Tantech (TANH) 20-F 30 Apr 15 2014 FY Annual report (foreign) Financial data

Document_And_Entity_Informatio

Document And Entity Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	20-F
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-14
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Registrant Name	TANTECH HOLDINGS LTD
Entity Central Index Key	1588084
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Trading Symbol	TANH
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	20,000,000

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets(USD ($))	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$415,275	$1,659,059
Restricted cash	3,583,800	3,598,299
Accounts receivable, net	43,567,769	28,459,889
Inventories, net	1,339,302	1,343,710
Loans to third parties, net	0	1,761,531
Advances to suppliers, net	10,634,280	11,390,529
Other receivables	68,778	92,235
Deferred tax assets	140,226	474,991
Total current assets	59,749,430	48,780,243
Property, plant and equipment, net	12,802,932	12,568,707
Other Assets
Deferred tax assets - non-current	26,109	23,162
Intangible assets, net	2,422,421	2,649,328
Deposits	3,707,702	4,088,976
Total Assets	78,708,594	68,110,416
Current Liabilities
Short-term bank loans	2,117,700	2,126,268
Long-term bank loans - current portion	0	4,088,976
Bankers acceptance notes payable	7,167,600	7,196,598
Accounts payable	3,741,193	3,151,425
Due to related parties	0	120,000
Loans from third parties	0	39,082
Customer deposits	562,995	1,206,845
Taxes payable	2,272,106	1,839,600
Accrued liabilities and other payables	370,211	396,766
Total current liabilities	16,231,805	20,165,560
Equity
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 20,000,000 and 50,000,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31,2014 and 2013, respectively	20,000	50,000
Additional paid-in capital	9,473,230	9,443,230
Statutory reserves	5,377,637	4,001,647
Retained earnings	40,935,229	28,330,179
Accumulated other comprehensive income	3,515,420	3,691,123
Total Stockholders' Equity	59,321,516	45,516,179
Noncontrolling interest	3,155,273	2,428,677
Total Equity	62,476,789	47,944,856
Total Liabilities and Equity	$78,708,594	$68,110,416

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share (in dollars per share)	$0.00	$0.00
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	20,000,000	50,000,000
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	20,000,000	50,000,000

Consolidated_Statements_of_Inc

Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenues	$65,493,106	$61,220,518
Cost of revenues	44,852,994	44,064,389
Gross Profit	20,640,112	17,156,129
Operating expenses
Selling expenses	1,081,446	1,451,368
General and administrative expenses	1,639,288	3,139,690
Research and development expenses	745,636	731,720
Total operating expenses	3,466,370	5,322,778
Income from operations	17,173,742	11,833,351
Other income (expenses)
Interest income	162,378	200,303
Interest expense	-547,584	-867,295
Government subsidy income	62,137	48,659
Other income, net	720,700	691,112
Total other income	397,631	72,779
Income before income taxes	17,571,373	11,906,130
Provision for income taxes	2,854,489	1,820,481
Net income	14,716,884	10,085,649
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest	-735,844	-504,282
Net income attributable to stockholders	13,981,040	9,581,367
Net income	14,716,884	10,085,649
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	-184,951	928,686
Comprehensive income	14,531,933	11,014,335
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	-726,596	-550,716
Comprehensive income attributable to stockholders	$13,805,337	$10,463,619
Earnings Per share -Basic and Diluted (in dollars per share)	$0.33	$0.19
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Basic and diluted (in shares)	41,890,411	50,000,000

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cha

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (USD $)	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Statutory Reserve Member [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$43,049,994	$50,000	$15,562,703	$2,808,871	$2,853,314	$19,897,145	$1,877,961
Balance (In Shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		50,000,000
Offset loans to related party	-6,119,473	0	-6,119,473	0	0	0	0
Appropriation of retained earnings to statutory reserve fund	0	0	0	0	1,148,333	-1,148,333	0
Foreign currency translation gains (loss)	928,686	0	0	882,252	0	0	46,434
Net income for the year	10,085,649	0	0	0		9,581,367	504,282
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	47,944,856	50,000	9,443,230	3,691,123	4,001,647	28,330,179	2,428,677
Balance (In Shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		50,000,000
Repurchase and cancellation of 30,000,000 shares (In Shares)		-30,000,000
Repurchase and cancellation of 30,000,000 shares	0	-30,000	30,000	0	0	0	0
Appropriation of retained earnings to statutory reserve fund	0	0	0	0	1,375,990	-1,375,990	0
Foreign currency translation gains (loss)	-184,951	0	0	-175,703	0	0	-9,248
Net income for the year	14,716,884	0	0	0		13,981,040	735,844
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$62,476,789	$20,000	$9,473,230	$3,515,420	$5,377,637	$40,935,229	$3,155,273
Balance (In Shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		20,000,000

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$14,716,884	$10,085,649
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Changes in allowances - accounts receivable	-1,343,977	290,033
Changes in allowances - advance to suppliers	194,705	-319,607
Changes in allowances - loan to third parties	-27,689	229,205
Changes in inventory reserve	-43,450	43,062
Depreciation expense	1,290,857	986,686
Deferred income tax provision (benefit)	329,588	-109,900
Amortization of intangible asset	216,086	41,147
(Gain) loss from disposal of property, plant and equipment	9,102	-48,806
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	-13,868,300	-7,856,721
Advances to suppliers	515,168	-6,409,521
Inventory	42,444	270,175
Other receivables	50,759	340,328
Accounts payable	602,059	140,659
Customer deposits	-638,556	-156,668
Taxes payable	431,467	496,045
Accrued liabilities and other payables	-16,785	30,281
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	2,460,362	-1,947,953
Cash flows from investing activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment	-1,594,404	-413,597
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment	9,767	66,149
Additions to intangible assets	0	-774,422
Loans to related parties	0	9,258,408
Loans to third parties	1,753,248	-145,099
Deposit for asset acquisiton	364,552	-4,033,449
Net cash provided by investing activities	533,163	3,957,990
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayment of loans from third party	-38,899	-168,114
Borrowings from Bankers acceptance notes payable	14,325,520	20,032,361
Repayments of Bankers acceptance notes payable	-14,325,520	-20,032,361
Borrowings from bank loans	2,189,526	2,097,393
Repayments of bank loans	-6,259,276	-2,097,393
Repayments of loans from related parties	-119,436	-826,700
Net cash used in financing activities	-4,228,085	-994,814
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-9,224	25,834
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-1,243,784	1,041,057
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	1,659,059	618,002
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	415,275	1,659,059
Supplemental disclosure information:
Income taxes paid	2,245,586	1,687,931
Interest paid	534,230	836,250
Supplemental non-cash investing activity:
Offset loans to related parties against borrowing from shareholder	0	6,071,975
Offset loans to related parties against dividend payable	$0	$444,706

Organization_and_nature_of_bus

Organization and nature of business	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 1 – Organization and nature of business
	Tantech Holdings Ltd. (“Tantech BVI”, formerly known as Sinoport Enterprises Ltd.) is a limited liability company established under the laws of the British Virgin Islands on November 19, 2010 as a holding company to develop business opportunities in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC” or “China”).
	Tantech BVI owns 100% interest of USCNHK Group Limited (“USCNHK”), a limited liability company established in Hong Kong.
	On December 31, 2010, USCNHK entered into an equity transfer agreement with Zhejiang Forasen Group Co., Ltd. ("Forasen Group”), in which USCNHK agreed to acquire 95% ownership interest of Zhejiang Tantech Bamboo Technology Co., Ltd. ("Tantech Bamboo" or “Bamboo”) from Forasen Group for the consideration of RMB115,520,000 (approximately $18.5 million). The consideration was fully paid on March 20, 2013. Five other individuals own the remaining 5% equity interest of Tantech Bamboo. Jointly owned by Mr. Zhengyu Wang, the CEO of Tantech BVI and his wife, Ms. Yefang Zhang, the board director of Tantech BVI, Forasen Group is a related party to the Company.
	On March 20, 2013, USCNHK completed payments of RMB 115,520,000 (equivalent of approximately $18.5 million) to Forasen Group for the acquisition of Tantech Bamboo. USCNHK borrowed RMB 37,635,136 (equivalent of approximately $6.1 million) from Mr. Zhengyu Wang in order to complete the transaction. On September 20, 2013, USCNHK, Mr. Wang and Forasen Group reached an agreement to offset the amount of borrowing against the receivables from Forasen Group for RMB 37,635,136 (equivalent of approximately $6.1 million).
	For accounting purposes, the above mentioned transactions were accounted for in a manner similar to a recapitalization. Tantech BVI and its wholly-owned subsidiary USCNHK, who own 95% interest of Tantech Bamboo, were effectively controlled by the same majority shareholders of Tantech Bamboo. Therefore, Tantech BVI, USCNHK and Tantech Bamboo are all considered under common control. The consolidation of Tantech Bamboo and its subsidiaries into Tantech BVI has been accounted for at historical cost and prepared on the basis as if the aforementioned reorganization had become effective as of the beginning of the first period presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
	Incorporated in the City of Lishui, Zhejiang Province of China on December 5, 2005, Tantech Bamboo is engaged in the research and development, production and distribution of various products made from bamboo. In addition, Tantech Bamboo also has two wholly-owned subsidiaries: Zhejiang Tantech Bamboo Charcoal Co., Ltd. (“Tantech Charcoal” or “Charcoal”) and Zhejiang Tantech Energy Tech Co., Ltd. (“Tantech Energy” or “Energy”). Tantech Charcoal conducts trading business, including the export of charcoal products and Tantech Energy is engaged in the manufacturing of EDLC carbon and low emission BBQ charcoal.

