Alto Ingredients (ALTO) 10-Q 9 May 16 2016 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	May. 09, 2016
Document And Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	778,164
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		39,273,248
Trading Symbol	PEIX
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,016

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 19,207	$ 52,712
Accounts receivable, net (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $281 and $25, respectively)	63,414	61,346
Inventories	69,262	60,820
Prepaid inventory	6,008	5,973
Income tax receivables	6,120	10,654
Other current assets	6,222	6,437
Total current assets	170,233	197,942
Property and equipment, net	461,275	464,960
Other Assets:
Intangible assets, net	2,678	2,678
Other assets	9,013	9,100
Total other assets	11,691	11,778
Total Assets	643,199	674,680
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable - trade	27,080	30,520
Accrued liabilities	15,016	10,072
Current portion - capital leases	$ 4,338	4,248
Current portion - long-term debt		17,003
Accrued PE Op Co. purchase	$ 3,828	3,828
Other current liabilities	7,294	7,238
Total current liabilities	57,556	72,909
Long-term debt, net of current portion	202,973	203,861
Capital leases, net of current portion	3,064	4,183
Warrant liabilities at fair value	234	273
Deferred tax liabilities	1,174	1,174
Other liabilities	19,614	20,736
Total Liabilities	284,615	$ 303,136
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6)
Pacific Ethanol, Inc. Stockholders' Equity:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; Series A: 1,684,375 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015; Series B: 1,580,790 shares authorized; 926,942 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015; liquidation preference of $18,075 as of March 31, 2016	1	$ 1
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized; 39,351,765 and 38,974,972 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	39	39
Non-voting common stock, $0.001 par value; 3,553,000 shares authorized; 3,540,132 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015	4	4
Additional paid-in capital	903,424	902,843
Accumulated other comprehensive income	1,040	1,040
Accumulated deficit	(545,924)	(532,383)
Total Stockholders' Equity	358,584	371,544
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	$ 643,199	$ 674,680

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounts receivable, net of allowance	$ 281	$ 25
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000,000	10,000,000
Liquidation preference	$ 18,075
Common stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	300,000,000	300,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	39,351,765	38,974,972
Common stock, shares outstanding	39,351,765	38,974,972
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, shares authorized	1,684,375	1,684,375
Preferred stock, shares issued
Preferred stock, shares outstanding
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, shares authorized	1,580,790	1,580,790
Preferred stock, shares issued	926,942	926,942
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	926,942	926,942
Nonvoting Common Stock [Member]
Common stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	3,553,000	3,553,000
Common stock, shares issued	3,540,132	3,540,132
Common stock, shares outstanding	3,540,132	3,540,132

Consolidated Statements of Oper

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 342,373	$ 206,176
Cost of goods sold	341,304	207,163
Gross profit (loss)	1,069	(987)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	8,317	4,905
Loss from operations	(7,248)	(5,892)
Fair value adjustments	39	(173)
Interest expense, net	(6,233)	(1,015)
Other income (expense), net	216	(129)
Loss before provision for income taxes	$ (13,226)	(7,209)
Benefit for income taxes		2,700
Consolidated net loss	$ (13,226)	(4,509)
Net loss attributed to noncontrolling interests		129
Net loss attributed to Pacific Ethanol, Inc.	$ (13,226)	(4,380)
Preferred stock dividends	(315)	(312)
Net loss attributed to common stockholders	$ (13,541)	$ (4,692)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted	$ (0.32)	$ (0.19)
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted	42,052	24,104

Consolidated Statements of Cash

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Operating Activities:
Consolidated net loss	$ (13,226)	$ (4,509)
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Fair value adjustments	(39)	173
Depreciation and amortization of intangibles	8,651	$ 3,409
Interest expense added to term debt	3,786
Amortization of debt discount	301	$ 44
Non-cash compensation	583	506
Amortization of deferred financing fees	54	60
Loss (gain) on derivatives	(582)	$ 189
Bad debt expense	256
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(2,324)	$ 7,270
Inventories	(8,442)	709
Prepaid expenses and other assets	5,439	(2,857)
Prepaid inventory	(35)	3,164
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	416	(832)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(5,162)	7,326
Investing Activities:
Additions to property and equipment	(4,966)	(8,178)
Net cash used in investing activities	(4,966)	(8,178)
Financing Activities:
Net payments on Kinergy's line of credit	(5,031)	$ (17,530)
Principal payments on borrowings	(17,003)
Principal payments on capital leases	$ (1,028)	$ (1,307)
Proceeds from exercise of warrants		191
Preferred stock dividends paid	$ (315)	(312)
Net cash used in financing activities	(23,377)	(18,958)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(33,505)	(19,810)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	52,712	62,084
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	19,207	42,274
Supplemental Information:
Interest paid	2,070	$ 969
Income taxes received	$ 4,534

