipment_net

Plant and equipment, net	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
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:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Buildings and improvements	$	280,272	$	274,402
	Machinery		658,159		667,093
	Machinery under capital lease		625,196		623,895
	Transportation and other equipment		23,322		22,991
	Construction in progress		38,736		11,412
	Subtotal		1,625,685		1,599,793
	Less: accumulated depreciation		-372,334		-327,886
	Total	$	1,253,351	$	1,271,907
	Construction in progress consisted of the following as of June 30, 2014:
	Construction in progress	Value		Completion		Estimated
	description					additional cost to
						complete
		(In thousands)		date		(In thousands)
	Factory wall remodel		1,022	Jul-14			77
	Equipment updates		109	Jul-14			3,206
	Sintering machine construction		4,830	Nov-14			140,122
	#5 blast furnace construction		22,970	Dec-14			150,155
	Electrical substation construction		13	Aug-14			24,419
	Reconstruction of miscellaneous factory buildings		5,547	Oct-14			4,337
	Project materials		2,133				-
	Others		2,112				-
	Total	$	38,736			$	326,316
	The Company 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. During 2013 and 2014, Longmen Joint Venture entered into a number of capital lease agreements for energy-saving equipment installed throughout the steel production line. The Company is obligated under the capital lease for the equipment upon the confirmation of the energy-saving rate between the Company and its vendors.
	The carrying value of assets acquired under the capital lease consists of the following:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Machinery	$	625,196	$	623,895
	Less: accumulated depreciation		-92,037		-77,086
	Carrying value of leased assets	$	533,159	$	546,809
	The Company assessed the recoverability of all of its remaining long lived assets at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, and such assessment did not result in any impairment charges.
	Depreciation expense for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 amounted to $23.2 million and $21.4 million, respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, amounted to $47.3 and $42.5 million, respectively. These amounts include depreciation of assets held under capital leases for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, which amounted to $7.7 million and $7.1 million, respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, amounted to $15.6 and $14.1 million, respectively.

Intangible_assets_net

Intangible assets, net	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 8 – Intangible assets, net
	Intangible assets consist of the following:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Land use rights	$	30,650	$	30,884
	Mining right		2,441		2,459
	Software		1,049		743
	Subtotal		34,140		34,086
	Less:
	Accumulated amortization – land use rights		-8,767		-8,498
	Accumulated amortization – mining right		-1,363		-1,320
	Accumulated amortization – software		-677		-561
	Subtotal		-10,807		-10,379
	Intangible assets, net	$	23,333	$	23,707
	The gross amount of the intangible assets amounted to $34.1 million and $34.1 million as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The remaining weighted average amortization period is 33.1 years as of June 30, 2014.
	Total amortization expense for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 amounted to $0.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, amounted to $0.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively.
	Total depletion expense for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 amounted to $0.04 million and $0.02 million, respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, amounted to $0.05 million and $0.1 million, respectively.
	The estimated aggregate amortization and depletion expenses for each of the five succeeding years is as follows:
	Year ending	Estimated		Gross carrying
		amortization and		amount
		depletion expenses
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	30-Jun-15	$	1,024		22,309
	30-Jun-16		1,024		21,285
	30-Jun-17		1,024		20,261
	30-Jun-18		1,024		19,237
	30-Jun-19		1,024		18,213
	Thereafter		18,213		-
	Total	$	23,333

Debt

Debt	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
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 $430.2 million and $399.4 million as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. Restricted notes receivable as a guarantee for the notes payable amounted to $51.0 million and $231.7 million as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
	The Company had the following short-term notes payable as of:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	General Steel (China): Notes payable to various banks in China, due various dates from July to December 2014. Restricted cash required of $11.4 million and $16.4 million as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively; guaranteed by third parties. These notes payable were either repaid or renewed subsequently on the due dates.	$	11,375	$	29,466
	Longmen Joint Venture: Notes payable to various banks in China, due various dates from July to December 2014. $418.8 million restricted cash and $51.0 million notes receivable are secured for notes payable as of June 30, 2014, and comparatively $383.0 million restricted cash and $231.7 million notes receivable secured as of December 31, 2013, respectively; some notes are further guaranteed by third parties. These notes payable were either repaid or renewed subsequently on the due dates.		864,104		988,364
	Total short-term notes payable	$	875,479	$	1,017,830
	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
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	General Steel (China): Loans from various banks in China, due various dates from August 2014 to June 2015. Weighted average interest rate was 7.1% per annum and 7.2% per annum as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively; some are guaranteed by third parties and related parties. $8.1 million and $0 restricted cash were secured for the loans as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively; These loans were either repaid or renewed subsequently on the due dates.	$	52,325	$	34,229
			149,348		267,688
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loans from various banks in China, due various dates from August 2014 to June 2015. Weighted average interest rate was 6.1% per annum and 6.3% per annum as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively; some are guaranteed by third parties, accounts receivable, restricted cash or notes receivables. $56.1 million and $163.9 million restricted notes receivable were secured for the loans as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively; $5.9 million and $0 restricted cash were secured for the loans as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively; These loans were either repaid or renewed subsequently on the due dates.
	Total short-term loans - bank	$	201,673	$	301,917
	As of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had not met its financial covenants stipulated by certain loan agreements related to the Company’s debt to asset ratio. As of June 30, 2014, two of General Steel (China)’s bank loans contained financial covenants stipulating debt to asset ratios below 20%. However, as of June 30, 2014, General Steel (China)’s debt to asset ratio was 95.4%. As of December 31, 2013, three of General Steel (China)’s bank loans contained financial covenants stipulating debt to asset ratios below 20% and 70%. However, as of December 31, 2013, General Steel (China)’s debt to asset ratio was 89.7%.
	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 June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was $5.2 million and $6.4 million, respectively. According to the Company’s short term loan agreements, the banks have the right to request 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
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loans from various unrelated companies and individuals, due various dates from July to December 2014, and weighted average interest rate was 5.6% per annum and 5.2% per annum as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. These loans were either repaid or renewed subsequently on the due dates.	$	17,099	$	22,720
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loans from financing sales.		41,119		33,124
	Maoming Hengda: Loans from one unrelated party and one related party, due on demand, none interest bearing.		6,177		6,223
	Total short-term loans – others	$	64,395	$	62,067
	The Company had various loans from unrelated companies amounting to $64.4 million and $62.1 million as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. Of the $64.4 million, $6.2 million of loans carry no interest, $41.1 million of financing sales are subject to interest rates ranging between 4.6% and 9.6%, and the remaining $17.1 million are subject to interest rates ranging from 5.0% to 5.8%. 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 Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiaries, 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 4.6% to 9.6% 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 4.6% to 9.6% 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 consolidated financial statements.
	Total financing sales for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 amounted to $229.1 million and $188.1 million, respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, amounted to $459.6 million and $353.3 million, respectively, which are eliminated in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The financial cost related to financing sales for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 amounted to $0.8 million and $3.1 million, respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, amounted to $1.7 million and $3.1 million, respectively.
	Short term loans due to related parties
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	General Steel China: Loans from Yangpu Capital Automobile, due on demand, and interest rate is 10% per annum.	$	1,446	$	1,458
			8,822		28,216
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loan from Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd., due on demand, and interest rate is 7.0% per annum.
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loan from Shaanxi Steel Group due on various dates from November 2014 to June 2015, and interest rate is 6.6% per annum.		81,250		49,110
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loans from financing sales.		62,478		47,909
	Total short-term loans - related parties	$	153,996	$	126,693
	Long-term loans due to related party
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loans from Shaanxi Steel Group, due on various dates through November 2015 and interest rate is 5.6% per annum.	$	72,124	$	72,657
	Less: Current maturities of long-term loans – related party		-62,374		-53,013
	Long-term loans - related party	$	9,750	$	19,644
	Total interest expense, net of capitalized interest, amounted to $8.2 million and $10.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Total interest expense, net of capitalized interest, amounted to $17.7 million and $18.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Capitalized interest included in construction in progress amounted to $0.2 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Capitalized interest included in construction in progress amounted to $0.8 million and $0.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Customer_deposits

Customer deposits	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
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 June 30, 2014 and December 31 2013, customer deposits amounted to $279.2 million and $152.7 million, respectively, including deposits received from related parties, which amounted to $142.9 million and $64.9 million, respectively.

Deposits_due_to_sales_represen

Deposits due to sales representatives	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
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 $23.1 million and $26.3 million in deposits due to sales representatives, including deposits due to related parties, as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Warrants

Warrants	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Warrants and Rights Note Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 12 – Warrants
	The Company previously had 3,900,871 common stock warrants outstanding, which were issued in connection with $40 million of convertible notes issued by the Company in 2007. The warrants, which were accounted for as a derivative liability at fair value, expired unexercised on May 13, 2013.

Supplemental_disclosure_of_cas

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]	'
Cash Flow Supplemental Disclosures [Text Block]	'
	Note 13 - Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
	Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized, amounted to $12.4 million and $7.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	The Company paid income taxes of $0.1 million and $0.2 million during the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	During the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company had receivables of $(0.01) million and $1.0 million, respectively, as a result of the disposal of equipment that have not been collected.
	During the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company used $1.1 million and $19.0 million of inventory, respectively, in plant and equipment construction.
	The Company had $2.3 million notes receivable from financing sales loans to be converted to cash as of June 30, 2014.
	During the six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company incurred $4.7 million in accounts payable for the purchase of equipment and construction in progress.
	During the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, one of the Company’s unconsolidated entities declared a dividend and the Company is entitled to a dividend of $0.2 million and $0.2 million, respectively, which has not yet been collected.
	During the six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company converted $(0.05) million of equipment into inventory production.
	During the six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company acquired $5.9 million of equipment through capital leases.

Deferred_lease_income

Deferred lease income	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Deferred Revenue [Abstract]	'
Deferred Revenue Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 14 - Deferred lease income
	To compensate the Company for costs and economic losses incurred during construction of the iron and steel making facilities owned by Shaanxi Steel and which are leased by the Longmen Joint Venture, 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 $14.5 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 $7.1 million (RMB 43.9 million) was deferred and is being 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 June 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company recognized $0.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company recognized $1.1 million and $1.1 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the balance of deferred lease income amounted to $75.8 million and $77.4 million, respectively, of which $2.2 million and $2.2 million represents amounts to be amortized within one year. See Note 18 – Related party transactions and balances (m) – Deferred lease income for details.

Capital_lease_obligations

Capital lease obligations	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Leases, Capital [Abstract]	'
Capital Leases in Financial Statements of Lessee Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 15 - Capital lease obligations
	Iron and steel production facilities
	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 of $2.3 million (RMB 14.6 million), based on Shaanxi Steel’s cost to construct the assets, 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 February 2014, Shaanxi Steel agreed that it will not demand capital lease payments from Longmen Joint Venture until February 2017. The profit sharing component does not meet the definition of contingent rent because it is based on future revenue and was therefore considered part of the financing for the capital leased assets. The initial fair value of the profit sharing liability was included in determining the value of the leased assets at inception. The profit sharing liability is accounted for separately from the monthly lease payments and is accounted for as a derivative liability at fair value, with changes in the fair value charged or credited to income each period. See Note 2(h) – “Financial instruments” and Note 16 – “Profit sharing liability”.
	Energy-saving equipment
	During 2013 and 2014, the Company’s subsidiary, Longmen Joint Venture, entered into capital lease agreements for energy-saving equipment to be installed throughout the production chain. Under these agreements, Longmen Joint Venture uses the energy-saving equipment for which the vendors are responsible for the design, purchase, installation, and on-site testing, as well as the ownership rights to the equipment during the lease periods. The lease periods, which vary between four to six years, begin upon the completion of the equipment installation, testing, and the issuance of the energy-saving rate reports to be agreed upon by both the vendors and Longmen Joint Venture. As the ownership rights of the equipment transfer to Longmen Joint Venture at the end of the lease periods, these agreements are accounted for as capital leases.
	The minimum lease payments are based on the energy cost saved during the lease periods, which is determined by the estimated annual equipment operating hours per the lease agreements. If the actual annual equipment operating hours are less than the estimated amount, the lease periods may be extended, subject to further negotiation and agreement between the Company and the vendors. If the actual annual equipment operating hours exceed the estimated amount, the Company is obligated to make additional lease payments based on the additional energy cost saved during the lease period and will recognize the additional lease payments as contingent rent expense. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, no contingent rent expense was incurred under these lease agreements.
	Presented below is a schedule of estimated minimum lease payments on the capital lease obligations for the next five years as of June 30, 2014:
	Year ending June 30,	Capital Lease Obligations
		Minimum Lease Payments
		(in thousands)
	2015	$	7,567
	2016		5,804
	2017		181,884
	2018		33,280
	2019		30,108
	Thereafter		338,666
	Total minimum lease payments		597,309
	Less: amounts representing interest		-206,036
	Ending balance	$	391,273
	The above amounts do not include the profit sharing liability, which is accounted for separately as a derivative instrument at fair value.
	Interest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 on the capital lease obligations was $5.7 million and $5.1 million, respectively.
	Interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 on the capital lease obligations was $10.8 million and $10.2 million, respectively.

Profit_sharing_liability

Profit sharing liability	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Profit Sharing Liability [Abstract]	'
Profit Sharing Liability [Text Block]	'
	Note 16 – Profit sharing liability
	The profit sharing liability component of the capital lease obligation was 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. The profit sharing liability is accounted for separately from the fixed portion of the capital lease obligation (see Note 15 - “Capital lease obligation”) and is accounted for as a derivative instrument in accordance with ASC 815-10-15-83. The estimated fair value of the profit sharing liability is reassessed at the end of each reporting period, with any change in fair value charged or credited to income as “Change in Fair Value of Profit Sharing Liability”. See Note 2(h) – “Financial instruments” for details.
	Payments to Shaanxi Steel for the profit sharing liability are not required until net cumulative profits are achieved. Based on the performance of the Asset Pool, no profit sharing payment was made from inception to date.

Taxes

Taxes	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 17 – 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 and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 are as follows:
	(In thousands)	Three months ended		Three months ended
		June 30, 2014		June 30, 2013
	Current	$	107	$	105
	Deferred		-		-
	Total provision for income taxes	$	107	$	105
	(In thousands)	Six months ended		Six months ended
		June 30, 2014		June 30, 2013
	Current	$	112	$	176
	Deferred		-		-
	Total provision for income taxes	$	112	$	176
	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. The special tax treatment has not changed to date as a result of the evaluations by the local tax bureau.
	Deferred tax 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 $536.8 million will begin to expire in 2015. 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 is 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 a 100% valuation allowance for the deferred tax assets. The valuation allowance as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was $101.0 million and $97.6 million, respectively. Management will review this valuation allowance periodically and make adjustments as warranted. Temporary differences represent tax and book differences for various items, such as receivable allowances, inventory allowances, impairments on fixed assets and deferred lease income.
	Movement of valuation allowance:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Beginning balance	$	97,569	$	72,891
	Current period addition		4,194		23,293
	Current period reversal		-55		-1,206
	Exchange difference		-726		2,591
	Ending balance	$	100,982	$	97,569
	Deferred tax 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 six months ended June 30, 2014. The net operating loss carry forwards for United States income taxes amounted to $2.4 million, which may be available to reduce future years’ taxable income. These carry forwards will expire, if not utilized, starting from 2026 through 2033. 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 June 30, 2014 was $0.8 million. The net change in the valuation allowance for the six months ended June 30, 2014 was $0.1 million. Management will review this valuation allowance periodically and make adjustments as warranted.
	The Company has no cumulative proportionate retained earnings from profitable subsidiaries as of June 30, 2014. 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 June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had $2.8 million and $3.5 million in value added tax credits 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 $178.6 million and $174.5 million, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and $164.8 million and $154.4 million, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2013. VAT on sales and VAT on purchases amounted to $331.5 million and $326.4 million, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and $353.2 million and $338.2 million, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2013.
	Taxes payable consisted of the following:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	VAT taxes payable	$	2,496	$	2,211
	Income taxes payable		185		173
	Other taxes		1,500		2,244
	Totals	$	4,181	$	4,628