Summary_of_significant_account

Summary of significant accounting policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	Note 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies
	Principal of Consolidation
	The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of Tantech BVI and its subsidiaries, USCNHK, Tantech Bamboo as well as Tantech Bamboo’s wholly owned subsidiaries, Tantech Charcoal and Tantech Energy, (collectively, the “Company”). All significant inter-company balances and transactions are eliminated upon consolidation.
	Use of Estimates
	In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting year. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the useful lives of property and equipment; allowances pertaining to the allowance for doubtful accounts and advances to related parties and suppliers; the valuation of inventories; and the realizability of deferred tax assets.
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements”, defines fair value, establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for fair value measurements and enhances disclosure requirements.
	The three levels are defined as follows:
	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, quoted market prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable, and inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data.
	Level 3 - inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable.
	Unless otherwise disclosed, the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments including cash, restricted cash, accounts receivable, due from related parties, loans to third parties, advances to suppliers, accounts payable, due to related parties, loans from related parties, customer deposits, accrued expenses, short term bank loans and bankers acceptance notes payable approximates their recorded values due to their short-term maturities.
	Cash and cash equivalents
	For purposes of the statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less and money market accounts to be cash equivalents. All cash balances are in bank accounts in PRC and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or other programs.
	As of April 10, 2015, the cash and cash equivalents balances increased to approximately $9.6 million which included the proceeds received from the Company’s initial public offering of approximately $5.1 million.
	Restricted Cash
	Restricted cash represents required cash deposits as a part of collateral for bankers acceptance notes payable and letters of credit. The Company is required to maintain 50% of the balance of the bankers acceptance notes payable in restricted cash to ensure future credit availability. The Company earns interest at a variable rate per month on this restricted cash.
	Concentrations of credit risk
	Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash, trade accounts receivable and advances to suppliers. All of the Company’s cash is maintained with banks within the People’s Republic of China of which no deposits are covered by insurance. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts. A significant portion of the Company's sales are credit sales which are primarily to customers whose ability to pay is dependent upon the industry economics prevailing in these areas. The Company also makes cash advances to certain suppliers to ensure the stable supply of key raw materials. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and key suppliers to help further reduce credit risk.
	Accounts receivable
	Accounts receivable are presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses. The Company reviews its accounts receivable on a periodic basis and makes general and specific allowances when there is doubt as to the collectability of individual balances. In evaluating the collectability of individual receivable balances, the Company considers many factors, including the age of the balance, customer’s historical payment history, its current credit-worthiness and current economic trends. Accounts are written off after efforts at collection prove unsuccessful.
	Inventory
	The Company values its inventories at the lower of cost, determined on a weighted average basis, or market. The Company reviews its inventories periodically to determine if any reserves are necessary for potential obsolescence or if a write-down is necessary if the carrying value exceeds net realizable value.
	Advances to Suppliers
	In order to ensure a steady supply of raw materials, the Company is required from time to time to make cash advances when placing its purchase orders. The Company reviews its advances to suppliers on a periodic basis and makes general and specific allowances when there is doubt as to the ability of a supplier to refund an advance to the Company.
	Property and Equipment and Construction in Progress
	Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. The cost of an asset comprises its purchase price and any directly attributable costs of bringing the asset to its present working condition and location for its intended use.
	Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. The estimated useful lives for significant property and equipment are as follows:
	Buildings	20 years
	Machinery and equipment	5-10 years
	Transportation equipment	4 years
	Office equipment	4 - 5 years
	Electronic equipment	3 years
	Repairs and maintenance costs are normally charged to earnings in the year in which they are incurred. In situations where it can be clearly demonstrated that the expenditure has resulted in an increase in the future economic benefits expected to be obtained from the use of the asset, the expenditure is capitalized as an additional cost of the asset.
	Construction in progress includes direct costs of construction or acquisition of equipment, interest expense associated with the loans used for the construction and design fees incurred. Capitalization of these costs ceases and the construction in progress is transferred to plant and equipment when substantially all the activities necessary to prepare the assets for their intended use are completed. No depreciation is provided until it is completed and ready for its intended use.
	Customer Deposits
	Customer deposits represent amounts received from customers in advance of shipments relating to the sales of the Company’s products.
	Non-controlling interest
	Non-controlling interest represents the minority stockholders’ proportionate share of 5% of the equity of Tantech Bamboo.
	Seasonality
	The Company’s sales have seasonality, with low sales volume in January and February, and high sales volume in November and December. The sales between March and September do not follow any seasonal pattern. The seasonality is mainly due to China’s biggest sales season of the year, the Spring Festival, which usually falls between January and February. Before the Spring Festival, supermarkets usually increase their purchases to prepare for the holiday sale. The Company’s main customers are supermarkets chain stores, who also increase purchases from the Company to in November and December in preparation for the annual sale.
	Revenue Recognition
	The Company recognizes revenues under FAS Codification Topic 605 (“ASC 605”). Revenue is recognized when all of the following have occurred: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, (iii) the price is fixed or determinable, and (iv) the ability to collect is reasonably assured. These criteria are generally satisfied by the Company at the time of delivery for sales, which is the point when risk of loss and title passes to the customer.
	The delivery of goods either occurs when (a) goods leave the Company’s warehoused or production facilities or (b) goods are delivered and accepted by customer, usually at a location outside the Company. For sales under free on board (“FOB”) warehouse or production facilities term, the Company recognizes revenue when product leaves the Company’s warehouse or production facility. Product delivery is evidenced by warehouse shipping log as well as signed shipping bills from the shipping company. For sales under FOB destination term, the Company recognizes revenue when product is delivered and accepted by customer. Product delivery is evidenced by signed receipt document upon delivery. Revenue recognized under such method accounted for approximately 70% and 80% of our total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Under both cases, the risk of loss and/or title of goods have been passed to customer at the time of delivery. The Company does not recognize any revenue for any sale arrangements that do not transfer title and/or risk of loss. The Company’s sales cutoff for both methods is evidenced by the receipt of goods delivery either signed by the shipping company or the customer acknowledging the receipt of goods. Such document is used as the proof of transfer of title and/or risk of loss.
	Revenue is reported net of all value added taxes. The Company does not routinely permit customers to return products and historically, customer returns have been immaterial.
	Cost of revenues
	Cost of revenues includes cost of raw materials purchased, inbound freight cost, cost of direct labor, depreciation expense and other overhead. Cost of revenues also includes the cost of raw materials and utility purchased from related parties. Write-down of inventory for lower of cost or market adjustments is also recorded in cost of revenues.
	Subsidy Income
	The Company periodically receives various government grants such as “High Technology Projects Subsidy” and “Scientific Research Grant”. There is no guarantee the Company will continue to receive such grants in the future.
	Foreign Currency Translation
	The Company’s financial information is presented in U.S. dollars. The functional currency of the Company’s subsidiaries in the PRC is the RMB, the currency of the PRC.  Any subsidiary transactions, which are denominated in currencies other than RMB, are translated into RMB at the exchange rate quoted by the People’s Bank of China prevailing at the dates of the transactions, and exchange gains and losses are included in the statements of operations as foreign currency transaction gain or loss. The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been translated into U.S. dollars in accordance with ASC 830, “Foreign Currency Matters”. The financial information is first prepared in RMB and then is translated into U.S. dollars at period-end exchange rates for assets and liabilities and average exchange rates for revenue and expenses. Capital accounts are translated at their historical exchange rates when the capital transactions occurred. The effects of foreign currency translation adjustments are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity. Cash flows from the Company’s operations are calculated based upon the local currencies using the average translation rate. As a result, amounts related to assets and liabilities reported on the statements of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the balance sheets.
	The exchange rates in effect as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 were RMB1 for $0.1629 and $0.1636 respectively. The average exchange rates for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were RMB1 for $0.1628 and $0.1613 respectively.
	Comprehensive Income
	Comprehensive income consists of two components, net income and other comprehensive income. Other comprehensive income refers to revenue, expenses, gains and losses that under GAAP are recorded as an element of shareholder’s equity but are excluded from net income. Other comprehensive income consists of foreign currency translation adjustment from those subsidiaries not using the U.S. dollar as their functional currency.
	Income Taxes
	The Company’s subsidiaries in China are subject to the income tax laws of the PRC. No taxable income was generated outside the PRC for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, “Income Taxes”. ASC 740 requires an asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting for income taxes and allows recognition and measurement of deferred tax assets based upon the likelihood of realization of tax benefits in future years. Under the asset and liability approach, deferred taxes are provided for the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not these items will either expire before the Company is able to realize their benefits, or future deductibility is uncertain.
	ASC 740-10-25 prescribes a more-likely-than-not threshold for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken (or expected to be taken) in a tax return. It also provides guidance on the recognition of income tax assets and liabilities, classification of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions, years open for tax examination, accounting for income taxes in interim periods and income tax disclosures. There were no material uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. All tax returns since the Company’s inception are subject to examination by tax authorities.
	Value Added Tax
	The Company is subject to VAT for selling merchandise. The applicable VAT rate is 13% or 17% (depending on the type of goods involved) for products sold in the PRC. The amount of VAT liability is determined by applying the applicable tax rate to the invoiced amount of goods sold (output VAT) less VAT paid on purchases made with the relevant supporting invoices (input VAT). Under the commercial practice of the PRC, the Company pays VAT based on tax invoices issued. The tax invoices may be issued subsequent to the date on which revenue is recognized, and there may be a considerable delay between the date on which the revenue is recognized and the date on which the tax invoice is issued. In the event the PRC tax authorities dispute the date on which revenue is recognized for tax purposes, the PRC tax office has the right to assess a penalty based on the amount of taxes which is determined to be late or deficient, with any penalty being expensed in the period when a determination is made by the tax authorities that a penalty is due. During the reporting periods, the Company had no dispute with PRC tax authorities and there was no tax penalty incurred.
	Earnings Per Share
	The Company computes earnings per share (“EPS”) in accordance with ASC 260, “Earnings per Share” (“ASC 260”), and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 98 (“SAB 98”). ASC 260 requires companies with complex capital structures to present basic and diluted EPS. Basic EPS is measured as net income divided by the weighted average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is similar to basic EPS but presents the dilutive effect on a per share basis of potential common shares (e.g., convertible securities, options and warrants) as if they had been converted at the beginning of the periods presented, or issuance date, if later. Potential common shares that have an anti-dilutive effect (i.e., those that increase income per share or decrease loss per share) are excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS.
	Statement of Cash Flows
	In accordance with ASC 230, “Statement of Cash Flows,” cash flows from the Company’s operations are calculated based upon the local currencies. As a result, amounts related to assets and liabilities reported on the statements of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the balance sheets.
Risks and Uncertainties
The operations of the Company are located in the PRC. Accordingly, the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations may be influenced by the political, economic, and legal environments in the PRC, in addition to the general state of the PRC economy. The Company’s results may be adversely affected by changes in the political and social conditions in the PRC, and 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’s sales, purchases and expense transactions are denominated in RMB, and all of the Company’s assets and liabilities are also denominated in RMB. The RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currencies under the current law. In China, foreign exchange transactions are required by law to be transacted only by authorized financial institutions at exchange rates set by the People’s Bank of China, the central bank of China. Remittances in currencies other than RMB may require certain supporting documentation in order to effect the remittance.
The Company does not carry any business interruption insurance, products liability insurance or any other insurance policy except for a limited property insurance policy. As a result, the Company may incur uninsured losses, increasing the possibility that investors would lose their entire investment in the Company.
Research and development costs
Research and development costs are expensed to operations as incurred.
Shipping and handling costs
All shipping and handling costs are expensed as incurred and included in selling expenses. Total shipping and handling expenses were $299,797 and $272,220 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Advertising expense
Advertising expenses included in selling expenses were $860 and $55,019 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Recent accounting pronouncements
In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 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”. The amendments in the ASU change the criteria for reporting discontinued operations while enhancing disclosures in this area. The new guidance requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations that will provide financial statement users with more information about the assets, liabilities, income, and expenses of 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 adoption of ASU 2014-08 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“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 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.
In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, “Disclosure of Uncertainties About an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern” (“ASU 2014-15”), which requires management to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date the financial statements are issued and provides guidance on determining when and how to disclose going concern uncertainties in the financial statements. Certain disclosures will be required if conditions give rise to substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. ASU 2014-15 applies to all entities and is effective for annual and interim reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In November 2014, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-16, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share Is More Akin to Debt or to Equity (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). The amendments permit the use of the Fed Funds Effective Swap Rate (also referred to as the Overnight Index Swap Rate, or OIS) as a benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes. Public business entities are required to implement the new requirements in fiscal years (and interim periods within those fiscal years) beginning after December 15, 2015. All other types of entities are required to implement the new requirements in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015,and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-16 to have material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statement.
In February 2015, the FASB issued new guidance for evaluating whether a reporting organization should consolidate certain legal entities. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and early adoption is permitted. The guidance should be applied either using a modified retrospective approach or retrospectively. We will adopt this standard on January 1, 2016, and we are currently assessing which implementation method we will apply and the impact its adoption will have on our financial position and results of operations.