Organization and Basis of Prese

Organization and Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization and Basis of Presentation	1. ORGANIZATION Organization and Business The Company’s acquisition of Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings, Inc. (now, Pacific Ethanol Central, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, “Aventine”) was consummated on July 1, 2015, and as a result, the Company’s consolidated financial statements include the results of Aventine only as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The Company is a leading producer and marketer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the United States. The Company’s four ethanol plants in the Western United States (together with their respective holding companies, the “Pacific Ethanol West Plants”) are located in close proximity to both feed and ethanol customers and thus enjoy unique advantages in efficiency, logistics and product pricing. These plants produce among the lowest-carbon ethanol produced in the United States due to low energy use in production. With the addition of four Midwestern ethanol plants in July 2015 as a result of the Company’s acquisition of Aventine, the Company now has a combined ethanol production capacity of 515 million gallons per year, markets, on an annualized basis, over 800 million gallons of ethanol, and produces, on an annualized basis, over one million tons of co-products such as wet and dry distillers grains, wet and dry corn gluten feed, condensed distillers solubles, corn gluten meal, corn germ, distillers yeast and CO 2 Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for balances that appear to have specific collection issues. The collection process is based on the age of the invoice and requires attempted contacts with the customer at specified intervals. If, after a specified number of days, the Company has been unsuccessful in its collection efforts, a bad debt allowance is recorded for the balance in question. Delinquent accounts receivable are charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts once uncollectibility has been determined. The factors considered in reaching this determination are the apparent financial condition of the customer and the Company’s success in contacting and negotiating with the customer. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. Of the accounts receivable balance, approximately $44,233,000 and $42,049,000 at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, were used as collateral under Kinergy’s operating line of credit. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $281,000 and $25,000 as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The Company recorded a bad debt expense of $256,000 and none for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company does not have any off-balance sheet credit exposure related to its customers. Benefit for Income Taxes Financial Instruments Reclassifications Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the FASB issued new guidance on the recognition of revenue. The guidance states that an entity should recognize revenue to depict 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 standard was originally effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period, but has been further deferred one year. The Company’s adoption begins with the first fiscal quarter of fiscal year 2018. In March and April 2016, the FASB issued further revenue recognition guidance amending principal vs. agent considerations whether an entity should recognize revenue to depict 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 and services. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this accounting standard update on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition. In September 2015, the FASB issued new guidance on simplifying the accounting for measurement-period adjustments. Under the new guidance, an acquirer must recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The guidance also requires acquirers to present separately on the face of the statement of operations or disclose in the notes, the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2015, applied prospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company will consider early adoption in future periods related to its current measurement period for its acquisition of Aventine. In April 2015, the FASB issued new guidance on presentation of debt issuance costs. Historically, entities have presented debt issuance costs as an asset. Under the new guidance, effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2015, debt issuance costs have been reclassified as a deduction to the carrying amount of the related debt balance. The guidance does not change any of the Company’s other debt recognition or disclosure. The Company adopted this guidance beginning January 1, 2016. Basis of Presentation – Interim Financial Statements The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates are required as part of determining the fair value of warrants, allowance for doubtful accounts, net realized value of inventory, estimated lives of property and equipment and intangibles, long-lived asset impairments, valuation allowances on deferred income taxes and the potential outcome of future tax consequences of events recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns. Actual results and outcomes may materially differ from management’s estimates and assumptions.