Related_party_transactions_and

Related party transactions and balances	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 18 – Related party transactions and balances
	Related party transactions
	a.  Capital lease
	As disclosed in Note 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:
			June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
			(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Machinery		$	601,398		$	605,839
	Less: accumulated depreciation			-90,460			-76,740
	Carrying value of leased assets		$	510,938		$	529,099
	b.  The following chart summarizes sales to related parties for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.
	Name of related parties		Relationship		Three months ended			Three months ended
					June 30, 2014			June 30, 2013
					(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	25,150		$	82,286
	Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group*			-			5,975
	Shaanxi Haiyan Trade Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group*			805			5,004
	Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group*			26,967			18,393
	Shaanxi Steel		Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group			626			448
	Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd.		Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel			16,420			12,792
	Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co., Ltd		Subsidiary of Long Steel Group			5,117			114
	Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd		Investee of Long Steel Group			4,291			11,289
	Total				$	79,376		$	136,301
	*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.
	Name of related parties		Relationship		Six months ended			Six months ended
					June 30, 2014			June 30, 2013
					(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	69,950		$	162,961
	Sichuan Yutai Trading Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group			-			72
	Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group			-			20,410
	Shaanxi Haiyan Trade Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group			820			15,596
	Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group			47,703			36,679
	Shaanxi Steel		Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group			1,097			1,411
	Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd.		Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel			21,389			14,626
	Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co., Ltd		Subsidiary of Long Steel Group			11,735			2,113
	Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd		Investee of Long Steel Group			8,888			31,293
	Total				$	161,582		$	285,161
	Sales to related parties in trading transactions, which were netted against the corresponding cost of goods sold, amounted to $58.7 million and $91.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively. See Note 2(m) Revenue Recognition for details.
	c.  The following charts summarize purchases from related parties for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.
	Name of related parties		Relationship		Three months ended			Three months ended
					June 30, 2014			June 30, 2013
					(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	100,504		$	170,005
	Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co., Ltd		Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			40,179			53,193
	Xi’an Pinghe Metallurgical Raw Material Co., Ltd		Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			5,016			742
	Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd		Investee of Long Steel Group			-			1
	Shaanxi Huafu New Energy Co., Ltd		Significant influence by the Long Steel Group			7,561			8,560
	Beijing Daishang Trading Co., Ltd.		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary			-			1,432
	Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co., Ltd.		Investee of General Steel (China)			73,940			-
	Tianjin General Quigang Pipe Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding**			4,253			-
	Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding**			17,721			-
	Others		Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			1,037			166
	Total				$	250,211		$	234,099
	**The CEO referred to herein is the chief executive officer of General Steel Holdings, Inc.
	Name of related parties		Relationship		Six months ended			Six months ended
					June 30, 2014			June 30, 2013
					(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	252,276		$	274,498
	Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co., Ltd		Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			84,267			116,991
	Xi’an Pinghe Metallurgical Raw Material Co., Ltd		Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			5,920			12,497
	Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co., Ltd		Subsidiary of Long Steel Group			-			53
	Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd		Investee of Long Steel Group			-			211
	Shaanxi Huafu New Energy Co., Ltd		Significant influence by the Long Steel Group			14,221			18,089
	Beijing Daishang Trading Co., Ltd.		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary			-			4,909
Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co., Ltd.		Investee of General Steel (China)			97,279			-
Tianjin General Quigang Pipe Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			8,528			-
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			45,640			-
Others		Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			1,084			236
Total				$	509,215		$	427,484
Related party balances
	a.	Loans receivable – related parties:
Name of related parties		Relationship		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Teamlink Investment Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			4,540			4,540
Total				$	4,540		$	4,540
See Note 3 – loans receivable – related parties for loan details.
	b.	Accounts receivables – related parties:
Name of related parties		Relationship		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	1,316		$	548
Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group			-			-
Tianjin Daqiuzhuang Steel Plates		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			19			19
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			2,586			-
Shaanxi Steel		Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group			1,866			1,741
Others					1			634
Total				$	5,788		$	2,942
	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		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	379		$	406
Shaanxi Steel		Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group			48,532			46,439
Tianjin General Quigang Pipe Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			1,238			1,247
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co, Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			-			491
Beijing Shenhua Xinyuan Metal Materials Co., Ltd.		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			4,865			4,901
Victory Energy Resource Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			2,231			-
Others		Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			738			622
Total				$	57,983		$	54,106
d.	Advances on inventory purchase – related parties:
Name of related parties		Relationship		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	-		$	9,123
Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co., Ltd.		Significant influence by Long Steel Group			13,088			25,607
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			1,379			10,343
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			61,440			16,158
Tianjin General Qiugang Pipe Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			202			555
Maoming Shengze Trading Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			43,137			21,197
Others		Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			33			20
Total				$	119,279		$	83,003
e.	Accounts payable - related parties:
Name of related parties		Relationship		June 30, 2014			December 31,
							2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co., Ltd		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	62,890		$	58,163
Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture			164,073			134,758
Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd.		Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel			3,507			29,990
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			972			958
Xi’an Pinghe Metallurgical Raw Material Co., Ltd		Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			2,036			8,714
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			9,862			1
Henan Xinmi Kanghua Fire Refractory Co., Ltd		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary			702			716
Beijing Daishang Trading Co., Ltd		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary			36			1,004
Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co., Ltd.		Investee of General Steel (China)			17,299			759
Others		Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			726			630
Total				$	262,103		$	235,692
f.	Short-term loans - related parties:
Name of related parties		Relationship		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Shaanxi Steel		Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group		$	81,250		$	49,110
Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd		Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel			71,287			28,216
Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture			-			33,183
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			-			8,178
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			13			6,548
Yangpu Capital Automobile		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			1,446			1,458
Total				$	153,996		$	126,693
See Note 9 – Debt for the loan details.
g.	Current maturities of long-term loans – related parties
Name of related party		Relationship		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Shaanxi Steel		Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group		$	62,374		$	53,013
Total				$	62,374		$	53,013
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.
Name of related parties		Relationship		June 30,			December 31,
				2014			2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co, Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding		$	377		$	380
Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture			44,730			43,636
Shaanxi Steel		Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group			48,670			44,363
Wendlar Investment & Management Group Co., Ltd		Common control under CEO			1,053			895
Yangpu Capital Automobile		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			362			291
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			470			473
Maoming Shengze Trading Co., Ltd		Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			2,201			1,745
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			346			921
Total				$	98,209		$	94,079
i.	Customer deposits – related parties:
Name of related parties		Relationship		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group		$	10		$	10
Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd		Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel			13,749			-
Long Steel Group		Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture			8,378			15,038
Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd		Investee of Long Steel Group			16			2,748
Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group			-			275
Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co., Ltd.		Investee of General Steel (China)			113,549			46,521
Shaanxi Haiyan Trade Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group			7,186			-
Others					-			289
Total				$	142,888		$	64,881
j.	Deposits due to sales representatives – related parties
Name of related parties		Relationship		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Gansu Yulong Trading Co., Ltd.		Significant influence by Long Steel Group		$	1,073		$	1,408
Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co., Ltd		Significant influence by Long Steel Group			585			589
Total				$	1,658		$	1,997
k.	Long-term loans – related party:
Name of related party		Relationship		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Shaanxi Steel		Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group		$	9,750		$	19,644
Total				$	9,750		$	19,644
The Company also provided guarantees on related parties’ bank loans amounting to $201.7 million and $205.8 million as of June 30, 2014 and as of December 31, 2013, respectively.
l.	Deferred lease income
		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Beginning balance		$	77,444		$	77,199
Less: Lease income realized			-1,088			-2,158
Exchange rate effect			-565			2,403
Ending balance			75,791			77,444
Current portion			-2,171			-2,187
Noncurrent portion		$	73,620		$	75,257
For the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company realized lease income from Shaanxi Steel, a related party, amounting to $0.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively.
For the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company realized lease income from Shaanxi Steel, a related party, amounting to $1.1 million and $1.1 million, respectively.
	m.	Equity
On November 19, 2013, the Company sold its 28% equity interest in Tianwu, held by Yangpu Shengtong, to Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd., a related party through indirect common ownership by the CEO, for $13.6 million (RMB 84.3 million) while retaining the 32% interest held by General Steel (China). As a result of this transaction, the Company met the criteria under ASC 810-10-40-4 to deconsolidate Tianwu as of the ownership disposal date and recognize a gain, which amounted to $1.0 million. After the deconsolidation of Tianwu, General Steel (China)’s 32% interest in Tianwu is accounted for as an equity method investment, which amounted to $15.6 million and $15.8 million as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Equity

Equity	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Equity [Abstract]	'
Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 19 – Equity
	2014 Equity Transactions
	On February 3, 2014, the Company granted 80,000 shares of common stock for investor relations consulting services under two service agreements dated January 14, 2014. The shares were valued at $1.01 per share, the quoted market price at the time the services were provided.

Retirement_plan

Retirement plan	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 20 – 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 for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 amounted to $3.0 million and $1.9 million, respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 amounted to $5.8 million and $4.1 million, respectively.

Commitment_and_contingencies

Commitment and contingencies	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 21 – 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 June 30, 2014 is as follows:
	Year ending June 30,	Minimum lease payment
		(in thousands)
	2015	$	1,055
	2016		566
	2017		566
	2018		566
	2019		566
	Years after		19,849
	Total minimum payments required	$	23,168
	Total rental expense was $0.6 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $1.5 million and $1.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Contractual Commitments
	Longmen Joint Venture has $326.3 million contractual obligations related to construction projects as of June 30, 2014 estimated to be fulfilled between May and December 2014.
	Contingencies
	As of June 30, 2014, Longmen Joint Venture provided guarantees to related parties’ and third parties’ bank loans, including lines of credit and others, amounting to $265.4 million.
	Nature of guarantee	Guarantee		Guaranty Due Date
		amount
		(In thousands)
	Line of credit	$	153,563	Various from July 2014 to August 2015
	Three-party financing agreements		19,500	Various from July 2014 to May 2015
	Confirming storage		52,975	Various from August 2014 to April 2015
	Financing by the rights of goods delivery in future		39,406	Various from July to October 2014
	Total	$	265,444
	Name of parties being guaranteed	Guarantee		Guaranty Due Date
		amount
		(In thousands)
	Long Steel Group	$	82,875	Various from September 2014 to August 2015
	Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co., Ltd		39,975	Various from August 2014 to April 2015
	Chengdu Zhongyi Steel Co., Ltd		8,125	Mar-15
	Shaanxi Tianyi Metal Materials Co., Ltd		6,500	Dec-14
	Xi’an Laisheng Logistics Co., Ltd		11,781	Various from August 2014 to May 2015
	Xi'an Kaiyuan Steel Sales Co., Ltd		6,500	Jan-15
	Shaanxi Longan Industry Co., Ltd.		8,125	Dec-14
	Hancheng Sanli Furnace Burden Co., Ltd.		16,250	Mar-15
	Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd		38,188	Various from June 2014 to March 2015
	Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd		40,625	Various from July 2014 to January 2015
	Jinmen Desheng Metallurgy Co., Ltd		6,500	Sep-14
	Total	$	265,444
	As of June 30, 2014, the Company did not accrue any liability for the amounts the Group has guaranteed for third parties 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	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 22 – 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 the results of division operations for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013:
	(In thousands)
	Sales:		2014		2013
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	587,314	$	650,741
	Maoming Hengda			215		1,349
	Baotou Steel Pipe Joint Venture			483		972
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-		5,454
	Total sales			588,012		658,516
	Interdivision sales			1		-4,865
	Consolidated sales		$	588,013	$	653,651
	Gross profit (loss):		2014		2013
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	28,229	$	-36,193
	Maoming Hengda			21		473
	Baotou Steel			3		167
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-159		17
	Total gross profit (loss)			28,094		-35,536
	Interdivision gross profit			-		-
	Consolidated gross profit (loss)		$	28,094	$	-35,536
	Income (loss) from operations:		2014		2013
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	8,128	$	-44,684
	Maoming Hengda			-54		-225
	Baotou Steel			-133		55
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-720		-790
	Total income (loss) from operations			7,221		-45,644
	Interdivision income (loss) from operations			-		-
	Reconciling item (1)			-896		-1,246
	Consolidated income (loss) from operations		$	6,325	$	-46,890
	Net income (loss) attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.:		2014		2013
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	-8,077	$	-34,944
	Maoming Hengda			-123		-216
	Baotou Steel			-106		46
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-1,870		-3,528
	Total net loss attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.			-10,176		-38,642
	Interdivision net income			-		-
	Reconciling item (1)			-843		-1,176
	Consolidated net loss attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.		$	-11,019	$	-39,818
	Depreciation, amortization and depletion:		2014		2013
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	22,778	$	20,850
	Maoming Hengda			158		315
	Baotou Steel			59		26
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			447		518
	Consolidated depreciation, amortization and depletion		$	23,442	$	21,709
	Finance/interest expenses:		2014		2013
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	25,131	$	18,243
	Maoming Hengda			-		-
	Baotou Steel			-1		-
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			1,488		2,972
	Interdivision interest expenses			-		-
	Reconciling item (1)			1		1
	Consolidated interest expenses		$	26,619	$	21,216
	Capital expenditures:		2014		2013
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	55,852	$	27,922
	Maoming Hengda			-		-
	Baotou Steel			-		1
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-		2
	Reconciling item (1)			-		-
	Consolidated capital expenditures		$	55,852	$	27,925
	The following represents the results of division operations for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013:
	(In thousands)
	Sales:		2014		2013
Longmen Joint Venture		$	1,181,328	$	1,297,489
Maoming Hengda			251		2,872
Baotou Steel Pipe Joint Venture			645		981
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			53		54,180
Total sales			1,182,277		1,355,522
Interdivision sales			-53		-50,580
Consolidated sales		$	1,182,224	$	1,304,942
Gross profit (loss):		2014		2013
Longmen Joint Venture		$	6,010	$	-31,826
Maoming Hengda			45		245
Baotou Steel			-20		89
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-502		23
Total gross profit (loss)			5,533		-31,469
Interdivision gross profit			-		-
Consolidated gross profit (loss)		$	5,533	$	-31,469
Loss from operations:		2014		2013
Longmen Joint Venture		$	-31,166	$	-9,747
Maoming Hengda			-576		-1,022
Baotou Steel			-177		-305
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-3,286		-1,598
Total loss from operations			-35,205		-12,672
Interdivision loss from operations			-		-
Reconciling item (1)			-2,133		-2,327
Consolidated loss from operations		$	-37,338	$	-14,999
Net loss attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.:		2014		2013
Longmen Joint Venture		$	-46,111	$	-26,619
Maoming Hengda			-660		-987
Baotou Steel			-141		-243
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-5,713		-6,684
Total net loss attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.			-52,625		-34,533
Interdivision net income (loss)			-		-
Reconciling item (1)			-1,958		-2,182
Consolidated net loss attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.		$	-54,583	$	-36,715
Depreciation, amortization and depletion:		2014		2013
Longmen Joint Venture		$	46,308	$	41,281
Maoming Hengda			462		626
Baotou Steel			121		123
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			897		1,037
Consolidated depreciation, amortization and depletion		$	47,788	$	43,067
Finance/interest expenses:		2014		2013
Longmen Joint Venture		$	52,121	$	40,393
Maoming Hengda			-		-
Baotou Steel			-		-
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			3,097		5,678
Interdivision interest expenses			-		-
Reconciling item (1)			96		2
Consolidated interest expenses		$	55,314	$	46,073
Capital expenditures:		2014		2013
Longmen Joint Venture		$	112,599	$	44,006
Maoming Hengda			32		2
Baotou Steel			-		8
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			82		3
Reconciling item (1)			-		-
Consolidated capital expenditures		$	112,713	$	44,019
Total Assets as of:		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
Longmen Joint Venture		$	2,349,913	$	2,573,212
Maoming Hengda			27,786		29,211
Baotou Steel Pipe Joint Venture			3,290		4,448
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			200,665		121,883
Interdivision assets			-33,208		-34,213
Reconciling item (2)			8,028		5,817
Total Assets		$	2,556,474	$	2,700,358
	-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 six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.
	-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 June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

Subsequent_events

Subsequent events	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Subsequent Events [Abstract]	'
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	'
	Note 23 – Subsequent events
	On July 14, 2014, the Company entered into a Subscription Agreement (the "Subscription Agreement") with Zuosheng Yu, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Company's Board of Directors, relating to a private placement of the Company's common stock, par value $0.001 per share. Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, the Company agreed to sell to Zuosheng Yu 5,000,000 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $1.50 per share (the "Purchase Price"), for an aggregate amount of $7,500,000, subject to closing conditions set forth in the Subscription Agreement. The Purchase Price represents a 23% premium to the volume weighted average closing price of the Common Stock from March 5, 2014 to July 11, 2014, which ranged from $0.90 to $1.47 per share of common stock during the period. Upon completion of this transaction, Zuosheng Yu would own 21.7% of the Company’s common stock.

Summary_of_significant_account1

Summary of significant accounting policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

'

Basis Of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

'

(a)

Basis of presentation

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

Subsidiary

Percentage

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. (“Yangpu Shengtong”)

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

Prior to November 19, 2013, the Company held a 60.0% equity interest in Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co., Ltd. (“Tianwu”). 32% interest was held by General Steel (China) and 28% interest was held by Yangpu Shengtong. On November 19, 2013, the Company sold its 28% equity interest of Tianwu held by Yangpu Shengtong to Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd., a related party through indirect common ownership, for $13.6 million (RMB 84.3 million) while retaining 32% interest held by General Steel (China). As a result of this transaction, the Company met the criteria under ASC 810-10-40-4 to deconsolidate Tianwu at the disposal date and recognized a gain of $1.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 in accordance with ASC 810-10-40-5. At the same time, General Steel (China)’s remaining 32% interest is accounted for as an investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries using the equity method. See Note 2(t) - Investments in unconsolidated entities for details.