Accounts_receivable

Accounts receivable	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Gross, Allowance, and Net [Abstract]
Financing Receivables [Text Block]	Note 3 – Accounts receivable
	Accounts receivable consisted of the following:
		December 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Accounts receivable	$	43,875,479	$	30,119,170
	Allowance for doubtful accounts		-307,710		-1,659,281
	Accounts receivable, net	$	43,567,769	$	28,459,889
	Approximately 31% of the accounts receivable balances (equivalent to approximately $13.5 million) as of December 31, 2014 have been collected by April 20, 2015.
	An analysis of the allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014		2013
	Balance at beginning of year	$	1,659,281	$	1,339,556
	Addition to doubtful accounts expense		191,578		1,013,100
	Deduction – collection of doubtful accounts		-1,536,464		-723,068
	Translation adjustments		-6,685		29,693
	Balance at end of year	$	307,710	$	1,659,281

Inventory

Inventory	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Inventory Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 4 – Inventory
	Inventory consisted of the following:
		December 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Raw materials	$	569,103	$	518,855
	Finished products		580,689		665,993
	Work in process		189,510		202,518
	Subtotal		1,339,302		1,387,366
	Inventory reserve		—		-43,656
	Total	$	1,339,302	$	1,343,710
	Inventory includes raw materials, packaging materials and finished goods. Finished goods include direct material costs, direct labor costs and manufacturing overhead.

Advances_to_suppliers_net

Advances to suppliers, net	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Advances to suppliers, net [Abstract]
Advances to suppliers, net [Text Block]	Note 5 – Advances to suppliers, net
	Advances to Suppliers consisted of the following:
		December 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Advances to Suppliers	$	10,967,390	$	11,529,363
	Allowance for doubtful accounts		-333,110		-138,834
	Advances to Suppliers, net	$	10,634,280	$	11,390,529
	Advances to Suppliers represent prepayments made to assure continuous supply, high quality and favorable payment terms.
	An analysis of the allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014		2013
	Balance at beginning of year	$	138,834	$	454,128
	Addition to doubtful accounts expense		252,952		139,085
	Deduction – utilization or return of advances		-58,117		-458,692
	Translation adjustments		-559		4,313
	Balance at end of year	$	333,110	$	138,834

Intangible_assets_net

Intangible assets, net	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 6 – Intangible assets, net
		December 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Software	$	795,050	$	798,267
	Land use rights		2,101,619		2,110,121
	Total		2,896,669		2,908,388
	Less: Accumulated amortization		-474,248		-259,060
	Intangible assets, net	$	2,422,421	$	2,649,328
	There is no private ownership of land in China. Land is usually owned by the local government and the government grants land use rights for specified terms. The Company acquired two land use rights from the local government in December 2002 and September 2008 for periods of 50 years. As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, land use rights with net book value of $1,806,812 and $1,859,295, respectively, were pledged as collateral for the bank loans.
	The land use rights are amortized over fifty years and the software is amortized over 5 years. Amortization expense for intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were $216,086 and $41,147, respectively. Amortization expense for each of the next five years will approximate $200,000.

Property_plant_and_equipment_n

Property, plant and equipment, net	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 7 – Property, plant and equipment, net
	Property, plant and equipment stated at cost less accumulated depreciation consisted of the following:
		December 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Building	$	13,506,334	$	11,983,833
	Machinery and Production equipment		2,964,189		2,991,424
	Electronic equipment		246,595		237,522
	Office equipment		52,509		50,905
	Automobiles		280,396		281,531
	Subtotal		17,050,023		15,545,215
	Accumulated depreciation		-4,247,091		-2,976,508
	Total	$	12,802,932	$	12,568,707
	Depreciation expense was $1,290,857 and $986,686 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Deposits

Deposits	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Deposits [Abstract]
Deposits [Text Block]	Note 8 – Deposits
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company’s non-current advance payments of $3,707,702 included payment of $2,117,700 for the right to use several patents in the production of batteries, $1,101,302 for purchase of equipment and $488,700 for the sponsored research and development project.
	As of December 31, 2013, the Company’s non-current advance payments of $4,088,976 included deposits of $3,271,181 for purchase of equipment and deposits of $817,795 for development of software.

Shortterm_bank_loans

Short-term bank loans (Loans Payable [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Loans Payable [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term Debt [Text Block]	Note 9 – Short-term bank loans
	On January 16, 2013, the Company entered into a loan agreement with Bank of China, Lishui Branch to borrow RMB 13 million (equivalent of $2,126,268) for working capital needs. The one-year loan was due on January 13, 2014 with an annual interest rate of 6.9%. The Company pledged the factory buildings and land use rights as collateral for the loan. The loan was also guaranteed by two related party individuals. The loan was repaid on January 8, 2014.
	On January 8, 2014, the Company entered into a loan agreement with Bank of China, Lishui Branch to borrow RMB 13 million (equivalent of $2,117,700) for working capital needs. The loan was due on January 7, 2015 with an annual interest rate of 6.9%. The Company pledged the factory buildings and land use rights as collateral for the loan. The loan was repaid on January 7, 2015 (see note 17 ).

Bankers_acceptance_notes_payab

Bankers acceptance notes payable (Notes Payable to Banks [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 10 – Bankers acceptance notes payable
	Bankers acceptance notes payable do not carry a stated interest rate, but have a specific due date usually for a period of six months. These notes are negotiable documents issued by financial institutions on the Company’s behalf to vendors. These notes can either be endorsed by the vendor to other third parties as payment, or can be factored to other financial institutions before becoming due. These notes are short-term in nature. As collateral security for financial institutions’ undertakings, the Company is required to maintain deposits with such financial institutions in restricted cash amounts equal to 50% of the balances of the bankers acceptance notes. As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, deposits of $3,583,800 and $3,598,299 were reported as restricted cash on balance sheet.
	Bankers acceptance notes payable consisted of the following:
		December 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (7/8/2014 – 1/8/2015), repaid in full in 2015	$	1,140,300	$	—
	Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (7/9/2014 – 1/9/2015), repaid in full in 2015		1,140,300		—
	Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (11/11/2014 – 5/10/2015)		1,140,300		—
	Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (11/12/2014 – 5/11/2015)		1,140,300		—
	Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (11/13/2014 – 5/12/2015)		2,606,400		—
	Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (7/15/2013 – 1/15/2014), repaid in full in 2014		—		1,144,913
	Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (7/16/2013 – 1/16/2014), repaid in full in 2014		—		1,144,913
	Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (11/21/2013 – 5/20/2014), repaid in full in 2014		—		2,289,827
	Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (11/26/2013 – 5/25/2014), repaid in full in 2014		—		2,616,945
	Total	$	7,167,600	$	7,196,598
	The Company has historically either received the proceeds of bankers acceptance notes through discounting with commercial agents or had such bankers acceptance notes paid directly to vendors, in which case, the Company receives no proceeds. In 2013, the Company started to discount all its bankers acceptance notes with commercial agents and then use such proceeds to fund its working capital needs, including making payments to various vendors. The proceeds from bankers acceptance notes sent directly to vendors for payment of goods were $4,887,000 and nil for years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively; and the net proceeds from bankers acceptance notes discounted to fund working capital needs were $9,145,650 and $19,636,541 for years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	For years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company incurred interest expense of $296,170 and $395,820 from discounting bankers acceptance notes, respectively. Interest expense was related to the discounting of these notes, rather than the imputation of interest on these notes. The discount rate is usually in line with the prevailing short-term bank loan rate at the time of discounting.