Segments

Segments	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segments	2. SEGMENTS. The Company reports its financial and operating performance in two segments: (1) ethanol production, which includes the production and sale of ethanol and co-products, with all eight of the Company’s production facilities aggregated, and (2) marketing and distribution, which includes marketing and merchant trading for Company-produced ethanol and co-products and third-party ethanol. The following tables set forth certain financial data for the Company’s operating segments (in thousands): Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 Net Sales: Ethanol production: Net sales from external customers $ 229,241 $ 98,997 Intersegment net sales — — Total segment revenues 229,241 98,997 Marketing and distribution: Net sales from external customers 113,132 107,179 Intersegment net sales 2,016 735 Total segment net sales 115,148 107,914 Net sales including intersegment activity 344,389 206,911 Intersegment eliminations (2,016 ) (735 ) Net sales as reported $ 342,373 $ 206,176 Cost of goods sold: Ethanol production $ 236,008 $ 101,537 Marketing and distribution 109,297 108,059 Intersegment eliminations (4,001 ) (2,433 ) $ 341,304 $ 207,163 Income (loss) before provision for income taxes: Ethanol production $ (17,322 ) $ (5,360 ) Marketing and distribution 3,969 (1,615 ) Corporate activities 127 (234 ) $ (13,226 ) $ (7,209 ) Depreciation and amortization: Ethanol production $ 8,415 $ 3,184 Marketing and distribution 3 127 Corporate activities 233 98 $ 8,651 $ 3,409 Interest expense: Ethanol production $ (5,900 ) $ (922 ) Marketing and distribution (333 ) (93 ) Corporate activities — — $ (6,233 ) $ (1,015 ) The following table sets forth the Company’s total assets by operating segment (in thousands): March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Total assets: Ethanol production $ 521,977 $ 536,013 Marketing and distribution 106,137 107,069 Corporate assets 15,085 31,598 $ 643,199 $ 674,680

Inventories

Inventories	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Inventories	3. INVENTORIES. Inventories consisted primarily of bulk ethanol, corn, co-products, Low-Carbon Fuel Standard (“LCFS”) credits and unleaded fuel, and are valued at the lower-of-cost-or-net realizable value, with cost determined on a first-in, first-out basis. Inventory balances consisted of the following (in thousands): March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Finished goods $ 34,278 $ 31,153 LCFS credits 16,856 6,957 Raw materials 8,136 9,891 Work in progress 8,338 11,121 Other 1,654 1,698 Total $ 69,262 $ 60,820

Derivatives

Derivatives	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Derivatives	4. DERIVATIVES. The business and activities of the Company expose it to a variety of market risks, including risks related to changes in commodity prices. The Company monitors and manages these financial exposures as an integral part of its risk management program. This program recognizes the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effects that market volatility could have on operating results. Commodity Risk – Cash Flow Hedges Commodity Risk – Non-Designated Hedges Non Designated Derivative Instruments As of March 31, 2016 Assets Liabilities Type of Instrument Balance Sheet Location Fair Value Balance Sheet Location Fair Value Commodity contracts Other current assets $ 1,774 Other current liabilities $ 1,868 $ 1,774 $ 1,868 As of December 31, 2015 Assets Liabilities Type of Instrument Balance Sheet Location Fair Value Balance Sheet Location Fair Value Commodity contracts Other current assets $ 2,081 Other current liabilities $ 1,848 $ 2,081 $ 1,848 The classification and amounts of the Company’s recognized gains (losses) for its derivatives not designated as hedging instruments are as follows (in thousands): Realized Gains (Losses) Three Months Ended March 31, Type of Instrument Statements of Operations Location 2016 2015 Commodity contracts Cost of goods sold $ 908 $ (115 ) Unrealized Losses Three Months Ended March 31, Type of Instrument Statements of Operations Location 2016 2015 Commodity contracts Cost of goods sold $ (326 ) $ (74 )

Debt

Debt	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt	5. DEBT. Long-term borrowings are summarized as follows (in thousands): March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Kinergy operating line of credit $ 55,972 $ 61,003 Term debt 149,405 162,622 205,377 223,625 Less unamortized discount (1,996 ) (2,299 ) Less unamortized debt financing costs (408 ) (462 ) Less short-term portion — (17,003 ) Long-term debt $ 202,973 $ 203,861 Kinergy Operating Line of Credit Plant Term Debt For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Pacific Ethanol Central Plants elected to defer interest payments on their term debt in the aggregate amount of $3,786,000, which was added to the outstanding term debt balance. At March 31, 2016, there were approximately $145.0 million of net assets of the Company’s subsidiaries that were not available to be transferred to the parent company in the form of dividends, loans or advances due to restrictions contained in the credit facilities of these subsidiaries.