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

'

(b)

Principles of consolidation – subsidiaries

The accompanying 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.

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

'

(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.

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:

a.

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

b.

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 of Directors 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. The Supervisory Committee, in which the Company holds 2 out of 4 seats, requires a ¾ majority vote, while the Board of Directors, on 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. 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. If the Unified Management Agreement cannot be enforced, the Company would not consolidate Longmen Joint Venture as a VIE. However, the current PRC legal system has not limited the Company’s ability to enforce the Unified Management Agreement nor does the Company believe it is likely to do so in the future. The Company makes an 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:

June 30, 2014

December 31, 2013

(in thousands)

(in thousands)

Current assets

$

990,397

$

1,282,054

Plant and equipment, net

1,245,144

1,262,144

Other noncurrent assets

114,372

29,014

Total assets

2,349,913

2,573,212

Total liabilities

-2,891,359

-3,040,879

Net liabilities

$

-541,446

$

-467,667

VIE and its subsidiaries’ liabilities consist of the following:

June 30, 2014

December 31, 2013

(in thousands)

(in thousands)

Current liabilities:

Short term notes payable

$

864,104

$

988,364

Accounts payable

409,550

393,816

Accounts payable - related parties

261,437

235,116

Short term loans - bank

149,348

267,688

Short term loans - others

58,218

55,844

Short term loans - related parties

152,550

125,236

Current maturities of long-term loans – related party

62,374

56,614

Other payables and accrued liabilities

39,685

37,028

Other payables - related parties

93,742

88,914

Customer deposits

66,595

87,661

Customer deposits - related parties

45,589

18,359

Deposit due to sales representatives

21,435

24,343

Deposit due to sales representatives – related parties

1,658

1,997

Taxes payable

2,930

3,357

Deferred lease income

2,171

2,187

Capital lease obligations, current

6,443

4,321

Intercompany payable to be eliminated

21,263

21,420

Total current liabilities

2,259,092

2,412,265

Non-current liabilities:

Long term loans - related parties

9,750

16,043

Deferred lease income - noncurrent

73,620

75,257

Capital lease obligations, noncurrent

384,830

375,019

Profit sharing liability at fair value

164,067

162,295

Total non-current liabilities

632,267

628,614

Total liabilities of consolidated VIE

$

2,891,359

$

3,040,879

Three months ended

Three months ended

June 30, 2014

June 30, 2013

(in thousands)

(in thousands)

Sales

$

587,314

$

650,741

Gross profit (loss)

$

28,229

$

-36,193

Income (loss) from operations

$

8,128

$

-44,684

Net loss attributable to controlling interest

$

-8,077

$

-34,944

Six months ended

Six months ended

June 30, 2014

June 30, 2013

(in thousands)

(in thousands)

Sales

$

1,181,328

$

1,297,489

Gross profit (loss)

$

6,010

$

-31,826

Loss from operations

$

-31,166

$

-9,747

Net loss attributable to controlling interest

$

-46,111

$

-26,619

Longmen Joint Venture has two 100% owned subsidiaries, Yuxin Trading Co., Ltd. (“Yuxin”) and Yuteng Trading Co., Ltd. (“Yuteng”). Longmen Joint Venture also 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 invested in by Longmen Joint Venture in June 2007 and July 2008, respectively. 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. The assets, liabilities and the operating results of Hualong are immaterial to the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

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 assets, liabilities and the operating results of Huatianyulong are immaterial to the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

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 majority voting rights in each entity, and thereby, the power of control, to Longmen Joint Venture.

Liquidity Disclosure [Policy Text Block]

'

(d)

Liquidity

The Company’s accounts have been prepared under the 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 options (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 the 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 June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were (5.4) and (6.5), respectively. As of June 30, 2014, the Company’s current liabilities exceed current assets by $1.3 billion.

Longmen Joint Venture, as the most important entity of the Company, accounted for a majority of the 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, as well as its ability to obtain external financial supports, including but not limited to lines of credit from banks and vendor financing. If Longmen Joint Venture does not maintain a sufficient level of financial support by renewing its financing terms with existing financing sources or obtaining new sources of financial support, there may be an immediate negative impact on the Company’s operations and its ability to continue as a going concern. Longmen Joint Venture has obtained different types of financial support, which are listed below by category:

Lines of credit

The Company has lines of credit from the listed major banks totaling $147.9 million with expiration dates ranging from June 16, 2015 to November 28, 2015.

Banks

Amount of

Repayment Date

Line of Credit

(in millions)

China Minsheng Bank

97.5

28-Nov-15

China CITIC Bank

32.5

16-Jun-15

Bank of Communication

17.9

17-Jul-15

Total

$

147.9

Management expects the above lines of credit will be extended after the repayment dates.

As of the date of this report, the Company utilized $50.4 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 $811.5 million with the following companies:

Company

Financing Period

Financing Amount

(in millions)

Company A – related party

July 30, 2014 – July 30, 2019

$

243.8

Company B – third party

January 22, 2014 – January 22, 2017

162.5

Company C – third party

October 1, 2013 – March 31, 2016

487.5

Total

$

893.8

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 many years. On July 30, 2014, Company A signed a five-year agreement with Longmen Joint Venture to finance its coke purchases up to $243.8 million. Company B signed a three-year agreement with Longmen Joint Venture on January 22, 2014 to finance its coke purchases up to $162.5 million. According to the above signed agreements, both Company A and B will not demand any cash payments during their respective financing periods. As of the date of this report, our payables to Company A and Company B were approximately $68.2 million and $65.4 million, respectively.

Company C is a Fortune 500 Company. On June 28, 2013, Company C signed an agreement with Longmen Joint Venture to finance Longmen Joint Venture’s purchase of iron ore for an amount up to $487.5 million to commence on October 1, 2013 and end on March 31, 2015. On August 1, 2014, Company C signed an extension agreement with the Company and extended the financing terms to March 31, 2016. 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. As of the date of this report, our payable to Company C is approximately $1.9 million.

Other financing

On February 20, 2014, March 5, 2014, April 22, 2014 and April 23, 2014 Longmen Joint Venture signed payment extension agreements with each company listed below. In total, Longmen Joint Venture can obtain $362.0 million in financial support from two-year and three-year balancing payment extensions granted by the following five companies:

Company

Financing Period

Financing Amount

(in millions)

Company D – related party

April 22, 2014 – April 22, 2017

$

81.3

Company E – related party

April 23, 2014 – April 23, 2017

86

Company F – related party

April 22, 2014 – April 22, 2017

81.3

Company G – related party

March 5, 2014 – March 5, 2016

56.9

Company H – related party

March 5, 2014 – March 5, 2016

56.9

Total

$

362.4

As of the date of this report, our payables to Company D, Company E, Company F, Company G and Company H are approximately $16.3 million, $21.5 million, $19.0 million, $9.9 million and $1.0 million, 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 June 30, 2014, Longmen Joint Venture has collected a total amount of $23.1 million. Historically, this amount is quite stable and we do not expect a big fluctuation in this amount for the next twelve months from June 30, 2014 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 June 30, 2015. The detailed breakdown of Longmen Joint Venture’s estimated cash flows are listed below.

Cash inflow (outflow)

(in millions)

For the twelve months

ending June 30, 2015

Current liabilities over current assets (excluding deferred lease income) as of June 30, 2014 (unaudited)

$

-1,327.50

Projected cash financing and outflows:

Cash provided by lines of credit from banks

147.9

Cash provided by vendor financing

893.8

Cash provided by other financing

362.4

Cash provided by sales representatives

23.1

Cash projected to be used in operations in the twelve months ending June 30, 2015

-28.8

Cash projected to be used for financing costs in the twelve months ending June 30, 2015

-63.7

Net projected change in cash for the twelve months ending June 30, 2015

$

7.2

As a result, the consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2014 have been prepared on a going concern basis.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

'

(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 consolidated financial statements and footnotes. Significant accounting estimates reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements include the fair value of the profit sharing liability, the useful lives of and impairment of property, plant and equipment, potential losses on uncollectible receivables, the allowance for inventory valuation, the interest rate used in the financing sales, the fair value of the assets recorded under capital leases and the present value of the net minimum lease payments of the capital leases. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

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

'

(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 price fluctuation of raw materials and energy prices as part of its normal operations. The Company does not utilize 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 June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 amounted to $ 492.9 million and $ 431.3 million, including $ 0.6 million and $ 2.0 million that were deposited in Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Financial Co., Ltd., a related party, respectively. As of June 30, 2014, $ 0.1 million cash in the bank was covered by insurance. The Company has not experienced any losses in its bank accounts and deposits its cash in a number of different banks to minimize its exposure to credit risk.

The Company’s five major customers are all distributors and collectively represented 31.8% and 24.4% of the Company’s total sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively. None of the five major customers individually accounted for more than 10% of the total sales for the three months or the six months ended June 30, 2014. The Company’s five major customers represented 27.8% and 23.3% of the Company’s total sales for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively. None of the five major customers individually accounted for more than 10% of the total sales for the three months or the six months ended June 30, 2013. None of the five major customers has accounts receivable, including related parties, with the Company as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company purchased 47.4% and 43.8% 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 months ended June 30, 2014 and one of the five major suppliers individually accounted for 12.7% of the total purchases for the six months ended June 30, 2014. The purchases from the five major suppliers represented 45.0% and 38.4% of the Company’s total purchases for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively. Two of the five major suppliers individually accounted for 15.6% and 10.7% of the total purchases for the three months ended June 30, 2013, respectively, and one of the five major suppliers individually accounted for 11.6% of the total purchases for the six months ended June 30, 2013. These five vendors accounted for 38.3% and 29.1% of total accounts payable, including related parties, as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. None of the five major suppliers individually accounted for more than 10% of total accounts payable as June 30, 2014 and and December 31, 2013.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]

'

(g)

Foreign currency translation and other comprehensive income

The reporting currency of the Company is the U.S. dollar. The Company’s subsidiaries and VIE 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 statements of operations 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 $3.0 million and $0.7 million as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The balance sheet amounts, with the exception of equity, at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were translated at 6.15 RMB and 6.11 RMB to $1.00, respectively. The equity accounts were stated at their historical rate. The average translation rates applied to the statements of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 were 6.16 RMB and 6.20 RMB, respectively. The average translation rates applied to the statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 were 6.14 RMB and 6.24 RMB, respectively. Cash flows are also translated at average translation rates for the periods; as a result,, amounts reported on the statement of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances in 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.

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

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(h)

Financial instruments

The accounting standard 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 investments, 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 carrying value of the long term loans-related party approximates its fair value as of the reporting date as their stated interest rates approximate current rates available.

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.

The Company analyzes all financial instruments with features of both liabilities and equity, pursuant to which warrants previously issued by the Company were required to be recorded as a liability at fair value and marked to market each reporting period. The warrants were accounted for as derivative liabilities and recorded at their fair value, with the change in fair value charged or credited to income each period.  The warrants expired unexercised on May 13, 2013. Prior to their expiration, the fair value of the warrants was estimated using a binomial lattice model, using level 3 inputs.

As described in Note 15 - Capital lease obligations, payments related to the capital lease of the Asset Pool consist of two components: (1) a fixed monthly payment of $2.3 million (RMB 14.6 million), based on Shaanxi Steel’s cost to construct the assets, to be paid for the 20 year term of the Unified Management Agreement; and (2) 40% of any remaining pre-tax profits from the Asset Pool, which includes Longmen Joint Venture and the constructed iron and steel making facilities. The aforementioned profit sharing component meets the definition of a derivative instrument under ASC 815-10-15-83 and, accordingly, the profit sharing liability is accounted for separately as a derivative liability. It was recognized initially at its estimated fair value at inception. The estimated fair value is adjusted each reporting period, with changes in the estimated fair value of the profit sharing liability charged or credited to operating income each period.

The Company determines the fair value of the profit sharing liability using Level 3 inputs by considering the present value of Longmen Joint Venture’s projected profits/losses, discounted based on our average borrowing rate, which is currently 7.3%.

The fair value of the profit sharing liability will change each period as a result of (a) any changes in our estimate of Longmen Joint Venture’s projected profits/losses over the remaining term of the Agreement, (b) any change in the discount rate used, based on changes in our current or expected borrowing rate, (c) the change in fair value related to the passage of time and change in the number of future periods over which the present value of future cash flows is estimated and (d) any difference between the previously estimated operating results for the current period and actual results.

Each period, the Company considers whether the discount rate based on the Company’s average borrowing rate should be adjusted based upon the current and expected future financial condition of the Company. To date, the Company has not considered any adjustment to be necessary based upon, but not limited to, the following assumptions:

·

because the joint venture partner of Longmen Joint Venture is a state-owned enterprise with an excellent credit history, PRC banks grant similar credit treatment to Longmen Joint Venture in terms of credit availability

·

the current average borrowing rate of enterprises in the steel industry in the PRC is similar to this borrowing rate

·

the current new/renewal borrowing rates of the Company’s bank loans are similar to prior periods

·

the People’s Bank of China has not recently adjusted any borrowing rate

·

PRC bank interest rates are not industry specific. The downtrend in the steel industry did not materially impact the bank borrowing rates for steel companies

·

the bank interest rates are assessed by each individual bank and governed by the Chinese banking regulatory bodies. Reports from credit rating research firms are not commonly used by PRC banks

The projected profits/losses in Longmen Joint Venture are based upon, but not limited to, the following assumptions:

·

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

·

interest rate index

·

gross national product index

·

industry index

·

government policy

From inception to December 31, 2012, the assumptions underlying the estimated fair value did not change significantly. Beginning in the first quarter of 2013, the assumptions related to unit selling prices and costs were revised, resulting in a reduction of the estimated profit sharing liability. These assumptions were further revised during 2013. The above assumptions were again reviewed by the Company at June 30, 2014 but no major change was deemed necessary to the assumptions used at December 31, 2013. For the six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company recognized a loss on the change in the fair value of the profit sharing liability of $2.9 million due to a $5.7 million reduction in the present value discount offset by a $2.8 million gain resulting from the Asset Pool’s operating results for the six months ended June 30, 2014 being slightly less favorable than previously estimated as of December 31, 2013.

The estimated fair value of the profit sharing liability at June 30, 2014 is $164.1 million. Changes in any of the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the profit sharing liability will change the liability accordingly. If we were to reduce the projected bank borrowing rate used to discount the liability to a present value by 1.0% and other factors remained unchanged, our profit sharing liability as of June 30, 2014 would have been $187.3 million and we would increase the loss from the change in the fair value of the profit sharing liability by $23.2 million. If we were to 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 June 30, 2014 would have been $162.2 million and we would decrease the loss from the change in the fair value of the profit sharing liability by $1.9 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 June 30, 2014:

(in thousands)

Carrying Value as

Fair Value Measurements at June 30, 2014

of June 30, 2014

Using Fair Value Hierarchy

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Profit sharing liability

$

164,067

$

-

$

-

$

164,067

Total

$

164,067

$

-

$

-

$

164,067

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, 2013:

(in thousands)

Carrying Value as

Fair Value Measurements at December 31,

of December 31,

2013

2013

Using Fair Value Hierarchy

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Profit sharing liability

$

162,295

$

-

$

-

$

162,295

Total

$

162,295

$

-

$

-

$

162,295

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 six months ended June 30, 2014 and for the year ended December 31, 2013:

June 30, 2014

December 31, 2013

(in thousands)

(in thousands)

Beginning balance

$

162,295

$

328,828

Change in fair value of profit sharing liability:

Change in estimate of future operating profits

-

-174,821

Change in discount rate

-

-

Change in the number of future periods over which the present value of future cash flows is estimated

5,778

16,872

Difference between the previously estimated operating results for the current period and actual results

-2,809

-16,620

Change in derivative liabilities - warrants

-

1

Exchange rate effect

-1,197

8,035

Ending balance

$

164,067

$

162,295

Except for the derivative liabilities related to the profit sharing liability and to the warrants issued by the Company, which expired on May 13, 2013, the Company did not identify any other assets or liabilities that are required to be presented on the balance sheet at fair value.

Notes Receivable [Policy Text Block]

'

(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 requests 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 expense for early submission requests for payment for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 amounted to $12.8 million and $6.5 million, respectively, and amounted to $26.9 million and $17.3 million, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.

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

'

(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

10-20 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 betterments 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 their 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.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

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(k)

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 June 30, 2014, 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 has a twenty-year term.

Long Steel Group contributed land use rights for a total amount of $24.1 million (RMB 148.3 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 in

(in thousands)

General Steel (China)

$

3,856

2050 & 2053

Longmen Joint Venture

$

24,097

2048 & 2052

Maoming Hengda

$

2,697

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 rights amounting to $2.4 million (RMB 15.0 million), which is amortized over the estimated recoverable reserve of 4.2 million tons.

Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

'

(l)

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 June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

Unconsolidated entities

Year

June 30, 2014

Owned %

December 31,

Owned

acquired

Net investment

2013

%

(In thousands)

Net investment

(In thousands)

Xi’an Delong Powder Engineering Materials Co., Ltd.

2007

$

1,098

24.1

$

1,215

24.1

The table below summarizes General Steel (China)’s investment holding (see Note 2(a) - Basis of presentation) as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

Unconsolidated entities

Year

June 30, 2014

Owned %

December 31,

Owned

acquired

Net investment

2013

%

(In thousands)

Net investment

(In thousands)

Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co., Ltd.

2010

$

15,612

32

$

15,728

32

Total investment income (loss) in unconsolidated subsidiaries amounted to $0.05 million and $0.13 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $0.06 million and $0.09 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, which was included in “Income from equity investments” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

'

(m)

Revenue recognition

Sales are recognized at the date of shipment to customers when a formal arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, the delivery is completed, the Company has no other significant obligations and collectability is reasonably assured. Payments received before all of the relevant criteria for revenue recognition are met are recorded as customer deposits. Sales represent the invoiced value of goods, net of value-added tax (VAT). All of the Company’s products sold in the PRC are subject to a Chinese value-added tax at a rate of 13% or 17% of the gross sales price. This VAT may be offset by VAT paid by the Company on raw materials and other materials included in the cost of producing the finished product.

The Company infrequently engages in trading transactions in which the Company acts as an agent between the suppliers and the customers. The trading arrangements are such that the suppliers are the primary obligors, the Company does not have any general inventory risk, physical inventory loss risk or credit risk, and the Company does not have latitude in establishing price. Sales and cost of goods sold from these trading arrangements are recorded at the net amount retained in accordance with ASC 605-45.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

'

(n)

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. Under the new guidance, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations should be presented as discontinued operations. The new guidance also requires disclosure of the pre-tax income attributable to a disposal of a significant part of an organization that does not qualify for discontinued operations reporting. The amendments in the ASU are effective in the first quarter of 2015 for public organizations with calendar year ends. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance will have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Topic 606. This Update affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets, unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards. The guidance in this Update supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition and most industry-specific guidance. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to illustrate the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new guidance also includes a cohesive set of disclosure requirements that will provide users of financial statements with comprehensive information about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from a reporting organization’s contracts with customers. This ASU is effective retrospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2016 for public companies and 2017 for non-public entities. Management is evaluating the effect, if any, on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]

'

(o)

Reclassifications

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

Summary_of_significant_account2

Summary of significant accounting policies (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Schedule of Subsidiary of Limited Liability Company or Limited Partnership, Description [Table Text Block]	'
	The consolidated financial statements of the Company reflect the activities of the following major directly owned subsidiaries:
	Subsidiary			Percentage
				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. (“Yangpu Shengtong”)	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	%
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:
		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Current assets	$	990,397		$	1,282,054
	Plant and equipment, net		1,245,144			1,262,144
	Other noncurrent assets		114,372			29,014
	Total assets		2,349,913			2,573,212
	Total liabilities		-2,891,359			-3,040,879
	Net liabilities	$	-541,446		$	-467,667
Schedule Of Liabilities Of Variable Interest Entities and Subsidiaries [Table Text Block]	'
	VIE and its subsidiaries’ liabilities consist of the following:
		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Current liabilities:
	Short term notes payable	$	864,104		$	988,364
	Accounts payable		409,550			393,816
	Accounts payable - related parties		261,437			235,116
	Short term loans - bank		149,348			267,688
	Short term loans - others		58,218			55,844
	Short term loans - related parties		152,550			125,236
	Current maturities of long-term loans – related party		62,374			56,614
	Other payables and accrued liabilities		39,685			37,028
	Other payables - related parties		93,742			88,914
	Customer deposits		66,595			87,661
	Customer deposits - related parties		45,589			18,359
	Deposit due to sales representatives		21,435			24,343
	Deposit due to sales representatives – related parties		1,658			1,997
	Taxes payable		2,930			3,357
	Deferred lease income		2,171			2,187
	Capital lease obligations, current		6,443			4,321
	Intercompany payable to be eliminated		21,263			21,420
	Total current liabilities		2,259,092			2,412,265
	Non-current liabilities:
	Long term loans - related parties		9,750			16,043
	Deferred lease income - noncurrent		73,620			75,257
	Capital lease obligations, noncurrent		384,830			375,019
	Profit sharing liability at fair value		164,067			162,295
	Total non-current liabilities		632,267			628,614
	Total liabilities of consolidated VIE	$	2,891,359		$	3,040,879
Schedule Of Statement Of Operations Of Variable Interest Entities and Subsidiaries [Table Text Block]	'
		Three months ended			Three months ended
		June 30, 2014			June 30, 2013
		(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Sales	$	587,314		$	650,741
	Gross profit (loss)	$	28,229		$	-36,193
	Income (loss) from operations	$	8,128		$	-44,684
	Net loss attributable to controlling interest	$	-8,077		$	-34,944
		Six months ended			Six months ended
		June 30, 2014			June 30, 2013
		(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Sales	$	1,181,328		$	1,297,489
	Gross profit (loss)	$	6,010		$	-31,826
	Loss from operations	$	-31,166		$	-9,747
	Net loss attributable to controlling interest	$	-46,111		$	-26,619
Schedule of Line of Credit Facilities [Table Text Block]	'
	The Company has lines of credit from the listed major banks totaling $147.9 million with expiration dates ranging from June 16, 2015 to November 28, 2015.
	Banks	Amount of			Repayment Date
		Line of Credit
		(in millions)
	China Minsheng Bank		97.5		28-Nov-15
	China CITIC Bank		32.5		16-Jun-15
	Bank of Communication		17.9		17-Jul-15
	Total	$	147.9
	Management expects the above lines of credit will be extended after the repayment dates
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 June 30, 2014:
	(in thousands)	Carrying Value as			Fair Value Measurements at June 30, 2014
		of June 30, 2014			Using Fair Value Hierarchy
					Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	Profit sharing liability	$	164,067		$	-		$	-		$	164,067
	Total	$	164,067		$	-		$	-		$	164,067
	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, 2013:
	(in thousands)	Carrying Value as			Fair Value Measurements at December 31,
		of December 31,			2013
		2013			Using Fair Value Hierarchy
					Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	Profit sharing liability	$	162,295		$	-		$	-		$	162,295
	Total	$	162,295		$	-		$	-		$	162,295
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 six months ended June 30, 2014 and for the year ended December 31, 2013:
		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Beginning balance	$	162,295		$	328,828
	Change in fair value of profit sharing liability:
	Change in estimate of future operating profits		-			-174,821
	Change in discount rate		-			-
	Change in the number of future periods over which the present value of future cash flows is estimated		5,778			16,872
	Difference between the previously estimated operating results for the current period and actual results		-2,809			-16,620
	Change in derivative liabilities - warrants		-			1
	Exchange rate effect		-1,197			8,035
	Ending balance	$	164,067		$	162,295
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	10-20 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 in
		(in thousands)
	General Steel (China)	$	3,856			2050 & 2053
	Longmen Joint Venture	$	24,097			2048 & 2052
	Maoming Hengda	$	2,697			2054
Schedule Of Investments By Affiliates [Table Text Block]	'
	The table below summarizes Longmen Joint Venture’s investment holdings as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
	Unconsolidated entities	Year			June 30, 2014			Owned %			December 31,		Owned
		acquired			Net investment						2013		%
					(In thousands)						Net investment
											(In thousands)
	Xi’an Delong Powder Engineering Materials Co., Ltd.		2007		$	1,098			24.1		$	1,215		24.1
	The table below summarizes General Steel (China)’s investment holding (see Note 2(a) - Basis of presentation) as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
	Unconsolidated entities	Year		June 30, 2014			Owned %		December 31,			Owned
		acquired		Net investment					2013			%
				(In thousands)					Net investment
									(In thousands)
	Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co., Ltd.	2010		$	15,612		32		$	15,728		32
Longmen Joint Venture [Member]	'
Schedule Of Estimated Cash Flow [Table Text Block]	'
	The detailed breakdown of Longmen Joint Venture’s estimated cash flows are listed below.
		Cash inflow (outflow)
		(in millions)
		For the twelve months
		ending June 30, 2015
	Current liabilities over current assets (excluding deferred lease income) as of June 30, 2014 (unaudited)	$	-1,327.50
	Projected cash financing and outflows:
	Cash provided by lines of credit from banks		147.9
	Cash provided by vendor financing		893.8
	Cash provided by other financing		362.4
	Cash provided by sales representatives		23.1
	Cash projected to be used in operations in the twelve months ending June 30, 2015		-28.8
	Cash projected to be used for financing costs in the twelve months ending June 30, 2015		-63.7
	Net projected change in cash for the twelve months ending June 30, 2015	$	7.2
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 $811.5 million with the following companies:
	Company	Financing Period		Financing Amount
				(in millions)
	Company A – related party	July 30, 2014 – July 30, 2019		$	243.8
	Company B – third party	January 22, 2014 – January 22, 2017			162.5
	Company C – third party	October 1, 2013 – March 31, 2016			487.5
	Total			$	893.8
Other Financing [Member]	'
Schedule Of Estimated Cash Flow [Table Text Block]	'
	On February 20, 2014, March 5, 2014, April 22, 2014 and April 23, 2014 Longmen Joint Venture signed payment extension agreements with each company listed below. In total, Longmen Joint Venture can obtain $362.0 million in financial support from two-year and three-year balancing payment extensions granted by the following five companies:
	Company	Financing Period		Financing Amount
				(in millions)
	Company D – related party	April 22, 2014 – April 22, 2017		$	81.3
	Company E – related party	April 23, 2014 – April 23, 2017			86
	Company F – related party	April 22, 2014 – April 22, 2017			81.3
	Company G – related party	March 5, 2014 – March 5, 2016			56.9
	Company H – related party	March 5, 2014 – March 5, 2016			56.9
	Total			$	362.4

Loans_receivable_related_parti1

Loans receivable - related parties (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
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:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Loan to Teamlink Investment Co., Ltd; due in June, July and December 2014; interest rate is 4.75%	$	4,540	$	4,540
	Total loans receivable – related parties	$	4,540	$	4,540

Accounts_receivable_including_1

Accounts receivable (including related parties), net (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
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:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Accounts receivable	$	6,078	$	5,131
	Less: allowance for doubtful accounts		-801		-1,053
	Accounts receivable – related parties		5,788		2,942
	Net accounts receivable	$	11,065	$	7,020
Schedule Of Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable [Table Text Block]	'
	Changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts are as follows:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Beginning balance	$	1,053	$	1,367
	Charge to expense		-		96
	Less: recovery		-244		-449
	Exchange rate effect		-8		39
	Ending balance	$	801	$	1,053

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]	'
	Inventories consist of the following:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Supplies	$	23,451	$	21,040
	Raw materials		147,780		164,301
	Finished goods		47,713		42,977
	Less: allowance for inventory valuation		-9,973		-15,397
	Total inventories	$	208,971	$	212,921
Summary Of Inventory Valuation Allowance [Table Text Block]	'
	Changes in the allowance for inventory valuation are as follows:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Beginning balance	$	15,397	$	9,585
	Addition		9,996		15,194
	Less: write-off		-15,319		-9,757
	Exchange rate effect		-101		375
	Ending balance	$	9,973	$	15,397

Plant_and_equipment_net_Tables

Plant and equipment, net (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]	'
	Plant and equipment consist of the following:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Buildings and improvements	$	280,272	$	274,402
	Machinery		658,159		667,093
	Machinery under capital lease		625,196		623,895
	Transportation and other equipment		23,322		22,991
	Construction in progress		38,736		11,412
	Subtotal		1,625,685		1,599,793
	Less: accumulated depreciation		-372,334		-327,886
	Total	$	1,253,351	$	1,271,907
Schedule Of Construction In Progress [Table Text Block]	'
	Construction in progress consisted of the following as of June 30, 2014:
	Construction in progress	Value		Completion		Estimated
	description					additional cost to
						complete
		(In thousands)		date		(In thousands)
	Factory wall remodel		1,022	Jul-14			77
	Equipment updates		109	Jul-14			3,206
	Sintering machine construction		4,830	Nov-14			140,122
	#5 blast furnace construction		22,970	Dec-14			150,155
	Electrical substation construction		13	Aug-14			24,419
	Reconstruction of miscellaneous factory buildings		5,547	Oct-14			4,337
	Project materials		2,133				-
	Others		2,112				-
	Total	$	38,736			$	326,316
Machinery and Equipment [Member]	'
Schedule of Capital Leased Assets [Table Text Block]	'
	The carrying value of assets acquired under the capital lease consists of the following:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Machinery	$	625,196	$	623,895
	Less: accumulated depreciation		-92,037		-77,086
	Carrying value of leased assets	$	533,159	$	546,809

Intangible_assets_net_Tables

Intangible assets, net (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]	'
	Intangible assets consist of the following:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Land use rights	$	30,650	$	30,884
	Mining right		2,441		2,459
	Software		1,049		743
	Subtotal		34,140		34,086
	Less:
	Accumulated amortization – land use rights		-8,767		-8,498
	Accumulated amortization – mining right		-1,363		-1,320
	Accumulated amortization – software		-677		-561
	Subtotal		-10,807		-10,379
	Intangible assets, net	$	23,333	$	23,707
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:
	Year ending	Estimated		Gross carrying
		amortization and		amount
		depletion expenses
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	30-Jun-15	$	1,024		22,309
	30-Jun-16		1,024		21,285
	30-Jun-17		1,024		20,261
	30-Jun-18		1,024		19,237
	30-Jun-19		1,024		18,213
	Thereafter		18,213		-
	Total	$	23,333

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table Text Block]	'
	Long-term loans due to related party
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loans from Shaanxi Steel Group, due on various dates through November 2015 and interest rate is 5.6% per annum.	$	72,124	$	72,657
	Less: Current maturities of long-term loans – related party		-62,374		-53,013
	Long-term loans - related party	$	9,750	$	19,644
Short Term Notes Payable [Member]	'
Schedule of Short-term Debt [Table Text Block]	'
	The Company had the following short-term notes payable as of:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	General Steel (China): Notes payable to various banks in China, due various dates from July to December 2014. Restricted cash required of $11.4 million and $16.4 million as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively; guaranteed by third parties. These notes payable were either repaid or renewed subsequently on the due dates.	$	11,375	$	29,466
	Longmen Joint Venture: Notes payable to various banks in China, due various dates from July to December 2014. $418.8 million restricted cash and $51.0 million notes receivable are secured for notes payable as of June 30, 2014, and comparatively $383.0 million restricted cash and $231.7 million notes receivable secured as of December 31, 2013, respectively; some notes are further guaranteed by third parties. These notes payable were either repaid or renewed subsequently on the due dates.		864,104		988,364
	Total short-term notes payable	$	875,479	$	1,017,830
Due To Banks [Member]	'
Schedule of Short-term Debt [Table Text Block]	'
	Due to banks
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	General Steel (China): Loans from various banks in China, due various dates from August 2014 to June 2015. Weighted average interest rate was 7.1% per annum and 7.2% per annum as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively; some are guaranteed by third parties and related parties. $8.1 million and $0 restricted cash were secured for the loans as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively; These loans were either repaid or renewed subsequently on the due dates.	$	52,325	$	34,229
			149,348		267,688
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loans from various banks in China, due various dates from August 2014 to June 2015. Weighted average interest rate was 6.1% per annum and 6.3% per annum as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively; some are guaranteed by third parties, accounts receivable, restricted cash or notes receivables. $56.1 million and $163.9 million restricted notes receivable were secured for the loans as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively; $5.9 million and $0 restricted cash were secured for the loans as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively; These loans were either repaid or renewed subsequently on the due dates.
	Total short-term loans - bank	$	201,673	$	301,917
Due To Unrelated Parties [Member]	'
Schedule of Short-term Debt [Table Text Block]	'
	Due to unrelated parties
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loans from various unrelated companies and individuals, due various dates from July to December 2014, and weighted average interest rate was 5.6% per annum and 5.2% per annum as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. These loans were either repaid or renewed subsequently on the due dates.	$	17,099	$	22,720
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loans from financing sales.		41,119		33,124
	Maoming Hengda: Loans from one unrelated party and one related party, due on demand, none interest bearing.		6,177		6,223
	Total short-term loans – others	$	64,395	$	62,067
Due To Related Parties [Member]	'
Schedule of Short-term Debt [Table Text Block]	'
	Short term loans due to related parties
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	General Steel China: Loans from Yangpu Capital Automobile, due on demand, and interest rate is 10% per annum.	$	1,446	$	1,458
			8,822		28,216
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loan from Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd., due on demand, and interest rate is 7.0% per annum.
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loan from Shaanxi Steel Group due on various dates from November 2014 to June 2015, and interest rate is 6.6% per annum.		81,250		49,110
	Longmen Joint Venture: Loans from financing sales.		62,478		47,909
	Total short-term loans - related parties	$	153,996	$	126,693