Related_party_transaction

Related party transaction	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 11 – Related party transaction
	The relationship and the nature of related party transaction are summarized as follow:
	Name of Related Party		Relationship	Nature of
			to the Company	Transactions
	Hong Kong Clean Energy Ltd.		Controlled by a same shareholder group	Working capital loan
	Due to related party consisted of the following:
		December 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Hong Kong Clean Energy Ltd.	$	—	$	120,000
	The balance of due to related party was unsecured, interest-free and due upon demand.
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company settled all related party balances.
	Purchases from related party
	The Company periodically purchases merchandise or raw materials from its affiliates during the ordinary course of business. The purchase made to related party consists of the following:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014		2013
	Zhejiang Forasen Group Co., LTD	$	839,059	$	3,622,905

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies
	Guaranty provided for related party
	The Company provided a guaranty on behalf of Forasen Group’s bank loan of RMB19,350,000 (equivalent to $3,152,115) on June 25, 2012 by pledging the Company’s building with a net book value of approximately $8.4 million as collateral for these loans. The loan was repaid in 2014.
	The Company provided a guaranty on behalf of Forasen Group’s bank loan of RMB 20,000,000 (equivalent to $3,258,000) on April 15, 2014 and renewable bankers acceptance notes of RMB35,100,000 (equivalent to $5,717,790) on April 8, 2014 by pledging the Company’s building with a net book value of approximately $8.0 million as collateral for the loan and notes. The guaranty on the bank loan will expire in June 2015 and the guaranty on the renewable bankers acceptance notes will expire in April 2017.

Shareholders_equity

Shareholders' equity	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 13 – Shareholders’ equity
	Statutory reserve
	The Company is required to make appropriations to certain reserve funds, comprising the statutory surplus reserve and the discretionary surplus reserve, based on after-tax net income determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the PRC (“PRC GAAP”). Appropriations to the statutory surplus reserve are required to be at least 10% of the after-tax net income determined in accordance with PRC GAAP until the reserve is equal to 50% of the entity’s registered capital. Appropriations to the discretionary surplus reserve are made at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
	The statutory surplus reserve fund is non-discretionary other than during liquidation and can be used to fund previous years’ losses, if any, and may be utilized for business expansion or converted into share capital by issuing new shares to existing shareholders in proportion to their shareholding or by increasing the par value of shares currently held by them, provided the remaining statutory surplus reserve balance after such issue is not less than 25% of the registered capital before the conversion.
	Pursuant to the Company’s articles of incorporation, the Company is to appropriate 50% of the entity’s registered capital as the statutory surplus reserve.
	The Company made appropriations of $1,375,990 and $1,148,333 in 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Stock split
	On November 25, 2014, the Company completed a 1,000-for-1 stock split of its common stock and simultaneously repurchased and canceled 30,000,000 shares. All common shares and per share information in the financial statements and footnotes have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the effects of this stock split.
	Since the transaction of the repurchase and cancellation of 30,000,000 shares cannot be retroactively applied, as of December 31, 2013, the Company had 50,000,000 shares of common stock authorized and outstanding.

Taxes

Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Taxes [Abstract]
Taxes Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 14 – Taxes
	Taxes Payable
	Taxes payable as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 consist of the following:
		December 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	VAT tax payable	$	568,515		$	434,891
	Corporation income tax payable		1,543,294			1,244,778
	Other tax payable		160,297			159,931
	Total	$	2,272,106		$	1,839,600
	Corporation Income Tax (“CIT”)
	Tantech BVI was incorporated in the BVI and is not subject to income taxes under the current laws of BVI.
	USCNHK is a holding company registered in Hong Kong and has no operating profit for tax liabilities.
	Tantech Bamboo was registered in the PRC and is subject to corporate income tax at unified rate of 15% starting from 2008 when it was approved by local government as a high-tech company.
	Tantech Energy was registered in the PRC and is subject to corporate income tax at unified rate of 15% starting from 2013 when it was approved by local government as a high-tech company.
	Tantech Charcoal was registered in the PRC and are currently subject to corporate income tax at unified rate of 25%.
	The following table reconciles PRC statutory rates to the Company’s effective tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
		Year ended December 31,
		2014				2013
	Statutory PRC income tax rate		25	%			25	%
	Favorable tax rate impact (a)		-10	%			-11	%
	Permanent difference		1	%			2	%
	Changes of deferred tax assets allowances		—				-1	%
	Total		16	%			15	%
	(a) Two of the Company’s subsidiaries, Tantech Bamboo and Tantech Energy are subject to tax rate of 15%.
	The provision for income tax consists of the following:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013
	Current	$	2,524,901		$	1,930,382
	Deferred		329,588			-109,901
	Total	$	2,854,489		$	1,820,481
	Significant components of deferred tax assets are as follows:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Allowance for doubtful accounts and other reserves	$	140,226		$	464,077
	Inventory reserve		—			10,914
	Accumulated depreciation		26,109			23,162
	Operating loss carry forward		—			137,133
	Allowance for operating loss carry forward		—			-137,133
	Total	$	166,335		$	498,153

Major_customers_and_suppliers

Major customers and suppliers	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]
Concentration Risk Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 15 – Major customers and suppliers
	For the year ended December 31, 2014, two major customers accounted for approximately 16% and 10% of the Company’s total sales, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2013, one major customer accounted for approximately 20% of the Company’s total sales. Any decrease in sales to these customers will negatively impact the Company’s operations and cash flows if the Company fails to increase its sales to other customers.
	As of December 31, 2014, one customer accounted for approximately 12% of the Company’s accounts receivable balance.
	As of December 31, 2013, one customer accounted for approximately 10% of the Company’s accounts receivable balance.
	For the year ended December 31, 2014, three major suppliers accounted for approximately 37%, 25%, and 11% of the total purchases, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2013, three major suppliers accounted for approximately 23%, 23% and 10% of the total purchases, respectively.

Segment_information

Segment information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 16 – Segment information
	The Company uses the “management approach” in determining reportable operating segments. The management approach considers the internal organization and reporting used by the Company’s chief operating decision maker for making operating decisions and assessing performance as the source for determining the Company’s reportable segments. Management, including the chief operating decision maker, reviews operation results by the revenue of consumer products, trading and biofuel energy products. As such, the Company has determined that it has three operating segments as defined by ASC 280, “Segment Reporting”: consumer products, trading and biofuel energy.
	Consumer products segment manufactures and sells Charcoal Doctor branded products and BBQ charcoal in China. Trading segment conducts rubber and other trading businesses. Biofuel energy segment produces and sells BBQ charcoal to customers in Asia, Europe and North America and produces and sells bamboo-based fuel for Electric Double Layer Capacitor.
	Adjustments and eliminations of inter-company transactions were not included in determining segment (loss) profit, as they are not used by the chief operating decision maker.
	The following table presents summary information by segment for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
		Consumer product				Trading				Biofuel Energy				Total
		2014		2013		2014		2013		2014		2013		2014		2013
	Revenue from external customers	$	53,051,808	$	44,477,607	$	2,999,463	$	7,994,929	$	9,441,835	$	8,747,982	$	65,493,106	$	61,220,518
	Revenue from intersegment		1,073,530		833,305		—		—		759,752		319,970		1,833,282		1,153,275
	Cost of  revenue		34,824,870		30,069,470		2,936,503		7,852,963		7,091,621		6,141,956		44,852,994		44,064,389
	Gross profit		18,226,938		14,408,137		62,960		141,966		2,350,214		2,606,026		20,640,112		17,156,129
	Interest Expenses		295,204		228,799		150,685		318,875		88,341		288,576		534,230		836,250
	Depreciation & amortization		508,607		224,555		79,293		95,815		919,043		707,463		1,506,943		1,027,833
	Segment profit		13,759,901		11,483,331		178,931		-718,195		778,830		-561,117		14,717,662		10,204,019
	Segment assets	$	64,878,256	$	52,276,056	$	6,760,386	$	5,234,668	$	7,069,952	$	10,599,692	$	78,708,594	$	68,110,416
	Segment information by products for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
						Barbecue						Barbecue
				Purification &		Charcoal –						Charcoal -
		Cleaning		Deodorization		domestic		Trading		EDLC Carbon		international		Total
	Year ended December 31, 2014
	Revenue	$	2,277,143	$	37,475,537	$	13,299,128	$	2,999,463	$	8,630,296	$	811,539	$	65,493,106
	Year ended December 31, 2013
	Revenue	$	973,569	$	30,232,508	$	13,271,530	$	7,994,929	$	8,188,855	$	559,127	$	61,220,518
	All of the Company's long-lived assets are located in the PRC.   Geographic information about the revenues, which are classified based on customers, is set out as follows:
		Year ended December 31,
		2014		2013
	Revenue from China	$	64,217,607	$	60,417,432
	Revenue from foreign countries		1,275,499		803,086
	Total Revenue	$	65,493,106	$	61,220,518