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES. Sales Commitments Purchase Commitments Litigation – General Pacific Ethanol, Inc., through a subsidiary acquired in its acquisition of Aventine, became involved in a pending lawsuit with Western Sugar Cooperative (“Western Sugar”) that pre-dated the Aventine acquisition. On February 27, 2015, Western Sugar filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado (Case No. 1:15-cv-00415) naming Aventine Renewable Energy, Inc. (“ARE, Inc.”), one of Aventine’s subsidiaries, as defendant. Western Sugar amended its complaint on April 21, 2015. ARE, Inc. purchased surplus sugar through a United States Department of Agriculture program. Western Sugar was one of the entities that warehoused this sugar for ARE, Inc. The suit alleges that ARE, Inc. breached its contract with Western Sugar by failing to pay certain penalty rates for the storage of its sugar or alternatively failing to pay a premium rate for storage. Western Sugar alleges that the penalty rates apply because ARE, Inc. failed to take timely delivery or otherwise cause timely shipment of the sugar. Western Sugar claims “expectation damages” in the amount of approximately $8.6 million. ARE, Inc. filed answers to Western Sugar’s complaint and amended complaint generally denying Western Sugar’s allegations and asserting various defenses. The case is currently in its discovery phase. The Company has evaluated the above case as well as other pending cases. The Company currently has recorded $3.3 million as a litigation contingency liability with respect to these cases for amounts that are probable and estimable.

Pension and Retirement Benefit

Pension and Retirement Benefit Plans	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Pension and Retirement Benefit Plans	7. PENSION AND RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS. The Company, through its acquisition of Aventine, has assumed a defined benefit pension plan (the “Pension Plan”) and a health care and life insurance plan (the “Postretirement Plan”). The Pension Plan is noncontributory, and covers unionized employees at the Company’s Pekin, Illinois facility, who fulfill minimum age and service requirements. Benefits are based on a prescribed formula based upon the employee’s years of service. The Pension Plan, part of a collective bargaining agreement, covers only Union employees hired after November 1, 2010. The Company uses a December 31 measurement date for its Pension Plan. The Company’s funding policy is to make the minimum annual contributions that are required by applicable regulations. As of December 31, 2015, the Pension Plan’s accumulated projected benefit obligation was $16.6 million, with a fair value of plan assets of $12.6 million. The underfunded amount of $4.0 million is recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet in other noncurrent liabilities. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Pension Plan’s net periodic expense was $29,000, comprised of $172,000 in interest cost and $56,000 in service cost, partially offset by $199,000 of expected return on plan assets. The Postretirement Plan provides postretirement medical benefits and life insurance to certain “grandfathered” unionized employees. Employees hired after December 31, 2000 are not eligible to participate in the Postretirement Plan. The Postretirement Plan is contributory, with contributions required at the same rate as active employees. Benefit eligibility under the plan reduces at age 65 from a defined benefit to a defined collar cap based upon years of service. As of December 31, 2015, the Postretirement Plan’s accumulated projected benefit obligation was $3.6 million and is recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet in other noncurrent liabilities. The Company’s funding policy is to make the minimum annual contributions that are required by applicable regulations. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Postretirement Plan’s net periodic expense was $47,000, comprised of $35,000 of interest cost and $12,000 of service cost.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	8. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS. The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used in valuation techniques into three levels, as follows: ● Level 1 – Observable inputs – unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities; ● Level 2 – Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability through corroboration with market data; and ● Level 3 – Unobservable inputs – includes amounts derived from valuation models where one or more significant inputs are unobservable. For fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs, a description of the inputs and the information used to develop the inputs is required along with a reconciliation of Level 3 values from the prior reporting period. The Company recorded its warrants issued from 2010 through 2013 at fair value and designated them as Level 3 on their issuance dates. Warrants Significant assumptions used and related fair values for the warrants as of March 31, 2016 were as follows: Original Issuance Exercise Price Volatility Risk Free Interest Rate Term (years) Market Discount Warrants Outstanding Fair Value 07/3/2012 $ 6.09 51.1 % 0.59 % 1.26 22.1 % 211,000 $ 178,000 12/13/2011 $ 8.43 52.9 % 0.49 % 0.70 17.4 % 138,000 56,000 $ 234,000 Significant assumptions used and related fair values for the warrants as of December 31, 2015 were as follows: Original Issuance Exercise Price Volatility Risk Free Interest Rate Term (years) Market Discount Warrants Outstanding Fair Value 07/3/2012 $ 6.09 49.1 % 0.86 % 1.51 22.9 % 211,000 $ 200,000 12/13/2011 $ 8.43 48.4 % 0.65 % 0.95 18.3 % 138,000 73,000 $ 273,000 The estimated fair value of the warrants is affected by the above underlying inputs. Observable inputs include the values of exercise price, stock price, term and risk-free interest rate. As separate inputs, an increase (decrease) in either the term or risk free interest rate will result in an increase (decrease) in the estimated fair value of the warrant. Unobservable inputs include volatility and market discount. An increase (decrease) in volatility will result in an increase (decrease) in the estimated warrant value and an increase (decrease) in the market discount will result in a decrease (increase) in the estimated warrant fair value. The volatility utilized was a blended average of the Company’s historical volatility and implied volatilities derived from a selected peer group. The implied volatility component has remained relatively constant over time given that implied volatility is a forward-looking assumption based on observable trades in public option markets. Should the Company’s historical volatility increase (decrease) on a go-forward basis, the resulting value of the warrants would increase (decrease). The market discount, or a discount for lack of marketability, is quantified using a Black-Scholes option pricing model, with a primary model input of assumed holding period restriction. As the assumed holding period increases (decreases), the market discount increases (decreases), conversely impacting the value of the warrant fair value. Other Derivative Instruments The following table summarizes recurring fair value measurements by level at March 31, 2016 (in thousands): Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets: Derivative financial instruments(1) $ 1,774 $ 1,774 $ — $ — $ 1,774 $ 1,774 $ — $ — Liabilities: Warrants $ (234 ) $ — $ — $ (234 ) Derivative financial instruments(4) (1,868 ) (1,868 ) — — $ (2,102 ) $ (1,868 ) $ — $ (234 ) The following table summarizes recurring fair value measurements by level at December 31, 2015 (in thousands): Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets: Derivative financial instruments(1) $ 2,081 $ 2,081 $ — $ — Defined benefit plan assets(2) (pooled separate accounts): Large U.S. Equity 3,662 — 3,662 — Small/Mid U.S. Equity 1,099 — 1,099 — International Equity 1,525 — 1,525 — Fixed Income 6,281 — 6,281 — $ 14,648 $ 2,081 $ 12,567 $ — Liabilities: Warrants (3) $ (273 ) $ — $ — $ (273 ) Derivative financial instruments(4) (1,848 ) (1,848 ) — — $ (2,121 ) $ (1,848 ) $ — $ (273 ) (1) Included in other current assets in the consolidated balance sheets. (2) Fair values of plan assets are determined annually and therefore are not included as of March 31, 2016. For further descriptions of these assets see the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. (3) Included in warrant liabilities at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets. (4) Included in accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. For fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), a description of the inputs and the information used to develop the inputs is required along with a reconciliation of Level 3 values from the prior reporting period. The changes in the Company’s fair value of its Level 3 inputs with respect to its warrants were as follows (in thousands): Balance, December 31, 2015 $ 273 Adjustments to fair value for the period (39 ) Balance, March 31, 2016 $ 234