Capital_lease_obligations_Tabl

Capital lease obligations (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
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 obligations for the next five years as of June 30, 2014:
	Year ending June 30,	Capital Lease Obligations
		Minimum Lease Payments
		(in thousands)
	2015	$	7,567
	2016		5,804
	2017		181,884
	2018		33,280
	2019		30,108
	Thereafter		338,666
	Total minimum lease payments		597,309
	Less: amounts representing interest		-206,036
	Ending balance	$	391,273

Taxes_Tables

Taxes (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
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 and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 are as follows:
	(In thousands)	Three months ended		Three months ended
		June 30, 2014		June 30, 2013
	Current	$	107	$	105
	Deferred		-		-
	Total provision for income taxes	$	107	$	105
	(In thousands)	Six months ended		Six months ended
		June 30, 2014		June 30, 2013
	Current	$	112	$	176
	Deferred		-		-
	Total provision for income taxes	$	112	$	176
Summary of Valuation Allowance [Table Text Block]	'
	Movement of valuation allowance:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	Beginning balance	$	97,569	$	72,891
	Current period addition		4,194		23,293
	Current period reversal		-55		-1,206
	Exchange difference		-726		2,591
	Ending balance	$	100,982	$	97,569
Schedule Of Taxes Payable [Table Text Block]	'
	Taxes payable consisted of the following:
		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)		(in thousands)
	VAT taxes payable	$	2,496	$	2,211
	Income taxes payable		185		173
	Other taxes		1,500		2,244
	Totals	$	4,181	$	4,628

Related_party_transactions_and1

Related party transactions and balances (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Schedule Of Related Party Sales [Table Text Block]	'
	The following chart summarizes sales to related parties for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.
	Name of related parties	Relationship		Three months ended			Three months ended
				June 30, 2014			June 30, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	25,150		$	82,286
	Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group*			-			5,975
	Shaanxi Haiyan Trade Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group*			805			5,004
	Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group*			26,967			18,393
	Shaanxi Steel	Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group			626			448
	Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd.	Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel			16,420			12,792
	Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co., Ltd	Subsidiary of Long Steel Group			5,117			114
	Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd	Investee of Long Steel Group			4,291			11,289
	Total			$	79,376		$	136,301
	*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.
	Name of related parties	Relationship		Six months ended			Six months ended
				June 30, 2014			June 30, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	69,950		$	162,961
	Sichuan Yutai Trading Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group			-			72
	Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group			-			20,410
	Shaanxi Haiyan Trade Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group			820			15,596
	Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group			47,703			36,679
	Shaanxi Steel	Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group			1,097			1,411
	Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd.	Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel			21,389			14,626
	Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co., Ltd	Subsidiary of Long Steel Group			11,735			2,113
	Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd	Investee of Long Steel Group			8,888			31,293
	Total			$	161,582		$	285,161
Schedule Of Related Party Purchases [Table Text Block]	'
	The following charts summarize purchases from related parties for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.
	Name of related parties	Relationship		Three months ended			Three months ended
				June 30, 2014			June 30, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	100,504		$	170,005
	Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co., Ltd	Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			40,179			53,193
	Xi’an Pinghe Metallurgical Raw Material Co., Ltd	Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			5,016			742
	Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd	Investee of Long Steel Group			-			1
	Shaanxi Huafu New Energy Co., Ltd	Significant influence by the Long Steel Group			7,561			8,560
	Beijing Daishang Trading Co., Ltd.	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary			-			1,432
	Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co., Ltd.	Investee of General Steel (China)			73,940			-
	Tianjin General Quigang Pipe Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding**			4,253			-
	Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding**			17,721			-
	Others	Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			1,037			166
	Total			$	250,211		$	234,099
	**The CEO referred to herein is the chief executive officer of General Steel Holdings, Inc.
	Name of related parties	Relationship		Six months ended			Six months ended
				June 30, 2014			June 30, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	252,276		$	274,498
	Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co., Ltd	Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			84,267			116,991
	Xi’an Pinghe Metallurgical Raw Material Co., Ltd	Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			5,920			12,497
	Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co., Ltd	Subsidiary of Long Steel Group			-			53
	Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd	Investee of Long Steel Group			-			211
	Shaanxi Huafu New Energy Co., Ltd	Significant influence by the Long Steel Group			14,221			18,089
	Beijing Daishang Trading Co., Ltd.	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary			-			4,909
	Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co., Ltd.	Investee of General Steel (China)			97,279			-
	Tianjin General Quigang Pipe Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			8,528			-
	Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			45,640			-
	Others	Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			1,084			236
	Total			$	509,215		$	427,484
Schedule Of Related Party Transactions Loan Receivables From Related Party [Table Text Block]	'
	Loans receivable – related parties:
	Name of related parties	Relationship		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Teamlink Investment Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			4,540			4,540
	Total			$	4,540		$	4,540
Schedule Of Related Party Transactions, Accounts Receivables From Related Party [Table Text Block]	'
	Accounts receivables – related parties:
	Name of related parties	Relationship		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	1,316		$	548
	Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group			-			-
	Tianjin Daqiuzhuang Steel Plates	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			19			19
	Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			2,586			-
	Shaanxi Steel	Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group			1,866			1,741
	Others				1			634
	Total			$	5,788		$	2,942
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		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	379		$	406
	Shaanxi Steel	Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group			48,532			46,439
	Tianjin General Quigang Pipe Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			1,238			1,247
	Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co, Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			-			491
	Beijing Shenhua Xinyuan Metal Materials Co., Ltd.	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			4,865			4,901
	Victory Energy Resource Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			2,231			-
	Others	Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			738			622
	Total			$	57,983		$	54,106
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		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	-		$	9,123
	Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co., Ltd.	Significant influence by Long Steel Group			13,088			25,607
	Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			1,379			10,343
	Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			61,440			16,158
	Tianjin General Qiugang Pipe Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			202			555
	Maoming Shengze Trading Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			43,137			21,197
	Others	Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			33			20
	Total			$	119,279		$	83,003
Schedule Of Related Party Transactions, Accounts Payable Related Parties [Table Text Block]	'
	Accounts payable - related parties:
	Name of related parties	Relationship		June 30, 2014			December 31,
							2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co., Ltd	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		$	62,890		$	58,163
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture			164,073			134,758
	Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd.	Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel			3,507			29,990
	Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			972			958
	Xi’an Pinghe Metallurgical Raw Material Co., Ltd	Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group			2,036			8,714
	Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			9,862			1
	Henan Xinmi Kanghua Fire Refractory Co., Ltd	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary			702			716
	Beijing Daishang Trading Co., Ltd	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary			36			1,004
	Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co., Ltd.	Investee of General Steel (China)			17,299			759
	Others	Entities either owned or have significant influence by our affiliates or management			726			630
	Total			$	262,103		$	235,692
Schedule Of Related Party Transactions, Short Term Loans Related Parties [Table Text Block]	'
	Short-term loans - related parties:
	Name of related parties	Relationship		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Shaanxi Steel	Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group		$	81,250		$	49,110
	Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd	Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel			71,287			28,216
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture			-			33,183
	Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			-			8,178
	Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			13			6,548
	Yangpu Capital Automobile	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			1,446			1,458
	Total			$	153,996		$	126,693
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		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Shaanxi Steel	Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group		$	62,374		$	53,013
	Total			$	62,374		$	53,013
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.
	Name of related parties	Relationship		June 30,			December 31,
				2014			2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Tianjin Hengying Trading Co, Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding		$	377		$	380
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture			44,730			43,636
	Shaanxi Steel	Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group			48,670			44,363
	Wendlar Investment & Management Group Co., Ltd	Common control under CEO			1,053			895
	Yangpu Capital Automobile	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			362			291
	Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			470			473
	Maoming Shengze Trading Co., Ltd	Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding			2,201			1,745
	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			346			921
	Total			$	98,209		$	94,079
Schedule Of Related Party Transactions, Customer Deposits Related Parties [Table Text Block]	'
	Customer deposits – related parties:
	Name of related parties	Relationship		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group		$	10		$	10
	Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd	Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel			13,749			-
	Long Steel Group	Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture			8,378			15,038
	Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co., Ltd	Investee of Long Steel Group			16			2,748
	Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group			-			275
	Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co., Ltd.	Investee of General Steel (China)			113,549			46,521
	Shaanxi Haiyan Trade Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group			7,186			-
	Others				-			289
	Total			$	142,888		$	64,881
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		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Gansu Yulong Trading Co., Ltd.	Significant influence by Long Steel Group		$	1,073		$	1,408
	Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co., Ltd	Significant influence by Long Steel Group			585			589
	Total			$	1,658		$	1,997
Schedule Of Related Party Transactions, Long Term Loans Related Parties [Table Text Block]	'
	Long-term loans – related party:
	Name of related party	Relationship		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
				(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Shaanxi Steel	Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group		$	9,750		$	19,644
	Total			$	9,750		$	19,644
Schedule Of Related Party Transactions, Deferred Lease Income [Table Text Block]	'
	Deferred lease income
		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Beginning balance	$	77,444		$	77,199
	Less: Lease income realized		-1,088			-2,158
	Exchange rate effect		-565			2,403
	Ending balance		75,791			77,444
	Current portion		-2,171			-2,187
	Noncurrent portion	$	73,620		$	75,257
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:
		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Machinery	$	601,398		$	605,839
	Less: accumulated depreciation		-90,460			-76,740
	Carrying value of leased assets	$	510,938		$	529,099

Commitment_and_contingencies_T

Commitment and contingencies (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
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 June 30, 2014 is as follows:
	Year ending June 30,	Minimum lease payment
		(in thousands)
	2015	$	1,055
	2016		566
	2017		566
	2018		566
	2019		566
	Years after		19,849
	Total minimum payments required	$	23,168
Schedule of Guarantor Obligations [Table Text Block]	'
	As of June 30, 2014, Longmen Joint Venture provided guarantees to related parties’ and third parties’ bank loans, including lines of credit and others, amounting to $265.4 million.
	Nature of guarantee	Guarantee		Guaranty Due Date
		amount
		(In thousands)
	Line of credit	$	153,563	Various from July 2014 to August 2015
	Three-party financing agreements		19,500	Various from July 2014 to May 2015
	Confirming storage		52,975	Various from August 2014 to April 2015
	Financing by the rights of goods delivery in future		39,406	Various from July to October 2014
	Total	$	265,444
Schedule Of Parties Being Guaranteed [Table Text Block]	'
	Name of parties being guaranteed	Guarantee		Guaranty Due Date
		amount
		(In thousands)
	Long Steel Group	$	82,875	Various from September 2014 to August 2015
	Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co., Ltd		39,975	Various from August 2014 to April 2015
	Chengdu Zhongyi Steel Co., Ltd		8,125	Mar-15
	Shaanxi Tianyi Metal Materials Co., Ltd		6,500	Dec-14
	Xi’an Laisheng Logistics Co., Ltd		11,781	Various from August 2014 to May 2015
	Xi'an Kaiyuan Steel Sales Co., Ltd		6,500	Jan-15
	Shaanxi Longan Industry Co., Ltd.		8,125	Dec-14
	Hancheng Sanli Furnace Burden Co., Ltd.		16,250	Mar-15
	Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co., Ltd		38,188	Various from June 2014 to March 2015
	Tianjin Hengying Trading Co., Ltd		40,625	Various from July 2014 to January 2015
	Jinmen Desheng Metallurgy Co., Ltd		6,500	Sep-14
	Total	$	265,444

Segments_Tables

Segments (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]	'
	The following represents the results of division operations for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013:
	(In thousands)
	Sales:		2014		2013
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	587,314	$	650,741
	Maoming Hengda			215		1,349
	Baotou Steel Pipe Joint Venture			483		972
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-		5,454
	Total sales			588,012		658,516
	Interdivision sales			1		-4,865
	Consolidated sales		$	588,013	$	653,651
	Gross profit (loss):		2014		2013
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	28,229	$	-36,193
	Maoming Hengda			21		473
	Baotou Steel			3		167
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-159		17
	Total gross profit (loss)			28,094		-35,536
	Interdivision gross profit			-		-
	Consolidated gross profit (loss)		$	28,094	$	-35,536
	Income (loss) from operations:		2014		2013
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	8,128	$	-44,684
	Maoming Hengda			-54		-225
	Baotou Steel			-133		55
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-720		-790
	Total income (loss) from operations			7,221		-45,644
	Interdivision income (loss) from operations			-		-
	Reconciling item (1)			-896		-1,246
	Consolidated income (loss) from operations		$	6,325	$	-46,890
	Net income (loss) attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.:		2014		2013
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	-8,077	$	-34,944
	Maoming Hengda			-123		-216
	Baotou Steel			-106		46
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-1,870		-3,528
	Total net loss attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.			-10,176		-38,642
	Interdivision net income			-		-
	Reconciling item (1)			-843		-1,176
	Consolidated net loss attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.		$	-11,019	$	-39,818
	Depreciation, amortization and depletion:		2014		2013
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	22,778	$	20,850
	Maoming Hengda			158		315
	Baotou Steel			59		26
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			447		518
	Consolidated depreciation, amortization and depletion		$	23,442	$	21,709
	Finance/interest expenses:		2014		2013
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	25,131	$	18,243
	Maoming Hengda			-		-
	Baotou Steel			-1		-
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			1,488		2,972
	Interdivision interest expenses			-		-
	Reconciling item (1)			1		1
	Consolidated interest expenses		$	26,619	$	21,216
	Capital expenditures:		2014		2013
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	55,852	$	27,922
	Maoming Hengda			-		-
	Baotou Steel			-		1
	General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-		2
	Reconciling item (1)			-		-
	Consolidated capital expenditures		$	55,852	$	27,925
	The following represents the results of division operations for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013:
	(In thousands)
	Sales:		2014		2013
	Longmen Joint Venture		$	1,181,328	$	1,297,489
	Maoming Hengda			251		2,872
	Baotou Steel Pipe Joint Venture			645		981
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			53		54,180
Total sales			1,182,277		1,355,522
Interdivision sales			-53		-50,580
Consolidated sales		$	1,182,224	$	1,304,942
Gross profit (loss):		2014		2013
Longmen Joint Venture		$	6,010	$	-31,826
Maoming Hengda			45		245
Baotou Steel			-20		89
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-502		23
Total gross profit (loss)			5,533		-31,469
Interdivision gross profit			-		-
Consolidated gross profit (loss)		$	5,533	$	-31,469
Loss from operations:		2014		2013
Longmen Joint Venture		$	-31,166	$	-9,747
Maoming Hengda			-576		-1,022
Baotou Steel			-177		-305
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-3,286		-1,598
Total loss from operations			-35,205		-12,672
Interdivision loss from operations			-		-
Reconciling item (1)			-2,133		-2,327
Consolidated loss from operations		$	-37,338	$	-14,999
Net loss attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.:		2014		2013
Longmen Joint Venture		$	-46,111	$	-26,619
Maoming Hengda			-660		-987
Baotou Steel			-141		-243
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			-5,713		-6,684
Total net loss attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.			-52,625		-34,533
Interdivision net income (loss)			-		-
Reconciling item (1)			-1,958		-2,182
Consolidated net loss attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.		$	-54,583	$	-36,715
Depreciation, amortization and depletion:		2014		2013
Longmen Joint Venture		$	46,308	$	41,281
Maoming Hengda			462		626
Baotou Steel			121		123
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			897		1,037
Consolidated depreciation, amortization and depletion		$	47,788	$	43,067
Finance/interest expenses:		2014		2013
Longmen Joint Venture		$	52,121	$	40,393
Maoming Hengda			-		-
Baotou Steel			-		-
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			3,097		5,678
Interdivision interest expenses			-		-
Reconciling item (1)			96		2
Consolidated interest expenses		$	55,314	$	46,073
Capital expenditures:		2014		2013
Longmen Joint Venture		$	112,599	$	44,006
Maoming Hengda			32		2
Baotou Steel			-		8
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			82		3
Reconciling item (1)			-		-
Consolidated capital expenditures		$	112,713	$	44,019
Total Assets as of:		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
Longmen Joint Venture		$	2,349,913	$	2,573,212
Maoming Hengda			27,786		29,211
Baotou Steel Pipe Joint Venture			3,290		4,448
General Steel (China) & Tianwu Joint Venture			200,665		121,883
Interdivision assets			-33,208		-34,213
Reconciling item (2)			8,028		5,817
Total Assets		$	2,556,474	$	2,700,358
	-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 six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.
	-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 June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