Subsequent_events

Subsequent events	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	Note 17 – Subsequent events
	On January 6, 2015, the Company entered into a loan agreement with Bank of China, Lishui Branch to borrow RMB 13 million (equivalent of $2,117,700) for working capital needs. The one-year loan is due on January 5, 2016 with an annual interest rate of 7.28%. The Company pledged its factory buildings and land use rights as collateral for the loan.
	On January 7, 2015, the Company repaid short-term bank loan of RMB 13 million (equivalent to $2,117,700) to Bank of China, Lishui Branch.
	On January 8, 2015, the Company obtained RMB 14 million (equivalent of $2,280,600) bankers acceptance notes from Bank of China. The notes payable are due on July 7, 2015.
	Initial Public Offering
	On March 18, 2015, the SEC declared effective the Company’s registration statement on Form F-1 (“IPO Registration Statement”). Pursuant to this IPO Registration Statement, along with the accompanying prospectus, the Company registered an offering of 1,600,000 shares of common stock at a price of $4.00 per share.
	On March 24, 2015, the Company closed its initial public offering of 1,600,000 shares of common stock at a price of $4.00 per share for gross proceeds of $6.4 million and net proceeds of approximately $5.1 million.
	On April 13, 2015, the Company filed Form S-8 with SEC to register 1,200,000 shares under the Company’s 2015 Share Incentive Plan.

Summary_of_significant_account1

Summary of significant accounting policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Principal of Consolidation
	The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of Tantech BVI and its subsidiaries, USCNHK, Tantech Bamboo as well as Tantech Bamboo’s wholly owned subsidiaries, Tantech Charcoal and Tantech Energy, (collectively, the “Company”). All significant inter-company balances and transactions are eliminated upon consolidation.
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Use of Estimates
	In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting year. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the useful lives of property and equipment; allowances pertaining to the allowance for doubtful accounts and advances to related parties and suppliers; the valuation of inventories; and the realizability of deferred tax assets.
Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements”, defines fair value, establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for fair value measurements and enhances disclosure requirements.
	The three levels are defined as follows:
	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, quoted market prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable, and inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data.
	Level 3 - inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable.
	Unless otherwise disclosed, the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments including cash, restricted cash, accounts receivable, due from related parties, loans to third parties, advances to suppliers, accounts payable, due to related parties, loans from related parties, customer deposits, accrued expenses, short term bank loans and bankers acceptance notes payable approximates their recorded values due to their short-term maturities.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Cash and cash equivalents
	For purposes of the statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less and money market accounts to be cash equivalents. All cash balances are in bank accounts in PRC and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or other programs.
	As of April 10, 2015, the cash and cash equivalents balances increased to approximately $9.6 million which included the proceeds received from the Company’s initial public offering of approximately $5.1 million.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Restricted Cash
	Restricted cash represents required cash deposits as a part of collateral for bankers acceptance notes payable and letters of credit. The Company is required to maintain 50% of the balance of the bankers acceptance notes payable in restricted cash to ensure future credit availability. The Company earns interest at a variable rate per month on this restricted cash.
Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Concentrations of credit risk
	Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash, trade accounts receivable and advances to suppliers. All of the Company’s cash is maintained with banks within the People’s Republic of China of which no deposits are covered by insurance. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts. A significant portion of the Company's sales are credit sales which are primarily to customers whose ability to pay is dependent upon the industry economics prevailing in these areas. The Company also makes cash advances to certain suppliers to ensure the stable supply of key raw materials. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and key suppliers to help further reduce credit risk.
Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Accounts receivable
	Accounts receivable are presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses. The Company reviews its accounts receivable on a periodic basis and makes general and specific allowances when there is doubt as to the collectability of individual balances. In evaluating the collectability of individual receivable balances, the Company considers many factors, including the age of the balance, customer’s historical payment history, its current credit-worthiness and current economic trends. Accounts are written off after efforts at collection prove unsuccessful.
Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Inventory
	The Company values its inventories at the lower of cost, determined on a weighted average basis, or market. The Company reviews its inventories periodically to determine if any reserves are necessary for potential obsolescence or if a write-down is necessary if the carrying value exceeds net realizable value.
Advances To Suppliers [Policy Text Block]	Advances to Suppliers
	In order to ensure a steady supply of raw materials, the Company is required from time to time to make cash advances when placing its purchase orders. The Company reviews its advances to suppliers on a periodic basis and makes general and specific allowances when there is doubt as to the ability of a supplier to refund an advance to the Company.
Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Property and Equipment and Construction in Progress
	Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. The cost of an asset comprises its purchase price and any directly attributable costs of bringing the asset to its present working condition and location for its intended use.
	Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. The estimated useful lives for significant property and equipment are as follows:
	Buildings	20 years
	Machinery and equipment	5-10 years
	Transportation equipment	4 years
	Office equipment	4 - 5 years
	Electronic equipment	3 years
	Repairs and maintenance costs are normally charged to earnings in the year in which they are incurred. In situations where it can be clearly demonstrated that the expenditure has resulted in an increase in the future economic benefits expected to be obtained from the use of the asset, the expenditure is capitalized as an additional cost of the asset.
	Construction in progress includes direct costs of construction or acquisition of equipment, interest expense associated with the loans used for the construction and design fees incurred. Capitalization of these costs ceases and the construction in progress is transferred to plant and equipment when substantially all the activities necessary to prepare the assets for their intended use are completed. No depreciation is provided until it is completed and ready for its intended use.
Customer Deposits [Policy Text Block]	Customer Deposits
	Customer deposits represent amounts received from customers in advance of shipments relating to the sales of the Company’s products.
Non Controlling Interest [Policy Text Block]	Non-controlling interest
	Non-controlling interest represents the minority stockholders’ proportionate share of 5% of the equity of Tantech Bamboo.
Seasonality [Policy Text Block]	Seasonality
	The Company’s sales have seasonality, with low sales volume in January and February, and high sales volume in November and December. The sales between March and September do not follow any seasonal pattern. The seasonality is mainly due to China’s biggest sales season of the year, the Spring Festival, which usually falls between January and February. Before the Spring Festival, supermarkets usually increase their purchases to prepare for the holiday sale. The Company’s main customers are supermarkets chain stores, who also increase purchases from the Company to in November and December in preparation for the annual sale.
Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Revenue Recognition
	The Company recognizes revenues under FAS Codification Topic 605 (“ASC 605”). Revenue is recognized when all of the following have occurred: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, (iii) the price is fixed or determinable, and (iv) the ability to collect is reasonably assured. These criteria are generally satisfied by the Company at the time of delivery for sales, which is the point when risk of loss and title passes to the customer.
	The delivery of goods either occurs when (a) goods leave the Company’s warehoused or production facilities or (b) goods are delivered and accepted by customer, usually at a location outside the Company. For sales under free on board (“FOB”) warehouse or production facilities term, the Company recognizes revenue when product leaves the Company’s warehouse or production facility. Product delivery is evidenced by warehouse shipping log as well as signed shipping bills from the shipping company. For sales under FOB destination term, the Company recognizes revenue when product is delivered and accepted by customer. Product delivery is evidenced by signed receipt document upon delivery. Revenue recognized under such method accounted for approximately 70% and 80% of our total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Under both cases, the risk of loss and/or title of goods have been passed to customer at the time of delivery. The Company does not recognize any revenue for any sale arrangements that do not transfer title and/or risk of loss. The Company’s sales cutoff for both methods is evidenced by the receipt of goods delivery either signed by the shipping company or the customer acknowledging the receipt of goods. Such document is used as the proof of transfer of title and/or risk of loss.
	Revenue is reported net of all value added taxes. The Company does not routinely permit customers to return products and historically, customer returns have been immaterial.
Cost of Sales, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Cost of revenues
	Cost of revenues includes cost of raw materials purchased, inbound freight cost, cost of direct labor, depreciation expense and other overhead. Cost of revenues also includes the cost of raw materials and utility purchased from related parties. Write-down of inventory for lower of cost or market adjustments is also recorded in cost of revenues.
Subsidy Income [Policy Text Block]	Subsidy Income
	The Company periodically receives various government grants such as “High Technology Projects Subsidy” and “Scientific Research Grant”. There is no guarantee the Company will continue to receive such grants in the future.
Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]	Foreign Currency Translation
	The Company’s financial information is presented in U.S. dollars. The functional currency of the Company’s subsidiaries in the PRC is the RMB, the currency of the PRC.  Any subsidiary transactions, which are denominated in currencies other than RMB, are translated into RMB at the exchange rate quoted by the People’s Bank of China prevailing at the dates of the transactions, and exchange gains and losses are included in the statements of operations as foreign currency transaction gain or loss. The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been translated into U.S. dollars in accordance with ASC 830, “Foreign Currency Matters”. The financial information is first prepared in RMB and then is translated into U.S. dollars at period-end exchange rates for assets and liabilities and average exchange rates for revenue and expenses. Capital accounts are translated at their historical exchange rates when the capital transactions occurred. The effects of foreign currency translation adjustments are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity. Cash flows from the Company’s operations are calculated based upon the local currencies using the average translation rate. As a result, amounts related to assets and liabilities reported on the statements of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the balance sheets.
	The exchange rates in effect as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 were RMB1 for $0.1629 and $0.1636 respectively. The average exchange rates for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were RMB1 for $0.1628 and $0.1613 respectively.
Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Comprehensive Income
	Comprehensive income consists of two components, net income and other comprehensive income. Other comprehensive income refers to revenue, expenses, gains and losses that under GAAP are recorded as an element of shareholder’s equity but are excluded from net income. Other comprehensive income consists of foreign currency translation adjustment from those subsidiaries not using the U.S. dollar as their functional currency.
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Income Taxes
	The Company’s subsidiaries in China are subject to the income tax laws of the PRC. No taxable income was generated outside the PRC for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, “Income Taxes”. ASC 740 requires an asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting for income taxes and allows recognition and measurement of deferred tax assets based upon the likelihood of realization of tax benefits in future years. Under the asset and liability approach, deferred taxes are provided for the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not these items will either expire before the Company is able to realize their benefits, or future deductibility is uncertain.
	ASC 740-10-25 prescribes a more-likely-than-not threshold for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken (or expected to be taken) in a tax return. It also provides guidance on the recognition of income tax assets and liabilities, classification of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions, years open for tax examination, accounting for income taxes in interim periods and income tax disclosures. There were no material uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. All tax returns since the Company’s inception are subject to examination by tax authorities.
Value Added Tax [Policy Text Block]	Value Added Tax
	The Company is subject to VAT for selling merchandise. The applicable VAT rate is 13% or 17% (depending on the type of goods involved) for products sold in the PRC. The amount of VAT liability is determined by applying the applicable tax rate to the invoiced amount of goods sold (output VAT) less VAT paid on purchases made with the relevant supporting invoices (input VAT). Under the commercial practice of the PRC, the Company pays VAT based on tax invoices issued. The tax invoices may be issued subsequent to the date on which revenue is recognized, and there may be a considerable delay between the date on which the revenue is recognized and the date on which the tax invoice is issued. In the event the PRC tax authorities dispute the date on which revenue is recognized for tax purposes, the PRC tax office has the right to assess a penalty based on the amount of taxes which is determined to be late or deficient, with any penalty being expensed in the period when a determination is made by the tax authorities that a penalty is due. During the reporting periods, the Company had no dispute with PRC tax authorities and there was no tax penalty incurred.
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Earnings Per Share
	The Company computes earnings per share (“EPS”) in accordance with ASC 260, “Earnings per Share” (“ASC 260”), and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 98 (“SAB 98”). ASC 260 requires companies with complex capital structures to present basic and diluted EPS. Basic EPS is measured as net income divided by the weighted average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is similar to basic EPS but presents the dilutive effect on a per share basis of potential common shares (e.g., convertible securities, options and warrants) as if they had been converted at the beginning of the periods presented, or issuance date, if later. Potential common shares that have an anti-dilutive effect (i.e., those that increase income per share or decrease loss per share) are excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS.
Statement Of Cash Flows [Policy Text Block]	Statement of Cash Flows
	In accordance with ASC 230, “Statement of Cash Flows,” cash flows from the Company’s operations are calculated based upon the local currencies. As a result, amounts related to assets and liabilities reported on the statements of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the balance sheets.
Risks And Uncertainties [Policy Text Block]	Risks and Uncertainties
	The operations of the Company are located in the PRC. Accordingly, the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations may be influenced by the political, economic, and legal environments in the PRC, in addition to the general state of the PRC economy. The Company’s results may be adversely affected by changes in the political and social conditions in the PRC, and 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’s sales, purchases and expense transactions are denominated in RMB, and all of the Company’s assets and liabilities are also denominated in RMB. The RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currencies under the current law. In China, foreign exchange transactions are required by law to be transacted only by authorized financial institutions at exchange rates set by the People’s Bank of China, the central bank of China. Remittances in currencies other than RMB may require certain supporting documentation in order to effect the remittance.
	The Company does not carry any business interruption insurance, products liability insurance or any other insurance policy except for a limited property insurance policy. As a result, the Company may incur uninsured losses, increasing the possibility that investors would lose their entire investment in the Company.
Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Research and development costs
	Research and development costs are expensed to operations as incurred.
Shipping and Handling Cost, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Shipping and handling costs
	All shipping and handling costs are expensed as incurred and included in selling expenses. Total shipping and handling expenses were $299,797 and $272,220 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Advertising Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Advertising expense
	Advertising expenses included in selling expenses were $860 and $55,019 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Recent accounting pronouncements
	In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 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”. The amendments in the ASU change the criteria for reporting discontinued operations while enhancing disclosures in this area. The new guidance requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations that will provide financial statement users with more information about the assets, liabilities, income, and expenses of 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 adoption of ASU 2014-08 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
	In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“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 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.
	In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, “Disclosure of Uncertainties About an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern” (“ASU 2014-15”), which requires management to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date the financial statements are issued and provides guidance on determining when and how to disclose going concern uncertainties in the financial statements. Certain disclosures will be required if conditions give rise to substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. ASU 2014-15 applies to all entities and is effective for annual and interim reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
	In November 2014, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-16, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share Is More Akin to Debt or to Equity (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). The amendments permit the use of the Fed Funds Effective Swap Rate (also referred to as the Overnight Index Swap Rate, or OIS) as a benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes. Public business entities are required to implement the new requirements in fiscal years (and interim periods within those fiscal years) beginning after December 15, 2015. All other types of entities are required to implement the new requirements in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015,and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-16 to have material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statement.
	In February 2015, the FASB issued new guidance for evaluating whether a reporting organization should consolidate certain legal entities. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and early adoption is permitted. The guidance should be applied either using a modified retrospective approach or retrospectively. We will adopt this standard on January 1, 2016, and we are currently assessing which implementation method we will apply and the impact its adoption will have on our financial position and results of operations.