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	9. EARNINGS PER SHARE. The following tables compute basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share data): Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 Loss Numerator Shares Denominator Per-Share Amount Net loss attributed to Pacific Ethanol, Inc. $ (13,226 ) Less: Preferred stock dividends (315 ) Basic and diluted loss per share: Net loss attributed to common stockholders $ (13,541 ) 42,052 $ (0.32 ) Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Loss Numerator Shares Denominator Per-Share Amount Net loss attributed to Pacific Ethanol, Inc. $ (4,380 ) Less: Preferred stock dividends (312 ) Basic and diluted loss per share: Net loss attributed to common stockholders $ (4,692 ) 24,104 $ (0.19 ) There were an aggregate of 635,000 and 1,080,000 potentially dilutive weighted-average shares from convertible securities outstanding as of March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. These convertible securities were not considered in calculating diluted net loss per share for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

Organization and Basis of Pre15

Organization and Basis of Presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Organization and Business	Organization and Business The Company’s acquisition of Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings, Inc. (now, Pacific Ethanol Central, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, “Aventine”) was consummated on July 1, 2015, and as a result, the Company’s consolidated financial statements include the results of Aventine only as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The Company is a leading producer and marketer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the United States. The Company’s four ethanol plants in the Western United States (together with their respective holding companies, the “Pacific Ethanol West Plants”) are located in close proximity to both feed and ethanol customers and thus enjoy unique advantages in efficiency, logistics and product pricing. These plants produce among the lowest-carbon ethanol produced in the United States due to low energy use in production. With the addition of four Midwestern ethanol plants in July 2015 as a result of the Company’s acquisition of Aventine, the Company now has a combined ethanol production capacity of 515 million gallons per year, markets, on an annualized basis, over 800 million gallons of ethanol, and produces, on an annualized basis, over one million tons of co-products such as wet and dry distillers grains, wet and dry corn gluten feed, condensed distillers solubles, corn gluten meal, corn germ, distillers yeast and CO 2
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for balances that appear to have specific collection issues. The collection process is based on the age of the invoice and requires attempted contacts with the customer at specified intervals. If, after a specified number of days, the Company has been unsuccessful in its collection efforts, a bad debt allowance is recorded for the balance in question. Delinquent accounts receivable are charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts once uncollectibility has been determined. The factors considered in reaching this determination are the apparent financial condition of the customer and the Company’s success in contacting and negotiating with the customer. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. Of the accounts receivable balance, approximately $44,233,000 and $42,049,000 at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, were used as collateral under Kinergy’s operating line of credit. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $281,000 and $25,000 as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The Company recorded a bad debt expense of $256,000 and none for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company does not have any off-balance sheet credit exposure related to its customers.
Benefit for Income Taxes	Benefit for Income Taxes
Financial Instruments	Financial Instruments
Reclassifications	Reclassifications
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the FASB issued new guidance on the recognition of revenue. The guidance states that an entity should recognize revenue to depict 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 standard was originally effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period, but has been further deferred one year. The Company’s adoption begins with the first fiscal quarter of fiscal year 2018. In March and April 2016, the FASB issued further revenue recognition guidance amending principal vs. agent considerations whether an entity should recognize revenue to depict 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 and services. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this accounting standard update on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition. In September 2015, the FASB issued new guidance on simplifying the accounting for measurement-period adjustments. Under the new guidance, an acquirer must recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The guidance also requires acquirers to present separately on the face of the statement of operations or disclose in the notes, the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2015, applied prospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company will consider early adoption in future periods related to its current measurement period for its acquisition of Aventine. In April 2015, the FASB issued new guidance on presentation of debt issuance costs. Historically, entities have presented debt issuance costs as an asset. Under the new guidance, effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2015, debt issuance costs have been reclassified as a deduction to the carrying amount of the related debt balance. The guidance does not change any of the Company’s other debt recognition or disclosure. The Company adopted this guidance beginning January 1, 2016.
Basis of Presentation-Interim Financial Statements	Basis of Presentation – Interim Financial Statements The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates are required as part of determining the fair value of warrants, allowance for doubtful accounts, net realized value of inventory, estimated lives of property and equipment and intangibles, long-lived asset impairments, valuation allowances on deferred income taxes and the potential outcome of future tax consequences of events recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns. Actual results and outcomes may materially differ from management’s estimates and assumptions.

Segments (Tables)

Segments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Schedule of Financial Date for Operating Segments	The following tables set forth certain financial data for the Company’s operating segments (in thousands): Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 Net Sales: Ethanol production: Net sales from external customers $ 229,241 $ 98,997 Intersegment net sales — — Total segment revenues 229,241 98,997 Marketing and distribution: Net sales from external customers 113,132 107,179 Intersegment net sales 2,016 735 Total segment net sales 115,148 107,914 Net sales including intersegment activity 344,389 206,911 Intersegment eliminations (2,016 ) (735 ) Net sales as reported $ 342,373 $ 206,176 Cost of goods sold: Ethanol production $ 236,008 $ 101,537 Marketing and distribution 109,297 108,059 Intersegment eliminations (4,001 ) (2,433 ) $ 341,304 $ 207,163 Income (loss) before provision for income taxes: Ethanol production $ (17,322 ) $ (5,360 ) Marketing and distribution 3,969 (1,615 ) Corporate activities 127 (234 ) $ (13,226 ) $ (7,209 ) Depreciation and amortization: Ethanol production $ 8,415 $ 3,184 Marketing and distribution 3 127 Corporate activities 233 98 $ 8,651 $ 3,409 Interest expense: Ethanol production $ (5,900 ) $ (922 ) Marketing and distribution (333 ) (93 ) Corporate activities — — $ (6,233 ) $ (1,015 )
Schedule of Assets by Operating Segments	The following table sets forth the Company’s total assets by operating segment (in thousands): March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Total assets: Ethanol production $ 521,977 $ 536,013 Marketing and distribution 106,137 107,069 Corporate assets 15,085 31,598 $ 643,199 $ 674,680