Organization_and_Operations_De

Organization and Operations (Details Textual)	6 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Apr. 29, 2011	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2011	Apr. 29, 2011	Apr. 29, 2011
		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%	60.00%	60.00%	'	'	'	'
Iron and Steel Making Facilities	'	'	'	'	'	'	$605.80	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)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Apr. 29, 2011
General Steel Investment Co., Ltd. [Member]	'	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	100.00%	'
Entity Incorporation, State Country Name	'British Virgin Islands	'
General Steel (China) Co., Ltd. ("General Steel (China)") [Member]	'	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	100.00%	'
Entity Incorporation, State Country Name	'PRC	'
Baotou Steel - General Steel Special Steel Pipe Joint Venture Co., Ltd. [Member]	'	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	80.00%	'
Entity Incorporation, State Country Name	'PRC	'
Yangpu Shengtong Investment Co., Ltd. ("Yangpu Shengtong") [Member]	'	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	99.10%	'
Entity Incorporation, State Country Name	'PRC	'
Tianjin Qiu Steel Investment Co., Ltd. ("Qiu Steel") [Member]	'	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	98.70%	'
Entity Incorporation, State Country Name	'PRC	'
Longmen Joint Venture [Member]	'	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	60.00%	60.00%
Entity Incorporation, State Country Name	'PRC	'
Maoming Hengda Steel Company, Ltd. ("Maoming Hengda") [Member]	'	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	99.00%	'
Entity Incorporation, State Country Name	'PRC	'

Summary_of_significant_account4

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 1) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'
Current assets	$1,170,395	$1,380,724
Plant and equipment, net	1,253,351	1,271,907
TOTAL ASSETS	2,556,474	2,700,358
Total liabilities	-3,132,371	-3,194,355
Variable Interest Entities and Subsidiary [Member]	'	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'
Current assets	990,397	1,282,054
Plant and equipment, net	1,245,144	1,262,144
Other noncurrent assets	114,372	29,014
TOTAL ASSETS	2,349,913	2,573,212
Total liabilities	-2,891,359	-3,040,879
Net liabilities	($541,446)	($467,667)

Summary_of_significant_account5

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 2) (USD $)	Jul. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current liabilities:	'	'	'
Short term notes payable	'	$875,479	$1,017,830
Accounts payable	'	418,468	434,979
Accounts payable - related parties	'	262,103	235,692
Short term loans - bank	'	201,673	301,917
Short term loans - others	'	64,395	62,067
Short term loans - related parties	'	153,996	126,693
Current maturities of long-term loans - related party	'	62,374	53,013
Other payables and accrued liabilities	'	48,343	45,653
Other payables - related parties	'	98,209	94,079
Customer deposits	'	136,288	87,860
Customer deposits - related parties	'	142,888	64,881
Deposit due to sales representatives	'	21,435	24,343
Taxes payable	'	4,181	4,628
Deferred lease income	2,200	2,171	2,187
Capital lease obligations, current	'	6,443	4,321
Total current liabilities	'	2,500,104	2,562,140
Non-current liabilities:	'	'	'
Long term loans - related parties	'	9,750	19,644
Deferred lease income - noncurrent	'	73,620	75,257
Capital lease obligations, noncurrent	'	384,830	375,019
Profit sharing liability at fair value	'	164,067	162,295
Total non-current liabilities	'	632,267	632,215
Total liabilities of consolidated VIE	'	3,132,371	3,194,355
Variable Interest Entities and Subsidiary [Member]	'	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'
Short term notes payable	'	864,104	988,364
Accounts payable	'	409,550	393,816
Accounts payable - related parties	'	261,437	235,116
Short term loans - bank	'	149,348	267,688
Short term loans - others	'	58,218	55,844
Short term loans - related parties	'	152,550	125,236
Current maturities of long-term loans - related party	'	62,374	56,614
Other payables and accrued liabilities	'	39,685	37,028
Other payables - related parties	'	93,742	88,914
Customer deposits	'	66,595	87,661
Customer deposits - related parties	'	45,589	18,359
Deposit due to sales representatives	'	21,435	24,343
Deposit due to sales representatives - related parties	'	1,658	1,997
Taxes payable	'	2,930	3,357
Deferred lease income	'	2,171	2,187
Capital lease obligations, current	'	6,443	4,321
Intercompany payable to be eliminated	'	21,263	21,420
Total current liabilities	'	2,259,092	2,412,265
Non-current liabilities:	'	'	'
Long term loans - related parties	'	9,750	16,043
Deferred lease income - noncurrent	'	73,620	75,257
Capital lease obligations, noncurrent	'	384,830	375,019
Profit sharing liability at fair value	'	164,067	162,295
Total non-current liabilities	'	632,267	628,614
Total liabilities of consolidated VIE	'	$2,891,359	$3,040,879

Summary_of_significant_account6

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Sales	$508,637	$517,350	$1,020,642	$1,019,781
Gross profit (loss)	28,094	-35,536	5,533	-31,469
Income (loss) from operations	6,325	-46,890	-37,338	-14,999
Net loss attributable to controlling interest	-11,019	-39,818	-54,583	-36,715
Variable Interest Entities and Subsidiary [Member]	'	'	'	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Sales	587,314	650,741	1,181,328	1,297,489
Gross profit (loss)	28,229	-36,193	6,010	-31,826
Income (loss) from operations	8,128	-44,684	-31,166	-9,747
Net loss attributable to controlling interest	($8,077)	($34,944)	($46,111)	($26,619)

Summary_of_significant_account7

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 4) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Amount of Line of Credit	$147.90
China Minsheng Bank [Member]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Amount of Line of Credit	97.5
Repayment Date	28-Nov-15
China CITIC Bank [Member]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Amount of Line of Credit	32.5
Repayment Date	16-Jun-15
Bank Of Communication [Member]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Amount of Line of Credit	$17.90
Repayment Date	17-Jul-15

Summary_of_significant_account8

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 5) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Jul. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Jan. 22, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified		Vendor Financing [Member]	Vendor Financing [Member]	Vendor Financing [Member]	Vendor Financing [Member]	Vendor Financing [Member]	Vendor Financing [Member]
			Company A [Member]	Company A [Member]	Company B [Member]	Company B [Member]	Company C [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Financing Amount	$147.90	$893.80	$243.80	$243.80	$162.50	$162.50	$487.50
Financing period covered	'	'	'July 30, 2014 – July 30, 2019	'	'January 22, 2014 – January 22, 2017	'	'October 1, 2013 – March 31, 2016

Summary_of_significant_account9

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 6) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Financing Amount	$362.40
Company D [Member]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Financing Amount	81.3
Financing period covered	'April 22, 2014 – April 22, 2017
Company E [Member]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Financing Amount	86
Financing period covered	'April 23, 2014 – April 23, 2017
Company F [Member]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Financing Amount	81.3
Financing period covered	'April 22, 2014 – April 22, 2017
Company G [Member]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Financing Amount	56.9
Financing period covered	'March 5, 2014 – March 5, 2016
Company H [Member]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Financing Amount	$56.90
Financing period covered	'March 5, 2014 – March 5, 2016

Recovered_Sheet1

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 7) (USD $)	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2015
			Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Current liabilities over current assets (excluding deferred lease income) as of June 30, 2014 (unaudited)	'	'	($1,327,500,000)
Projected cash financing and outflows:	'	'	'
Cash provided by lines of credit from banks	'	'	147,900,000
Cash provided by vendor financing	'	'	893,800,000
Cash provided by other financing	'	'	362,400,000
Cash provided by sales representatives	'	'	23,100,000
Cash projected to be used in operations in the twelve months ending June 30, 2015	'	'	-28,800,000
Cash projected to be used for financing cost in the twelve months ending June 30, 2015	-164,509,000	-102,242,000	-63,700,000
Net projected change in cash for the twelve months ending June 30, 2015	'	'	$7,200,000

Recovered_Sheet2

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 8) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Profit sharing liability	$164,067	$162,295	'
Total	164,067	162,295	328,828
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Profit sharing liability	0	0	'
Total	0	0	'
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Profit sharing liability	0	0	'
Total	0	0	'
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Profit sharing liability	164,067	162,295	'
Total	$164,067	$162,295	'

Recovered_Sheet3

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 9) (USD $)	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'
Beginning balance	$162,295	$328,828
Change in fair value of profit sharing liability:	'	'
Change in estimate of future operating profits	0	-174,821
Change in discount rate	0	0
Change in the number of future periods over which the present value of future cash flows is estimated	5,778	16,872
Difference between the previously estimated operating results for the current period and actual results	-2,809	-16,620
Change in derivative liabilities - warrants	0	1
Exchange rate effect	-1,197	8,035
Ending balance	$164,067	$162,295

Recovered_Sheet4

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 10)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Buildings and improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'40 years
Buildings and improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'10 years
Machinery [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'30 years
Machinery [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'10 years
Machinery and equipment under capital lease [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'20 years
Machinery and equipment under capital lease [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'10 years
Other equipment [Member]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'5 years
Transportation equipment [Member]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'5 years

Recovered_Sheet5

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 11) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014
General Steel (China) [Member]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Original Cost	$3,856
Expires on	'2050 & 2053
Longmen Joint Venture [Member]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Original Cost	24,097
Expires on	'2048 & 2052
Maoming Hengda [Member]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Original Cost	$2,697
Expires on	'2054

Recovered_Sheet6

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details 12) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'
Net investment	$16,710	$16,943
Xi'an Delong Powder Engineering Materials Co., Ltd.[Memebr]	'	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'
Year acquired	'2007	'
Net investment	1,098	1,215
Owned Percentage	24.10%	24.10%
Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co., Ltd.[Member]	'	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'
Year acquired	'2010	'
Net investment	$15,612	$15,728
Owned Percentage	32.00%	32.00%

Recovered_Sheet7

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details Textual)

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

10 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Nov. 19, 2013

Nov. 19, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Mar. 30, 2011

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jul. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jan. 22, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Mar. 31, 2015

Jun. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Nov. 19, 2013

Nov. 19, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Oct. 01, 2013

Apr. 29, 2011

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Nov. 19, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

CNY

Criteria One [Member]

Criteria Two [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Mining Rights [Member]

Five Customers [Member]

Five Customers [Member]

Five Customers [Member]

Five Customers [Member]

One Customer [Member]

One Customer [Member]

One Customer [Member]

Five Suppliers [Member]

Five Suppliers [Member]

Five Suppliers [Member]

Five Suppliers [Member]

Five Suppliers [Member]

Two Suppliers [Member]

Two Suppliers [Member]

One Suppliers [Member]

One Suppliers [Member]

One Suppliers [Member]

Vendor Financing [Member]

Company E [Member]

Company A [Member]

Company A [Member]

Company A [Member]

Company B [Member]

Company B [Member]

Company B [Member]

Company D [Member]

Company F [Member]

Company G [Member]

Company H [Member]

Company C [Member]

Company C [Member]

Company C [Member]

Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co Ltd [Member]

Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co Ltd [Member]

Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co Ltd [Member]

Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co Ltd [Member]

Longmen Joint Venture [Member]

Longmen Joint Venture [Member]

Longmen Joint Venture [Member]

Longmen Joint Venture [Member]

Yuxin Trading Co Ltd [Member]

Hualong [Member]

Hualong [Member]

Hualong [Member]

Huatianyulong [Member]

General Steel Investment Co Ltd [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]

Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co Ltd [Member]

Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co Ltd [Member]

Shaanxi Iron and Steel Group [Member]

Shaanxi Iron and Steel Group [Member]

Shaanxi Iron and Steel Group [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

Sales [Member]

Sales [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

Vendor Financing [Member]

Vendor Financing [Member]

USD ($)

Vendor Financing [Member]

Vendor Financing [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

Vendor Financing [Member]

Vendor Financing [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

Shareholder One [Member]

Shareholder Two [Member]

USD ($)

CNY

CNY

USD ($)

USD ($)

CNY

CNY

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

Subsequent Event [Member]

USD ($)

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

60.00%

'

'

60.00%

100.00%

36.00%

34.67%

29.33%

50.00%

100.00%

100.00%

99.00%

99.10%

98.70%

32.00%

32.00%

'

'

'

'

Working Capital

$1.30

'

'

'

$1.30

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

40.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt To Equity Ratio

5.4

5.4

'

'

5.4

5.4

'

'

6.5

6.5

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Due to Related Parties

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

21.5

68.2

'

'

65.4

'

'

16.3

19

9.9

1

1.9

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Vendor Financing, Variable Interest Rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.05%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Line Of Credit Amount Utilized

50.4

'

'

'

50.4

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cash and Cash Equivalents Including Restricted Cash

492.9

'

'

'

492.9

'

'

'

431.3

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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'

'

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'

'

'

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'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Deposits Assets

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.6

2

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Entity Wide Purchases Major Supplier Percentage

'

'

10.00%

10.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

27.80%

23.30%

'

'

10.00%

10.00%

10.00%

47.40%

45.00%

43.80%

38.40%

'

15.60%

10.70%

10.00%

12.70%

11.60%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Entity Wide Accounts Payable Major Supplier Percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

38.30%

'

38.30%

'

29.10%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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

'

'

'

'

3

'

'

'

0.7

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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'

'

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'

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'

'

'

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'

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'

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'

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'

'

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'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Foreign Currency Exchange Translation Rate Balance Sheet Items

'

6.15

'

'

'

6.15

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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'

'

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'

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'

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'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Foreign Currency Exchange Average Translation Rate

'

6.16

'

6.2

'

6.14

'

6.24

'

6.11

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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'

'

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'

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'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment, Salvage Value, Percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5.00%

3.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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'

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'

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'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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.

'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.

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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'

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'

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'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage Of Ownership, Significant Influence

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

50.00%

20.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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'

'

Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate

'

'

'

'

7.30%

7.30%

'

'

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'

'

'

'

'

'

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'

'

'

Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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'

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'

487.5

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'

'

'

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'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restricted Notes Receivable Interest Income

12.8

'

6.5

'

26.9

'

17.3

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'

'

'

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'

Concentration Risk, Percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

31.80%

24.40%

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'

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'

'

'

'

'

'

Finite lived Intangible Asset Acquired

'

15

'

'

'

15

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.4

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'

'

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24.1

148.3

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.9

23.7

16.6

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Profit Sharing Liability

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5.7

2.8

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'

Gain Loss On Change In Fair Value Of Profit Sharing Liability

'

'

'

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2.9

'

'

'

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'

'

'

'

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'

'

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

'

'

'

'

164.1

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'

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'

Business Combination Equity Interest Description

'

'

'

'

'Prior to November 19, 2013, the Company held a 60.0% equity interest in Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co., Ltd. (Tianwu). 32% interest was held by General Steel (China) and 28% interest was held by Yangpu Shengtong.

'Prior to November 19, 2013, the Company held a 60.0% equity interest in Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co., Ltd. (Tianwu). 32% interest was held by General Steel (China) and 28% interest was held by Yangpu Shengtong.