Summary_of_significant_account2

Summary of significant accounting policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property Plant And Equipment Useful Life [Table Text Block]	The estimated useful lives for significant property and equipment are as follows:
	Buildings	20 years
	Machinery and equipment	5-10 years
	Transportation equipment	4 years
	Office equipment	4 - 5 years
	Electronic equipment	3 years

Accounts_receivable_Tables

Accounts receivable (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Schedule of Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Table Text Block]	Accounts receivable consisted of the following:
		December 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Accounts receivable	$	43,875,479	$	30,119,170
	Allowance for doubtful accounts		-307,710		-1,659,281
	Accounts receivable, net	$	43,567,769	$	28,459,889
Accounts Receivable [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Schedule of Allowance For Doubtful Accounts [Table Text Block]	An analysis of the allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014		2013
	Balance at beginning of year	$	1,659,281	$	1,339,556
	Addition to doubtful accounts expense		191,578		1,013,100
	Deduction – collection of doubtful accounts		-1,536,464		-723,068
	Translation adjustments		-6,685		29,693
	Balance at end of year	$	307,710	$	1,659,281

Inventory_Tables

Inventory (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]	Inventory consisted of the following:
		December 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Raw materials	$	569,103	$	518,855
	Finished products		580,689		665,993
	Work in process		189,510		202,518
	Subtotal		1,339,302		1,387,366
	Inventory reserve		—		-43,656
	Total	$	1,339,302	$	1,343,710

Advances_to_suppliers_net_Tabl

Advances to suppliers, net (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Advances to suppliers, net [Line Items]
Schedule Of Advances To Suppliers [Table Text Block]	Advances to Suppliers consisted of the following:
		December 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Advances to Suppliers	$	10,967,390	$	11,529,363
	Allowance for doubtful accounts		-333,110		-138,834
	Advances to Suppliers, net	$	10,634,280	$	11,390,529
Advances To Suppliers [Member]
Advances to suppliers, net [Line Items]
Schedule of Allowance For Doubtful Accounts [Table Text Block]	An analysis of the allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014		2013
	Balance at beginning of year	$	138,834	$	454,128
	Addition to doubtful accounts expense		252,952		139,085
	Deduction – utilization or return of advances		-58,117		-458,692
	Translation adjustments		-559		4,313
	Balance at end of year	$	333,110	$	138,834

Intangible_assets_net_Tables

Intangible assets, net (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Table Text Block]
		December 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Software	$	795,050	$	798,267
	Land use rights		2,101,619		2,110,121
	Total		2,896,669		2,908,388
	Less: Accumulated amortization		-474,248		-259,060
	Intangible assets, net	$	2,422,421	$	2,649,328

Property_plant_and_equipment_n1

Property, plant and equipment, net (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]	Property, plant and equipment stated at cost less accumulated depreciation consisted of the following:
		December 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Building	$	13,506,334	$	11,983,833
	Machinery and Production equipment		2,964,189		2,991,424
	Electronic equipment		246,595		237,522
	Office equipment		52,509		50,905
	Automobiles		280,396		281,531
	Subtotal		17,050,023		15,545,215
	Accumulated depreciation		-4,247,091		-2,976,508
	Total	$	12,802,932	$	12,568,707

Bankers_acceptance_notes_payab1

Bankers acceptance notes payable (Tables) (Notes Payable to Banks [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block]	Bankers acceptance notes payable consisted of the following:
		December 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (7/8/2014 – 1/8/2015), repaid in full in 2015	$	1,140,300	$	—
	Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (7/9/2014 – 1/9/2015), repaid in full in 2015		1,140,300		—
	Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (11/11/2014 – 5/10/2015)		1,140,300		—
	Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (11/12/2014 – 5/11/2015)		1,140,300		—
	Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (11/13/2014 – 5/12/2015)		2,606,400		—
	Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (7/15/2013 – 1/15/2014), repaid in full in 2014		—		1,144,913
	Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (7/16/2013 – 1/16/2014), repaid in full in 2014		—		1,144,913
	Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (11/21/2013 – 5/20/2014), repaid in full in 2014		—		2,289,827
	Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (11/26/2013 – 5/25/2014), repaid in full in 2014		—		2,616,945
	Total	$	7,167,600	$	7,196,598