Inventories (Tables)

Inventories (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Inventories	Inventory balances consisted of the following (in thousands): March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Finished goods $ 34,278 $ 31,153 LCFS credits 16,856 6,957 Raw materials 8,136 9,891 Work in progress 8,338 11,121 Other 1,654 1,698 Total $ 69,262 $ 60,820

Derivatives (Tables)

Derivatives (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments	Non Designated Derivative Instruments As of March 31, 2016 Assets Liabilities Type of Instrument Balance Sheet Location Fair Value Balance Sheet Location Fair Value Commodity contracts Other current assets $ 1,774 Other current liabilities $ 1,868 $ 1,774 $ 1,868 As of December 31, 2015 Assets Liabilities Type of Instrument Balance Sheet Location Fair Value Balance Sheet Location Fair Value Commodity contracts Other current assets $ 2,081 Other current liabilities $ 1,848 $ 2,081 $ 1,848
Schedule of Recognized Gains (Losses) for Derivatives	The classification and amounts of the Company’s recognized gains (losses) for its derivatives not designated as hedging instruments are as follows (in thousands): Realized Gains (Losses) Three Months Ended March 31, Type of Instrument Statements of Operations Location 2016 2015 Commodity contracts Cost of goods sold $ 908 $ (115 ) Unrealized Losses Three Months Ended March 31, Type of Instrument Statements of Operations Location 2016 2015 Commodity contracts Cost of goods sold $ (326 ) $ (74 )

Debt (Tables)

Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Long Term Debt	Long-term borrowings are summarized as follows (in thousands): March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Kinergy operating line of credit $ 55,972 $ 61,003 Term debt 149,405 162,622 205,377 223,625 Less unamortized discount (1,996 ) (2,299 ) Less unamortized debt financing costs (408 ) (462 ) Less short-term portion — (17,003 ) Long-term debt $ 202,973 $ 203,861

Fair Value Measurements (Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule of Significant Assumptions Used and Related Fair Values for Warrants	Significant assumptions used and related fair values for the warrants as of March 31, 2016 were as follows: Original Issuance Exercise Price Volatility Risk Free Interest Rate Term (years) Market Discount Warrants Outstanding Fair Value 07/3/2012 $ 6.09 51.1 % 0.59 % 1.26 22.1 % 211,000 $ 178,000 12/13/2011 $ 8.43 52.9 % 0.49 % 0.70 17.4 % 138,000 56,000 $ 234,000 Significant assumptions used and related fair values for the warrants as of December 31, 2015 were as follows: Original Issuance Exercise Price Volatility Risk Free Interest Rate Term (years) Market Discount Warrants Outstanding Fair Value 07/3/2012 $ 6.09 49.1 % 0.86 % 1.51 22.9 % 211,000 $ 200,000 12/13/2011 $ 8.43 48.4 % 0.65 % 0.95 18.3 % 138,000 73,000 $ 273,000
Summary of Recurring Fair Value Measurements by Level	The following table summarizes recurring fair value measurements by level at March 31, 2016 (in thousands): Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets: Derivative financial instruments(1) $ 1,774 $ 1,774 $ — $ — $ 1,774 $ 1,774 $ — $ — Liabilities: Warrants $ (234 ) $ — $ — $ (234 ) Derivative financial instruments(4) (1,868 ) (1,868 ) — — $ (2,102 ) $ (1,868 ) $ — $ (234 ) The following table summarizes recurring fair value measurements by level at December 31, 2015 (in thousands): Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets: Derivative financial instruments(1) $ 2,081 $ 2,081 $ — $ — Defined benefit plan assets(2) (pooled separate accounts): Large U.S. Equity 3,662 — 3,662 — Small/Mid U.S. Equity 1,099 — 1,099 — International Equity 1,525 — 1,525 — Fixed Income 6,281 — 6,281 — $ 14,648 $ 2,081 $ 12,567 $ — Liabilities: Warrants (3) $ (273 ) $ — $ — $ (273 ) Derivative financial instruments(4) (1,848 ) (1,848 ) — — $ (2,121 ) $ (1,848 ) $ — $ (273 ) (1) Included in other current assets in the consolidated balance sheets. (2) Fair values of plan assets are determined annually and therefore are not included as of March 31, 2016. For further descriptions of these assets see the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. (3) Included in warrant liabilities at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets. (4) Included in accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
Schedule of Fair Value of Level 3 Inputs to Warrants	The changes in the Company’s fair value of its Level 3 inputs with respect to its warrants were as follows (in thousands): Balance, December 31, 2015 $ 273 Adjustments to fair value for the period (39 ) Balance, March 31, 2016 $ 234