'

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'

Proceeds From Sale Of Equity Interest

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

13.6

84.3

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13.6

84.3

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'

'

'

'

Percentage Of Equity Interest Retained

'

'

'

'

'

'

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'

'

32.00%

32.00%

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'

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32.00%

32.00%

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Value Added Tax Rate

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17.00%

13.00%

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Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life

'

'

'

'

'50 years

'50 years

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'50 years

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'

'50 years

'50 years

'50 years

'

'

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'

'

Unified Management Agreement, Cost Of Asset

'

'

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'

2.3

14.6

14.6

Long-term Line of Credit

147.9

'

'

'

147.9

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'

'

'

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'

'

893.8

'

'

243.8

243.8

'

162.5

162.5

'

'

'

'

'

487.5

487.5

'

'

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'

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'

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Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance

0.1

'

'

'

0.1

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Disposal Group, Deferred Gain on Disposal

'

'

'

'

'

'

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'

1

'

'

'

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

$0.05

'

$0.13

'

$0.06

'

$0.09

'

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'

'

'

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'

'

'

Loans_receivable_related_parti2

Loans receivable - related parties (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Loans Receivable Related Parties [Line Items]	'	'
Loans receivable - related parties	$4,540	$4,540
Teamlink Investment Co., Ltd [Member]	'	'
Loans Receivable Related Parties [Line Items]	'	'
Loans receivable - related parties	$4,540	$4,540

Loans_receivable_related_parti3

Loans receivable - related parties (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Loans Receivable Related Parties [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Interest Income Related Party	$0.05	$0.07	$0.10	$0.10
Teamlink Investment Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'	'
Loans Receivable Related Parties [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Loans Receivable Maturity Date	'	'	'due in June, July and December 2014	'
Loans Receivable Interest Rate Stated Percentage	4.75%	'	4.75%	'

Accounts_receivable_including_2

Accounts receivable (including related parties), net (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'	'
Accounts receivable	$6,078	$5,131	'
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts	-801	-1,053	-1,367
Accounts receivable - related parties	5,788	2,942	'
Net accounts receivable	$11,065	$7,020	'

Accounts_receivable_including_3

Accounts receivable (including related parties), net (Details 1) (USD $)	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Beginning balance	$1,053	$1,367
Charge to expense	0	96
Less: recovery	-244	-449
Exchange rate effect	-8	39
Ending balance	$801	$1,053

Inventories_Details

Inventories (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory [Line Items]	'	'	'
Supplies	$23,451	$21,040	'
Raw materials	147,780	164,301	'
Finished goods	47,713	42,977	'
Less: allowance for inventory valuation	-9,973	-15,397	-9,585
Total inventories	$208,971	$212,921	'

Inventories_Details_1

Inventories (Details 1) (USD $)	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Inventory [Line Items]	'	'
Beginning balance	$15,397	$9,585
Addition	9,996	15,194
Less: write-off	-15,319	-9,757
Exchange rate effect	-101	375
Ending balance	$9,973	$15,397

Advances_on_inventory_purchase1

Advances on inventory purchases (Details Textual) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Advances on inventory purchases [Line Items]	'	'
Advances On Inventory Purchases Including Related Parties	$177.80	$127.90

Plant_and_equipment_net_Detail

Plant and equipment, net (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Buildings and improvements	$280,272	$274,402
Machinery	658,159	667,093
Machinery under capital lease	625,196	623,895
Transportation and other equipment	23,322	22,991
Construction in progress	38,736	11,412
Subtotal	1,625,685	1,599,793
Less: accumulated depreciation	-372,334	-327,886
Total	$1,253,351	$1,271,907

Plant_and_equipment_net_Detail1

Plant and equipment, net (Details 1) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			Factory wall remodel [Member]	Equipment updates [Member]	Sintering Machine Construction [Member]	5 blast furnace construction [Member]	Electrical Substation Construction [Member]	Reconstruction Of Miscellaneous Factory Buildings [Member]	Project materials [Member]	Others [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Construction in progress	$38,736	$11,412	$1,022	$109	$4,830	$22,970	$13	$5,547	$2,133	$2,112
Construction Completion Date	'	'	31-Jul-14	31-Jul-14	30-Nov-14	31-Dec-14	31-Aug-14	31-Oct-14	'	'
Estimated additional cost to complete	$326,316	'	$77	$3,206	$140,122	$150,155	$24,419	$4,337	$0	$0

Plant_and_equipment_net_Detail2

Plant and equipment, net (Details 2) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Machinery	$625,196	$623,895
Less: accumulated depreciation	-92,037	-77,086
Carrying value of leased assets	$533,159	$546,809

Plant_and_equipment_net_Detail3

Plant and equipment, net (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Depreciation	$23.20	$21.40	$47.30	$42.50
Lease Expiration Date	'	'	30-Apr-31	'
Assets Held under Capital Leases [Member]	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Depreciation	$7.70	$7.10	$15.60	$14.10

Intangible_assets_net_Details

Intangible assets, net (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	$34,140	$34,086
Less: Accumulated amortization	-10,807	-10,379
Intangible assets, net	23,333	23,707
Land use rights [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	30,650	30,884
Less: Accumulated amortization	-8,767	-8,498
Mining right [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	2,441	2,459
Less: Accumulated amortization	-1,363	-1,320
Software [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	1,049	743
Less: Accumulated amortization	($677)	($561)

Intangible_assets_net_Details_

Intangible assets, net (Details 1) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Estimated amortization and depletion expenses, june 30, 2015	$1,024
Estimated amortization and depletion expenses, june 30, 2016	1,024
Estimated amortization and depletion expenses, june 30, 2017	1,024
Estimated amortization and depletion expenses, june 30, 2018	1,024
Estimated amortization and depletion expenses, june 30, 2019	1,024
Thereafter	18,213
Total	23,333
Gross carrying amount, june 30, 2015	22,309
Gross carrying amount, june 30, 2016	21,285
Gross carrying amount, june 30, 2017	20,261
Gross carrying amount,june 30, 2018	19,237
Gross carrying amount, june 30, 2019	18,213
Thereafter	$0

Intangible_assets_net_Details_1

Intangible assets, net (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'	'	'33 years 1 month 6 days	'
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$0.30	$0.30	$0.50	$0.50
Depletion	$0.04	$0.02	$0.05	$0.10

Debt_Details

Debt (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Short term notes payable	$875,479	$1,017,830
Longmen Joint Venture Notes Payable To Various Banks In China [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Short term notes payable	864,104	988,364
General Steel China Notes Payable To Various Banks In China [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Short term notes payable	$11,375	$29,466

Debt_Details_1

Debt (Details 1) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Short term loans - bank	$201,673	$301,917
General Steel China Loans From Various Banks In China [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Short term loans - bank	52,325	34,229
Longmen Joint Venture Loans from various banks in China [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Short term loans - bank	$149,348	$267,688

Debt_Details_2

Debt (Details 2) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Short term loans - others	$64,395	$62,067
Longmen Joint Venture Loans from various unrelated companies and individuals [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Short term loans - others	17,099	22,720
Longmen Joint Venture Loans from financing sales [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Short term loans - others	41,119	33,124
Maoming Hengda Loans from one unrelated parties and one related party [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Short term loans - others	$6,177	$6,223

Debt_Details_3

Debt (Details 3) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Short term loans - related parties	$153,996	$126,693
General Steel China Loans From Yangpu Capital Automobile [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Short term loans - related parties	1,446	1,458
Longmen Joint Venture Loan from Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co Ltd [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Short term loans - related parties	8,822	28,216
Longmen Joint Venture Loan From Shaanxi Steel Group [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Short term loans - related parties	81,250	49,110
Longmen Joint Venture Loans From Financing Sales [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Short term loans - related parties	$62,478	$47,909

Debt_Details_4

Debt (Details 4) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Current maturities of long-term loans - related party	($62,374)	($53,013)
Long-term loans - related party	9,750	19,644
Longmen Joint Venture Loans from Shaanxi Steel Group [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term loans - related party	$72,124	$72,657

Debt_Details_Textual

Debt (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Percentage Of Transaction Fee	'	'	0.05%	'	'
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Guarantee For Notes Payable	$430.20	'	$430.20	'	$399.40
Restricted Notes Receivable Guarantee For Notes Payable	51	'	51	'	231.7
Short Term Borrowings, Default	5.2	'	5.2	'	6.4
Financing Sales	229.1	188.1	459.6	353.3	'
Financial Services Costs	0.8	3.1	1.7	3.1	'
Interest Costs Capitalized	0.2	0.6	0.8	0.8	'
Interest Expense, Debt	8.2	10.5	17.7	18.5	'
General Steel China Notes Payable To Various Banks In China [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Guarantee For Notes Payable	11.4	'	11.4	'	16.4
Longmen Joint Venture Loans From Various Unrelated Companies and Individuals [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	5.60%	'	5.60%	'	5.20%
Longmen Joint Venture Notes Payable To Various Banks In China [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Guarantee For Notes Payable	418.8	'	418.8	'	383
Restricted Notes Receivable Guarantee For Notes Payable	51	'	51	'	231.7
Debt Instrument Maturity Dates	'	'	'various dates from July to December 2014	'	'
Debt To Asset Ratio	95.40%	'	95.40%	'	'
Longmen Joint Venture Loans From Shaanxi Steel Group [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	6.60%	'	6.60%	'	'
General Steel China Loans From Yangpu Capital Automobile [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
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 [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	7.00%	'	7.00%	'	'
Longmen Joint Venture Loans from various banks in China [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Guarantee For Notes Payable	5.9	'	5.9	'	0
Restricted Notes Receivable Guarantee For Notes Payable	56.1	'	56.1	'	163.9
Debt Instrument Maturity Dates	'	'	'various dates from August 2014 to June 2015	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	6.10%	'	6.10%	'	6.30%
General Steel China Loans From Various Banks In China [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Guarantee For Notes Payable	$8.10	'	$8.10	'	$0
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	7.10%	'	7.10%	'	7.20%
Debt To Asset Ratio	20.00%	'	20.00%	'	89.70%
Maximum [Member] | Longmen Joint Venture Loans From Various Unrelated Companies and Individuals [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	9.60%	'	9.60%	'	'
Maximum [Member] | Longmen Joint Venture Loans From Financing Sales [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	9.60%	'	9.60%	'	'
Maximum [Member] | General Steel China Loans From Various Banks In China [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt To Asset Ratio	'	'	'	'	70.00%
Minimum [Member] | Longmen Joint Venture Loans From Various Unrelated Companies and Individuals [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	4.60%	'	4.60%	'	'
Minimum [Member] | Longmen Joint Venture Loans From Financing Sales [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	4.60%	'	4.60%	'	'
Minimum [Member] | General Steel China Loans From Various Banks In China [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt To Asset Ratio	'	'	'	'	20.00%

Customer_deposits_Details_Text

Customer deposits (Details Textual) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Customer Deposits [Line Items]	'	'
Customer Deposits Including Related Parties	$279,200,000	$152,700,000
Customer deposits - related parties	$142,888,000	$64,881,000

Deposits_due_to_sales_represen1

Deposits due to sales representatives (Details Textual) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Deposits Due To Sales Representative Including Related Parties	$23.10	$26.30

Warrants_Details_Textual

Warrants (Details Textual) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	13-May-13	Dec. 31, 2007
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Convertible Notes And Warrant [Line Items]	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	'	$40	$40
Class of Warrant or Right, Outstanding	3,900,871	'	'

Supplemental_disclosure_of_cas1

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information (Details Textual) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Supplemental Disclosure Of Cash Flow Information [Line Items]	'	'
Interest Paid, Net	$12.40	$7.60
Income Taxes Paid	0.1	0.2
Dividend Receivables Value	0.2	0.2
Disposal Of Equipment Value	-0.01	1
Inventory Productions, Equipment Conversion	-0.05	'
Inventory Utilized In Plant and Equipment Construction	1.1	19
Construction in Progress Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid	4.7	'
Notes Receivable Converted To Cash	2.3	'
Capital Leases, Lessee Balance Sheet, Assets by Major Class, Flight Equipment, Net	$5.90	'

Deferred_lease_income_Details_

Deferred lease income (Details Textual)

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

10 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Jul. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2010

Dec. 31, 2010

Mar. 30, 2011

Mar. 30, 2011

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 30, 2010

Dec. 30, 2010

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

Longmen Joint Venture [Member]

Longmen Joint Venture [Member]

Longmen Joint Venture [Member]

Longmen Joint Venture [Member]

Longmen Joint Venture [Member]

Longmen Joint Venture [Member]

Longmen Joint Venture [Member]

Longmen Joint Venture [Member]

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

CNY

Deferred Lease Income [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

14,500,000

89,300,000

14,600,000

89,500,000

Deferred Revenue Leases Lease Income Realized

542,000

539,000

1,088,000

1,071,000

2,158,000

'

'

'

'

7,100,000

43,900,000

'

'

'

'

Deferred Revenue, Leases, Net

75,791,000

'

75,791,000

'

77,444,000

'

77,199,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Deferred Revenue, Leases, Current

$2,171,000

'

$2,171,000

'

$2,187,000

$2,200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Capital_lease_obligations_Deta

Capital lease obligations (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014
2015	$7,567
2016	5,804
2017	181,884
2018	33,280
2019	30,108
Thereafter	338,666
Total minimum lease payments	597,309
Less: amounts representing interest	-206,036
Ending balance	$391,273

Capital_lease_obligations_Deta1

Capital lease obligations (Details Textual)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013
	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	Shaanxi Iron and Steel Group [Member]	Shaanxi Iron and Steel Group [Member]	Shaanxi Iron and Steel Group [Member]	Shaanxi Iron and Steel Group [Member]
					USD ($)	CNY		CNY
Schedule Of Capital Leased Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Capital Lease Agreement Term	'	'	'	'	'	'	'20 years	'
Classification Of Lease, Percentage Base	'	'	'	'	'	'	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	'	14.6
Interest Expense On Minimum Lease Payments	$5.70	$5.10	$10.80	$10.20	'	'	'	'

Taxes_Details

Taxes (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Taxes [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Current	$107	$105	$112	$176
Deferred	0	0	0	0
Provision for income taxes	$107	$105	$112	$176

Taxes_Details_1

Taxes (Details 1) (USD $)	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Taxes [Line Items]	'	'
Beginning balance	$97,569	$72,891
Current period addition	4,194	23,293
Current period reversal	-55	-1,206
Exchange difference	-726	2,591
Ending balance	$100,982	$97,569

Taxes_Details_2

Taxes (Details 2) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Taxes [Line Items]	'	'
VAT taxes payable	$2,496	$2,211
Income taxes payable	185	173
Other taxes	1,500	2,244
Totals	$4,181	$4,628

Taxes_Details_Textual

Taxes (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Taxes [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Preferential Tax Rate	'	'	15.00%	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Subject to Expiration	$536,800,000	'	$536,800,000	'	'	'
Value Added Tax Receivable	2,800,000	'	2,800,000	'	3,500,000	'
Value Added Tax On Sales	178,600,000	164,800,000	331,500,000	353,200,000	'	'
Value Added Tax On Purchases	174,500,000	154,400,000	326,400,000	338,200,000	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	100,982,000	'	100,982,000	'	97,569,000	72,891,000
Tax Initiative Extension Period	'	'	'10 years	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Asset Valuation Allowance Percentage	'	'	100.00%	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Period	'	'	'5 years	'	'	'
UNITED STATES	'	'	'	'	'	'
Taxes [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Change in Amount	'	'	100,000	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	$800,000	'	$800,000	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Date Expiration	'	'	'The net operating loss carry forwards for United States income taxes amounted to $2.4 million, which may be available to reduce future years taxable income.	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Asset Valuation Allowance Percentage	'	'	100.00%	'	'	'
Longmen Joint Venture [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Taxes [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent, Total	'	'	15.00%	'	'	'
Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Taxes [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent, Total	'	'	25.00%	'	'	'
Maximum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Taxes [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Value Added Tax Rate	'	'	17.00%	'	'	'
Minimum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Taxes [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Value Added Tax Rate	'	'	13.00%	'	'	'

Related_party_transactions_and2

Related party transactions and balances (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'
Machinery	$625,196	$623,895
Less: accumulated depreciation	-92,037	-77,086
Carrying value of leased assets	533,159	546,809
Shaanxi Coal and Shaanxi Steel [Member]	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'
Machinery	601,398	605,839
Less: accumulated depreciation	-90,460	-76,740
Carrying value of leased assets	$510,938	$529,099

Related_party_transactions_and3

Related party transactions and balances (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'		'
Revenue from Related Parties	$79,376	$136,301	$161,582		$285,161
Long Steel Group [Member]	'	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		'
Revenue from Related Parties	25,150	82,286	69,950		162,961
Sichuan Yutai Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'		'
Revenue from Related Parties	'	'	0		72
Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'	'	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	[1]	'
Revenue from Related Parties	0	5,975	0		20,410
Shaanxi Haiyan Trade Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'	'	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	[1]	'
Revenue from Related Parties	805	5,004	820		15,596
Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'	'	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	[1]	'
Revenue from Related Parties	26,967	18,393	47,703		36,679
Shaanxi Steel [Member]	'	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'	'	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group		'
Revenue from Related Parties	626	448	1,097		1,411
Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'	'	'Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel		'
Revenue from Related Parties	16,420	12,792	21,389		14,626
Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'	'	'Subsidiary of Long Steel Group		'
Revenue from Related Parties	5,117	114	11,735		2,113
Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'Investee of Long Steel Group	'	'Investee of Long Steel Group		'
Revenue from Related Parties	$4,291	$11,289	$8,888		$31,293
[1]	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.

Related_party_transactions_and4

Related party transactions and balances (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	$250,211		$234,099		$509,215	$427,484
Long Steel Group [Member]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		'		'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	100,504		170,005		252,276	274,498
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Relationship	'		'		'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	17,721	[1]	0	[1]	45,640	0
Tianjin General Quigang Pipe Co Ltd [Member]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Relationship	'		'		'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	4,253	[1]	0	[1]	8,528	0
Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co Ltd [Member]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group		'		'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	40,179		53,193		84,267	116,991
Xi'an Pinghe Metallurgical Raw Material Co Ltd [Member]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group		'		'Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group	'
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	5,016		742		5,920	12,497
Shaanxi Long Steel Group Baoji Steel Rolling Co Ltd [Member]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Relationship	'		'		'Subsidiary of Long Steel Group	'
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	'		'		0	53
Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co Ltd [Member]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Investee of Long Steel Group		'		'Investee of Long Steel Group	'
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	0		1		0	211
Shaanxi Huafu New Energy Co Ltd [Member]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Significant influence by the Long Steel Group		'		'Significant influence by the Long Steel Group	'
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	7,561		8,560		14,221	18,089
Beijing Daishang Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'		'		'	'
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	0		1,432		0	4,909
Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Investee of General Steel (China)		'		'Investee of General Steel (China)	'
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	73,940		0		97,279	0
Others [Member]	'		'		'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'		'		'	'
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	$1,037		$166		$1,084	$236
[1]	The CEO referred to herein is the chief executive officer of General Steel Holdings, Inc.