Related_party_transaction_Tabl

Related party transaction (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Hong Kong Clean Energy Ltd [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Schedule of Related Party Transactions [Table Text Block]	Due to related party consisted of the following:
		December 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Hong Kong Clean Energy Ltd.	$	—	$	120,000
Zhejiang Forasen Group Co LTD [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Schedule of Related Party Transactions [Table Text Block]	The purchase made to related party consists of the following:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014		2013
	Zhejiang Forasen Group Co., LTD	$	839,059	$	3,622,905

Taxes_Tables

Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Taxes [Abstract]
Schedule Of Taxes Payable [Table Text Block]	Taxes payable as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 consist of the following:
		December 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	VAT tax payable	$	568,515		$	434,891
	Corporation income tax payable		1,543,294			1,244,778
	Other tax payable		160,297			159,931
	Total	$	2,272,106		$	1,839,600
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]	The following table reconciles PRC statutory rates to the Company’s effective tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
		Year ended December 31,
		2014				2013
	Statutory PRC income tax rate		25	%			25	%
	Favorable tax rate impact (a)		-10	%			-11	%
	Permanent difference		1	%			2	%
	Changes of deferred tax assets allowances		—				-1	%
	Total		16	%			15	%
	(a) Two of the Company’s subsidiaries, Tantech Bamboo and Tantech Energy are subject to tax rate of 15%.
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]	The provision for income tax consists of the following:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013
	Current	$	2,524,901		$	1,930,382
	Deferred		329,588			-109,901
	Total	$	2,854,489		$	1,820,481
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]	Significant components of deferred tax assets are as follows:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Allowance for doubtful accounts and other reserves	$	140,226		$	464,077
	Inventory reserve		—			10,914
	Accumulated depreciation		26,109			23,162
	Operating loss carry forward		—			137,133
	Allowance for operating loss carry forward		—			-137,133
	Total	$	166,335		$	498,153

Segment_information_Tables

Segment information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]	The following table presents summary information by segment for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
		Consumer product				Trading				Biofuel Energy				Total
		2014		2013		2014		2013		2014		2013		2014		2013
	Revenue from external customers	$	53,051,808	$	44,477,607	$	2,999,463	$	7,994,929	$	9,441,835	$	8,747,982	$	65,493,106	$	61,220,518
	Revenue from intersegment		1,073,530		833,305		—		—		759,752		319,970		1,833,282		1,153,275
	Cost of  revenue		34,824,870		30,069,470		2,936,503		7,852,963		7,091,621		6,141,956		44,852,994		44,064,389
	Gross profit		18,226,938		14,408,137		62,960		141,966		2,350,214		2,606,026		20,640,112		17,156,129
	Interest Expenses		295,204		228,799		150,685		318,875		88,341		288,576		534,230		836,250
	Depreciation & amortization		508,607		224,555		79,293		95,815		919,043		707,463		1,506,943		1,027,833
	Segment profit		13,759,901		11,483,331		178,931		-718,195		778,830		-561,117		14,717,662		10,204,019
	Segment assets	$	64,878,256	$	52,276,056	$	6,760,386	$	5,234,668	$	7,069,952	$	10,599,692	$	78,708,594	$	68,110,416
Revenue from External Customers by Products and Services [Table Text Block]	Segment information by products for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
						Barbecue						Barbecue
				Purification &		Charcoal –						Charcoal -
		Cleaning		Deodorization		domestic		Trading		EDLC Carbon		international		Total
	Year ended December 31, 2014
	Revenue	$	2,277,143	$	37,475,537	$	13,299,128	$	2,999,463	$	8,630,296	$	811,539	$	65,493,106
	Year ended December 31, 2013
	Revenue	$	973,569	$	30,232,508	$	13,271,530	$	7,994,929	$	8,188,855	$	559,127	$	61,220,518
Schedule of Revenue from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets, by Geographical Areas [Table Text Block]	Geographic information about the revenues, which are classified based on customers, is set out as follows:
		Year ended December 31,
		2014		2013
	Revenue from China	$	64,217,607	$	60,417,432
	Revenue from foreign countries		1,275,499		803,086
	Total Revenue	$	65,493,106	$	61,220,518

Organization_and_nature_of_bus1

Organization and nature of business (Details Textual)	1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Mar. 20, 2013	Mar. 20, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 20, 2013	Mar. 20, 2013
	USD ($)	CNY	USCNHK [Member]	Tantech Bamboo [Member]	Tantech Bamboo [Member]	Tantech Bamboo [Member]	Mr. Zhengyu Wang [Member]	Mr. Zhengyu Wang [Member]
				USD ($)	CNY		USD ($)	CNY
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent			100.00%	95.00%	95.00%
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred				$18,500,000	115,520,000
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage				0.00%	0.00%	5.00%
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross	18,500,000	115,520,000
Debt Instrument, Face Amount							$6,100,000	37,635,136

Summary_of_significant_account3

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Buildings [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	20 years
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	5 years
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	10 years
Transportation Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	4 years
Office Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	4 years
Office Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	5 years
Electronic Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	3 years

Summary_of_significant_account4

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Apr. 10, 2015	Mar. 24, 2015	Dec. 31, 2010
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Restricted Cash Minimum Balance Maintain Percentage	50.00%
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate, Translation	0.1629	0.1636
Shipping, Handling and Transportation Costs	$299,797	$272,220
Advertising Expense	860	55,019
Value Added Tax Description	The Company is subject to VAT for selling merchandise. The applicable VAT rate is 13% or 17% (depending on the type of goods involved) for products sold in the PRC.
Foreign Currency Average Exchange Rate Translation	0.1628	0.1613
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease)	-1,243,784	1,041,057
Subsequent Event [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Proceeds from Issuance Initial Public Offering			5,100,000
IPO [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease)			9,600,000
Proceeds from Issuance Initial Public Offering				$5,100,000
Sales Revenue, Net [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	70.00%	80.00%
Tantech Bamboo [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	5.00%				0.00%

Accounts_receivable_Details

Accounts receivable (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	$43,875,479	$30,119,170
Allowance for doubtful accounts	-307,710	-1,659,281
Accounts receivable, net	$43,567,769	$28,459,889

Accounts_receivable_Details_1

Accounts receivable (Details 1) (Accounts Receivable [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounts Receivable [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of year	$1,659,281	$1,339,556
Addition to doubtful accounts expense	191,578	1,013,100
Deduction - collection of doubtful accounts	-1,536,464	-723,068
Translation adjustments	-6,685	29,693
Balance at end of year	$307,710	$1,659,281

Accounts_receivable_Details_Te

Accounts receivable (Details Textual) (Accounts Receivable [Member], Subsequent Event [Member], USD $)	1 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 20, 2015
Accounts Receivable [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	31.00%
Proceeds from Collection of Other Receivables	$13.50

Inventory_Details

Inventory (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Inventory [Line Items]
Raw materials	$569,103	$518,855
Finished products	580,689	665,993
Work in process	189,510	202,518
Subtotal	1,339,302	1,387,366
Inventory reserve	0	-43,656
Total	$1,339,302	$1,343,710

Advances_to_suppliers_net_Deta

Advances to suppliers, net (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Advances to suppliers, net [Line Items]
Advances to Suppliers	$10,967,390	$11,529,363
Allowance for doubtful accounts	-333,110	-138,834
Advances to Suppliers, net	$10,634,280	$11,390,529

Advances_to_suppliers_net_Deta1

Advances to suppliers, net (Details 1) (Advances To Suppliers [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Advances To Suppliers [Member]
Advances to suppliers, net [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of year	$138,834	$454,128
Addition to doubtful accounts expense	252,952	139,085
Deduction - utilization or return of advances	-58,117	-458,692
Translation adjustments	-559	4,313
Balance at end of year	$333,110	$138,834

Intangible_assets_net_Details

Intangible assets, net (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total	$2,896,669	$2,908,388
Less: Accumulated amortization	-474,248	-259,060
Intangible assets, net	2,422,421	2,649,328
Software [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total	795,050	798,267
Land Use Rights [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total	$2,101,619	$2,110,121

Intangible_assets_net_Details_

Intangible assets, net (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$216,086	$41,147
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Five	200,000
Computer Software, Intangible Asset [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Remaining Amortization Period	5 years
Land Use Rights [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	$1,806,812	$1,859,295
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Remaining Amortization Period	50 years

Property_plant_and_equipment_n2

Property, plant and equipment, net (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Subtotal	$17,050,023	$15,545,215
Accumulated depreciation	-4,247,091	-2,976,508
Total	12,802,932	12,568,707
Building [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Subtotal	13,506,334	11,983,833
Machinery and Production Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Subtotal	2,964,189	2,991,424
Electronic Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Subtotal	246,595	237,522
Office Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Subtotal	52,509	50,905
Automobiles [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Subtotal	$280,396	$281,531

Property_plant_and_equipment_n3

Property, plant and equipment, net (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciation	$1,290,857	$986,686

Deposits_Details_Textual

Deposits (Details Textual) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Deposits [Line Items]
Deposits Assets, Noncurrent	$3,707,702	$4,088,976
Payment For Utilization Of Patent [Member]
Deposits [Line Items]
Deposits Assets, Noncurrent	2,117,700
Payment For Purchase Of Equipment [Member]
Deposits [Line Items]
Deposits Assets, Noncurrent	1,101,302	3,271,181
Payment For Sponsored Research And Development Project [Member]
Deposits [Line Items]
Deposits Assets, Noncurrent	488,700
Payment For Development Of Software [Member]
Deposits [Line Items]
Deposits Assets, Noncurrent		$817,795

Shortterm_bank_loans_Details_T

Short-term bank loans (Details Textual)	Dec. 31, 2014	Jan. 08, 2014	Jan. 08, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jan. 16, 2013	Jan. 16, 2013
	USD ($)	USD ($)	CNY	USD ($)	USD ($)	CNY
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term Bank Loans and Notes Payable	$2,117,700	$2,117,700	13,000,000	$2,126,268	$2,126,268	13,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.90%	6.90%		6.90%	6.90%

Bankers_acceptance_notes_payab2

Bankers acceptance notes payable (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Bankers acceptance notes payable	$7,167,600	$7,196,598
Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (7/8/2014 - 1/8/2015), repaid in full in 2015
Bankers acceptance notes payable	1,140,300	0
Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (7/9/2014 - 1/9/2015), repaid in full in 2015
Bankers acceptance notes payable	1,140,300	0
Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (11/11/2014 - 5/10/2015)
Bankers acceptance notes payable	1,140,300	0
Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (11/12/2014 - 5/11/2015)
Bankers acceptance notes payable	1,140,300	0
Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (11/13/2014 - 5/12/2015)
Bankers acceptance notes payable	2,606,400	0
Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (7/15/2013 - 1/15/2014), repaid in full in 2014
Bankers acceptance notes payable	0	1,144,913
Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (7/16/2013 - 1/16/2014), repaid in full in 2014
Bankers acceptance notes payable	0	1,144,913
Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (11/21/2013 - 5/20/2014), repaid in full in 2014
Bankers acceptance notes payable	0	2,289,827
Bankers acceptance notes payable issued by Bank of China, for six months (11/26/2013 - 5/25/2014), repaid in full in 2014
Bankers acceptance notes payable	$0	$2,616,945

Bankers_acceptance_notes_payab3

Bankers acceptance notes payable (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Minimum Percentage Of Balances Of Bankers Acceptance To Maintain Deposits	50.00%
Proceeds from Notes Payable	$14,325,520	$20,032,361
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	3,583,800	3,598,299
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
Interest Expense, Debt	296,170	395,820
Vendors For Payment Of Goods [Member]
Proceeds from Notes Payable	4,887,000
Fund Working Capital [Member]
Proceeds from Notes Payable	$9,145,650	$19,636,541

Related_party_transaction_Deta

Related party transaction (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Hong Kong Clean Energy Ltd.	$0	$120,000
Hong Kong Clean Energy Ltd [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Hong Kong Clean Energy Ltd.	$0	$120,000

Related_party_transaction_Deta1

Related party transaction (Details 1) (Zhejiang Forasen Group Co LTD [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Zhejiang Forasen Group Co LTD [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Zhejiang Forasen Group Co., LTD	$839,059	$3,622,905

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) (Forasen Groupbs [Member])	Apr. 15, 2014	Apr. 15, 2014	Jun. 25, 2012	Jun. 25, 2012
	USD ($)	CNY	USD ($)	CNY
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Guaranty Liabilities	$3,258,000	20,000,000	$3,152,115	19,350,000
Building Pledged As Collateral For Loans	8,000,000		8,400,000
Renewable Bankers Acceptance Notes	$5,717,790	35,100,000

Shareholders_equity_Details_Te

Shareholders' equity (Details Textual) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 25, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Minimum Registered Capital Before Conversion		25.00%
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital And Surplus Percentage		50.00%
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus Required		$1,375,990	$1,148,333
Description Of Required Statutory Surplus Reserve		Appropriations to the statutory surplus reserve are required to be at least 10% of the after-tax net income determined in accordance with PRC GAAP until the reserve is equal to 50% of the entitys registered capital. Appropriations to the discretionary surplus reserve are made at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Stockholders' Equity Note, Stock Split	1,000-for-1
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares	30,000,000
Common Stock, Shares Authorized		50,000,000	50,000,000
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding		20,000,000	50,000,000

Taxes_Details

Taxes (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
VAT tax payable	$568,515	$434,891
Corporation income tax payable	1,543,294	1,244,778
Other tax payable	160,297	159,931
Total	$2,272,106	$1,839,600

Taxes_Details_1

Taxes (Details 1)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Statutory PRC income tax rate	25.00%		25.00%
Favorable tax rate impact	-10.00%	[1]	-11.00%	[1]
Permanent difference	1.00%		2.00%
Changes of deferred tax assets allowances	0.00%		-1.00%
Total	16.00%		15.00%
[1]	Two of the Companybs subsidiaries, Tantech Bamboo and Tantech Energy are subject to tax rate of 15%.

Taxes_Details_2

Taxes (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current	$2,524,901	$1,930,382
Deferred	329,588	-109,901
Total	$2,854,489	$1,820,481

Taxes_Details_3

Taxes (Details 3) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Allowance for doubtful accounts and other reserves	$140,226	$464,077
Inventory reserve	0	10,914
Accumulated depreciation	26,109	23,162
Operating loss carry forward	0	137,133
Allowance for operating loss carry forward	0	-137,133
Total	$166,335	$498,153

Taxes_Details_Textual

Taxes (Details Textual)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent	25.00%	25.00%
Tantech Energy [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent	15.00%
Tantech Charcoal [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent	25.00%
Tantech Bamboo [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent	15.00%

Major_customers_and_suppliers_

Major customers and suppliers (Details Textual)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Sales Revenue, Net [Member]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	70.00%	80.00%
Major customer Two [Member] | Sales Revenue, Net [Member]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	10.00%
Major customer Two [Member] | Cost of Goods, Total [Member]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	25.00%	23.00%
Major customer Three [Member] | Cost of Goods, Total [Member]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	11.00%	10.00%
Major Customer One [Member] | Sales Revenue, Net [Member]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	16.00%	20.00%
Major Customer One [Member] | Accounts Receivable [Member]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	12.00%	10.00%
Major Customer One [Member] | Cost of Goods, Total [Member]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	37.00%	23.00%

Segment_information_Details

Segment information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues	$65,493,106	$61,220,518
Cost of revenue	44,852,994	44,064,389
Gross profit	20,640,112	17,156,129
Interest Expenses	534,230	836,250
Depreciation & amortization	1,506,943	1,027,833
Segment profit	14,716,884	10,085,649
Segment assets	78,708,594	68,110,416
Consumer product [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Cost of revenue	34,824,870	30,069,470
Gross profit	18,226,938	14,408,137
Interest Expenses	295,204	228,799
Depreciation & amortization	508,607	224,555
Segment profit	13,759,901	11,483,331
Segment assets	64,878,256	52,276,056
Trading [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Cost of revenue	2,936,503	7,852,963
Gross profit	62,960	141,966
Interest Expenses	150,685	318,875
Depreciation & amortization	79,293	95,815
Segment profit	178,931	-718,195
Segment assets	6,760,386	5,234,668
Biofuel Energy [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Cost of revenue	7,091,621	6,141,956
Gross profit	2,350,214	2,606,026
Interest Expenses	88,341	288,576
Depreciation & amortization	919,043	707,463
Segment profit	778,830	-561,117
Segment assets	7,069,952	10,599,692
External customers [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues	65,493,106	61,220,518
External customers [Member] | Consumer product [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues	53,051,808	44,477,607
External customers [Member] | Trading [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues	2,999,463	7,994,929
External customers [Member] | Biofuel Energy [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues	9,441,835	8,747,982
Intersegment [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues	1,833,282	1,153,275
Intersegment [Member] | Consumer product [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues	1,073,530	833,305
Intersegment [Member] | Trading [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Intersegment [Member] | Biofuel Energy [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues	$759,752	$319,970

Segment_information_Details_1

Segment information (Details 1) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenue	$65,493,106	$61,220,518
Cleaning [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenue	2,277,143	973,569
Purification And Deodorization [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenue	37,475,537	30,232,508
Barbecue Charcoal - Domestic [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenue	13,299,128	13,271,530
Trading [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenue	2,999,463	7,994,929
EDLC Carbon [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenue	8,630,296	8,188,855
Barbecue Charcoal - international [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenue	$811,539	$559,127

Segment_information_Details_2

Segment information (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues	$65,493,106	$61,220,518
China [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues	64,217,607	60,417,432
Foreign Countries [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues	$1,275,499	$803,086

Subsequent_events_Details_Text

Subsequent events (Details Textual)

Dec. 31, 2014

Jan. 08, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Jan. 16, 2013

Apr. 10, 2015

Jan. 06, 2015

Jan. 06, 2015

Jan. 07, 2015

Jan. 07, 2015

Apr. 13, 2015

Mar. 18, 2015

Mar. 24, 2015

Jan. 08, 2015

Jan. 08, 2015

USD ($)

USD ($)

Subsequent Event [Member]

Subsequent Event [Member]

Subsequent Event [Member]

Subsequent Event [Member]

Subsequent Event [Member]

Subsequent Event [Member]

Subsequent Event [Member]

Subsequent Event [Member]

Subsequent Event [Member]

Subsequent Event [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

CNY

USD ($)

CNY

2015 Share Incentive Plan

IPO [Member]

IPO [Member]

Notes Payable to Banks [Member]

Notes Payable to Banks [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

CNY

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Face Amount

$2,117,700

13,000,000

Debt Instrument, Maturity Date

5-Jan-16

5-Jan-16

7-Jul-15

7-Jul-15

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

6.90%

6.90%

7.28%

7.28%

Repayments of Short-term Debt

2,117,700

13,000,000

Notes Payable to Bank, Current

7,167,600

7,196,598

2,280,600

14,000,000

Share Price

$4

Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues

1,200,000

1,600,000

Shares Issued, Price Per Share

$4

Stock Issued During Period, Value, Issued for Services

6,400,000

Proceeds from Issuance Initial Public Offering

$5,100,000

$5,100,000

Shares Registered For Offering

1,600,000