Related_party_transactions_and5

Related party transactions and balances (Details 3) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'
Loans receivable - related parties	$4,540	$4,540
Teamlink Investment Co Ltd [Member]	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Loans receivable - related parties	$4,540	$4,540

Related_party_transactions_and6

Related party transactions and balances (Details 4) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties, Current	$5,788	$5,788		$2,942
Long Steel Group [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		'
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties, Current	1,316	1,316		548
Tianjin Daqiuzhuang Steel Plates [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding		'
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties, Current	19	19		19
Shaanxi Steel [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group		'
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties, Current	1,866	1,866		1,741
Others [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
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	1	1		634
Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	[1]	'
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties, Current	0	0		0
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding		'
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties, Current	$2,586	$2,586		$0
[1]	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.

Related_party_transactions_and7

Related party transactions and balances (Details 5) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Other receivables - related parties	$57,983	$57,983	$54,106
Long Steel Group [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'
Other receivables - related parties	379	379	406
Shaanxi Steel [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'
Other receivables - related parties	48,532	48,532	46,439
Tianjin General Quigang Pipe Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Other receivables - related parties	1,238	1,238	1,247
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Other receivables - related parties	0	0	491
Beijing Shenhua Xinyuan Metal Materials Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Other receivables - related parties	4,865	4,865	4,901
Others [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
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	738	738	622
Victory Energy Resource Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Other receivables - related parties	$2,231	$2,231	$0

Related_party_transactions_and8

Related party transactions and balances (Details 6) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Advances on inventory purchase - related parties	$119,279	$119,279		$83,003
Long Steel Group [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		'
Advances on inventory purchase - related parties	0	0		9,123
Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	[1]	'
Advances on inventory purchase - related parties	13,088	13,088		25,607
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co Ltd [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding		'
Advances on inventory purchase - related parties	1,379	1,379		10,343
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding		'
Advances on inventory purchase - related parties	61,440	61,440		16,158
Tianjin General Qiugang Pipe Co Ltd [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding		'
Advances on inventory purchase - related parties	202	202		555
Maoming Shengze Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding		'
Advances on inventory purchase - related parties	43,137	43,137		21,197
Others [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
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	$33	$33		$20
[1]	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.

Related_party_transactions_and9

Related party transactions and balances (Details 7) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Accounts payable - related parties	$262,103	$262,103	$235,692
Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'
Accounts payable - related parties	62,890	62,890	58,163
Long Steel Group [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'
Accounts payable - related parties	164,073	164,073	134,758
Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel	'
Accounts payable - related parties	3,507	3,507	29,990
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Accounts payable - related parties	972	972	958
Xi'an Pinghe Metallurgical Raw Material Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Long Steel Group	'
Accounts payable - related parties	2,036	2,036	8,714
Henan Xinmi Kanghua Fire Refractory Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary	'
Accounts payable - related parties	702	702	716
Beijing Daishang Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture’s subsidiary	'
Accounts payable - related parties	36	36	1,004
Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Investee of General Steel (China)	'Investee of General Steel (China)	'
Accounts payable - related parties	17,299	17,299	759
Others [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
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	726	726	630
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Accounts payable - related parties	$9,862	$9,862	$1

Recovered_Sheet8

Related party transactions and balances (Details 8) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Short term loans - related parties	$153,996	$153,996	$126,693
Shaanxi Steel [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'
Short term loans - related parties	81,250	81,250	49,110
Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel	'
Short term loans - related parties	71,287	71,287	28,216
Long Steel Group [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'
Short term loans - related parties	0	0	33,183
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Short term loans - related parties	0	0	8,178
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Short term loans - related parties	13	13	6,548
Yangpu Capital Automobile [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Short term loans - related parties	$1,446	$1,446	$1,458

Recovered_Sheet9

Related party transactions and balances (Details 9) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'
Current maturities of long-term loans - related parties	$62,374	$53,013
Shaanxi Steel [Member]	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'
Current maturities of long-term loans - related parties	$62,374	$53,013

Recovered_Sheet10

Related party transactions and balances (Details 10) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Other payables - related parties	$98,209	$98,209	$94,079
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Other payables - related parties	377	377	380
Long Steel Group [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'
Other payables - related parties	44,730	44,730	43,636
Shaanxi Steel [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'
Other payables - related parties	48,670	48,670	44,363
Wendlar Investment Management Group Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Common control under CEO	'
Other payables - related parties	1,053	1,053	895
Yangpu Capital Automobile [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Other payables - related parties	362	362	291
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Other payables - related parties	470	470	473
Maoming Shengze Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Other payables - related parties	2,201	2,201	1,745
Victory Energy Resource Co Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Partially owned by CEO through indirect shareholding	'
Other payables - related parties	0	0	1,375
Others [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
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	$346	$346	$921

Recovered_Sheet11

Related party transactions and balances (Details 11) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Customer deposits - related parties	$142,888	$142,888		$64,881
Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	[1]	'
Customer deposits - related parties	10	10		10
Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co Ltd [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Shareholder of Shaanxi Steel		'
Customer deposits - related parties	13,749	13,749		0
Long Steel Group [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture	'Noncontrolling shareholder of Longmen Joint Venture		'
Customer deposits - related parties	8,378	8,378		15,038
Shaanxi Junlong Rolling Co Ltd [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'Investee of Long Steel Group	'Investee of Long Steel Group		'
Customer deposits - related parties	16	16		2,748
Shaanxi Shenganda Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	[1]	'
Customer deposits - related parties	0	0		275
Tianwu General Steel Material Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'Investee of General Steel (China)	'Investee of General Steel (China)		'
Customer deposits - related parties	113,549	113,549		46,521
Others [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
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	0	0		289
Shaanxi Haiyan Trade Co Ltd [Member]	'	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	[1]	'
Customer deposits - related parties	$7,186	$7,186		$0
[1]	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.

Recovered_Sheet12

Related party transactions and balances (Details 12) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'		'
Deposit due to sales representatives - related parties	$1,658		$1,997
Gansu Yulong Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group		'
Deposit due to sales representatives - related parties	1,073		1,408
Shaanxi Yuchang Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'		'
Related Party Relationship	'Significant influence by Long Steel Group	[1]	'
Deposit due to sales representatives - related parties	$585		$589
[1]	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.

Recovered_Sheet13

Related party transactions and balances (Details 13) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term loans - related party	$9,750	$19,644
Shaanxi Steel [Member]	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'
Related Party Relationship	'Majority shareholder of Long Steel Group	'
Long-term loans - related party	$9,750	$19,644

Recovered_Sheet14

Related party transactions and balances (Details 14) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Jul. 30, 2014
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	'	'	$77,444	$77,199	$77,199	'
Less: Lease income realized	-542	-539	-1,088	-1,071	-2,158	'
Exchange rate effect	'	'	-565	'	2,403	'
Ending balance	75,791	'	75,791	'	77,444	'
Current portion	-2,171	'	-2,171	'	-2,187	-2,200
Noncurrent portion	$73,620	'	$73,620	'	$75,257	'

Recovered_Sheet15

Related party transactions and balances (Details Textual)

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Nov. 19, 2013

Nov. 19, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Nov. 19, 2013

Nov. 19, 2013

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

CNY

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 Dazhan Industry Co Ltd [Member]

Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co Ltd [Member]

Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co Ltd [Member]

Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co Ltd [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

CNY

Related Party Transaction [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Related Party Loans Secured

$201.70

$201.70

$205.80

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Capital Leases, Income Statement, Lease Revenue

'

'

'

'

'

0.5

0.5

1.1

1.1

'

'

'

'

Percentage Of Equity Interest Sold

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

28.00%

28.00%

Proceeds From Sale Of Equity Interest

'

'

'

13.6

84.3

'

'

'

'

'

'

13.6

84.3

Percentage Of Equity Interest Retained

'

'

'

32.00%

32.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

32.00%

32.00%

Gain On Equity Interest Deconsolidate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1

'

Equity Method Investments

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

15.6

15.8

'

'

Cost Of Goods Sold From Related Parties

$58.70

$91.90

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Equity_Details_Textual

Equity (Details Textual) (Consultant [Member], USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Consultant [Member]	'
Exercise Price Of Common Stock	$1.01
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Issued for Services	80,000

Retirement_plan_Details_Textua

Retirement plan (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Defined Contribution Plan Employer Matching Contribution Percent Criteria One	'	'	20.00%	'
Defined Contribution Plan Employer Matching Contribution Percent Criteria Two	'	'	12.00%	'
Pension Expense	$3	$1.90	$5.80	$4.10
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent	'	'	8.00%	'

Commitment_and_contingencies_D

Commitment and contingencies (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
2015	$1,055
2016	566
2017	566
2018	566
2019	566
Years after	19,849
Total minimum payments required	$23,168

Commitment_and_contingencies_D1

Commitment and contingencies (Details 1) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	$265,444
Line of credit [Member]	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	153,563
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from July 2014 to August 2015
Three-party financing agreements [Member]	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	19,500
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from July 2014 to May 2015
Confirming storage [Member]	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	52,975
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from August 2014 to April 2015
Financing by the rights of goods delivery in future [Member]	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	$39,406
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from July to October 2014

Commitment_and_contingencies_D2

Commitment and contingencies (Details 2) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	$265,444
Xi'an Laisheng Logistics Co., Ltd [Member]	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	11,781
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from August 2014 to May 2015
Xi'an Kaiyuan Steel Sales Co., Ltd [Member]	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	6,500
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'January 2015
Hancheng Sanli Furnace Burden Co., Ltd. [Member]	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	16,250
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'March 2015
Jinmen Desheng Metallurty Co., Ltd [Member]	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	6,500
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'September 2014
Chengdu Zhongyi Steel Co., Ltd. [Member]	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	8,125
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'March 2015
Shaanxi Longan Industrial Development Co., Ltd [Member]	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	8,125
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'December 2014
Long Steel Group [Member]	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	82,875
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from September 2014 to August 2015
Hancheng Haiyan Coking Co Ltd [Member]	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	39,975
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from August 2014 to April 2015
Tianjin Dazhan Industry Co Ltd [Member]	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	38,188
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from June 2014 to March 2015
Tianjin Hengying Trading Co Ltd [Member]	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	40,625
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'Various from July 2014 to January 2015
Shaanxi Tianyi Metal Materials Co., Ltd [Member]	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	$6,500
Guaranty Obligations, Guaranty Due Date	'December 2014

Commitment_and_contingencies_D3

Commitment and contingencies (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Operating Leases, Rent Expense	$0.60	$0.80	$1.50	$1.60
Contractual Obligation	265.4	'	265.4	'
Subsequent Event [Member]	'	'	'	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Contractual Obligation	$326.30	'	$326.30	'

Segments_Details

Segments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013
Sales:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	$588,012		$658,516		$1,182,277		$1,355,522		'
Interdivisional Sales Revenue	1		-4,865		-53		-50,580		'
TOTAL SALES	588,013		653,651		1,182,224		1,304,942		'
Gross profit:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Gross Profit Loss	28,094		-35,536		5,533		-31,469		'
Interdivision Gross Profit Loss	0		0		0		0		'
GROSS PROFIT	28,094		-35,536		5,533		-31,469		'
Income (loss) from operations:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Income Loss From Operations	7,221		-45,644		-35,205		-12,672		'
Interdivision income (loss) from operations	0		0		0		0		'
Reconciling item	-896	[1]	-1,246	[1]	-2,133	[1]	-2,327	[1]	'
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS	6,325		-46,890		-37,338		-14,999		'
Net income (loss) attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Income Loss Net	-10,176		-38,642		-52,625		-34,533		'
Interdivision net income	0		0		0		0		'
Reconciling item (1)	-843	[1]	-1,176	[1]	-1,958	[1]	-2,182	[1]	'
NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO GENERAL STEEL HOLDINGS, INC.	-11,019		-39,818		-54,583		-36,715		'
Depreciation and amortization:	'		'		'		'		'
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	23,442		21,709		47,788		43,067		'
Finance/interest expenses:	'		'		'		'		'
Interdivision Interest Expense	0		0		0		0		'
Reconciling item	1	[1]	1	[1]	96	[1]	2	[1]	'
Finance/interest expenses	26,619		21,216		55,314		46,073		'
Capital expenditure	'		'		'		'		'
Consolidated capital expenditures	55,852		27,925		112,713		44,019		'
Reconciling item	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	'
ASSETS	'		'		'		'		'
Interdivision Assets	-33,208		'		-33,208		'		-34,213
Reconciling item	8,028	[2]	'		8,028	[2]	'		5,817	[2]
TOTAL ASSETS	2,556,474		'		2,556,474		'		2,700,358
Longmen Joint Venture [Member]	'		'		'		'		'
Sales:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	587,314		650,741		1,181,328		1,297,489		'
Gross profit:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Gross Profit Loss	28,229		-36,193		6,010		-31,826		'
Income (loss) from operations:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Income Loss From Operations	8,128		-44,684		-31,166		-9,747		'
Net income (loss) attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Income Loss Net	-8,077		-34,944		-46,111		-26,619		'
Depreciation and amortization:	'		'		'		'		'
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	22,778		20,850		46,308		41,281		'
Finance/interest expenses:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Finance Interest Expense	25,131		18,243		'		'		'
Finance/interest expenses	'		'		52,121		40,393		'
Capital expenditure	'		'		'		'		'
Consolidated capital expenditures	55,852		27,922		112,599		44,006		'
ASSETS	'		'		'		'		'
TOTAL ASSETS	2,349,913		'		2,349,913		'		2,573,212
Maoming Hengda Steel Company Ltd [Member]	'		'		'		'		'
Sales:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	215		1,349		251		2,872		'
Gross profit:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Gross Profit Loss	21		473		45		245		'
Income (loss) from operations:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Income Loss From Operations	-54		-225		-576		-1,022		'
Net income (loss) attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Income Loss Net	-123		-216		-660		-987		'
Depreciation and amortization:	'		'		'		'		'
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	158		315		462		626		'
Finance/interest expenses:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Finance Interest Expense	0		0		'		'		'
Finance/interest expenses	'		'		0		0		'
Capital expenditure	'		'		'		'		'
Consolidated capital expenditures	0		0		32		2		'
ASSETS	'		'		'		'		'
TOTAL ASSETS	27,786		'		27,786		'		29,211
Baotou Steel Pipe Joint Venture [Member]	'		'		'		'		'
Sales:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	483		972		645		981		'
Gross profit:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Gross Profit Loss	3		167		-20		89		'
Income (loss) from operations:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Income Loss From Operations	-133		55		-177		-305		'
Net income (loss) attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Income Loss Net	-106		46		-141		-243		'
Depreciation and amortization:	'		'		'		'		'
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	59		26		121		123		'
Finance/interest expenses:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Finance Interest Expense	-1		0		'		'		'
Finance/interest expenses	'		'		0		0		'
Capital expenditure	'		'		'		'		'
Consolidated capital expenditures	0		1		0		8		'
ASSETS	'		'		'		'		'
TOTAL ASSETS	3,290		'		3,290		'		4,448
General Steel (China) Tianwu Joint Venture [Member]	'		'		'		'		'
Sales:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0		5,454		53		54,180		'
Gross profit:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Gross Profit Loss	-159		17		-502		23		'
Income (loss) from operations:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Income Loss From Operations	-720		-790		-3,286		-1,598		'
Net income (loss) attributable to General Steel Holdings, Inc.:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Income Loss Net	-1,870		-3,528		-5,713		-6,684		'
Depreciation and amortization:	'		'		'		'		'
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	447		518		897		1,037		'
Finance/interest expenses:	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Finance Interest Expense	1,488		2,972		'		'		'
Finance/interest expenses	'		'		3,097		5,678		'
Capital expenditure	'		'		'		'		'
Consolidated capital expenditures	0		2		82		3		'
ASSETS	'		'		'		'		'
TOTAL ASSETS	$200,665		'		$200,665		'		$121,883
[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 six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.
[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 June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

Subsequent_events_Details_Text

Subsequent events (Details Textual) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014
			Subsequent Event [Member]
			Subscription Arrangement [Member]
Common Stock Purchase Price Of Subscription Agreement	'	'	$1.50
Description Of Purchase Price Subscription Agreement	'	'	'The Purchase Price represents a 23% premium to the volume weighted average closing price of the Common Stock from March 5, 2014 to July 11, 2014, which ranged from $0.90 to $1.47 per share of common stock during the period
Common Stock, Par Or Stated Value Per Share	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Common Stock, Shares Subscribed but Unissued	'	'	5,000,000
Common Stock, Value, Subscriptions	'	'	$7,500,000
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	'	'	21.70%