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share	The following tables compute basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share data): Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 Loss Numerator Shares Denominator Per-Share Amount Net loss attributed to Pacific Ethanol, Inc. $ (13,226 ) Less: Preferred stock dividends (315 ) Basic and diluted loss per share: Net loss attributed to common stockholders $ (13,541 ) 42,052 $ (0.32 ) Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Loss Numerator Shares Denominator Per-Share Amount Net loss attributed to Pacific Ethanol, Inc. $ (4,380 ) Less: Preferred stock dividends (312 ) Basic and diluted loss per share: Net loss attributed to common stockholders $ (4,692 ) 24,104 $ (0.19 )

Organization and Basis of Pre22

Organization and Basis of Presentation (Details Narrative) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)EthanolPlants	Mar. 31, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Ethanol production capacity per year	515 million gallons per year
Ethanol market capacity per year	over 800 million gallons of ethanol, and produces, on an annualized basis
Other products produced per year	over one million tons of co-products such as wet and dry distillers grains, wet and dry corn gluten feed, condensed distillers solubles, corn gluten meal, corn germ, distillers yeast and CO2.
Accounts receivable used as collateral	$ 44,233		$ 42,049
Allowance for doubtful accounts	281		$ 25
Bad debt expense	$ 256
Benefit for income taxes		$ 2,700
Pacific Ethanol West Plants [Member]
Number of ethanol plants | EthanolPlants	4
Pacific Ethanol Central Plants [Member]
Number of ethanol plants | EthanolPlants	4

Segments (Details Narrative)

Segments (Details Narrative)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016Segments
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of operating segments	2

Segments - Schedule of Financia

Segments - Schedule of Financial Date for Operating Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Net Sales	$ 342,373	$ 206,176
Cost of goods sold	341,304	207,163
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	(13,226)	(7,209)
Depreciation and amortization	8,651	3,409
Interest expense	(6,233)	(1,015)
Intersegment Activity [Member]
Net Sales	344,389	206,911
Intersubsegment Eliminations [Member]
Net Sales	(2,016)	(735)
Cost of goods sold	(4,001)	(2,433)
Ethanol Production [Member]
Net Sales	229,241	98,997
Cost of goods sold	236,008	101,537
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	(17,322)	(5,360)
Depreciation and amortization	8,415	3,184
Interest expense	$ (5,900)	$ (922)
Ethanol Production [Member] | Intersubsegment Eliminations [Member]
Net Sales
Ethanol Production [Member] | External Customers [Member]
Net Sales	$ 229,241	$ 98,997
Marketing and Distribution [Member]
Net Sales	115,148	107,914
Cost of goods sold	109,297	108,059
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	3,969	(1,615)
Depreciation and amortization	3	127
Interest expense	(333)	(93)
Marketing and Distribution [Member] | Intersubsegment Eliminations [Member]
Net Sales	2,016	735
Marketing and Distribution [Member] | External Customers [Member]
Net Sales	113,132	107,179
Corporate Assets [Member]
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	127	(234)
Depreciation and amortization	$ 233	$ 98
Interest expense

Segments - Schedule of Assets b

Segments - Schedule of Assets by Operating Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets	$ 643,199	$ 674,680
Ethanol Production [Member]
Assets	521,977	536,013
Marketing and Distribution [Member]
Assets	106,137	107,069
Corporate Assets [Member]
Assets	$ 15,085	$ 31,598

Inventories - Schedule of Inven

Inventories - Schedule of Inventories (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Finished goods	$ 34,278	$ 31,153
LCFS credits	16,856	6,957
Raw materials	8,136	9,891
Work in progress	8,338	11,121
Other	1,654	1,698
Total	$ 69,262	$ 60,820

Derivatives (Details Narrative)

Derivatives (Details Narrative) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Recognized gains and losses due to change in fair value	$ 582	$ 189

Derivatives - Schedule of Deriv

Derivatives - Schedule of Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Commodity contracts, Other current assets	$ 1,774	$ 2,081
Commodity contracts, Other current liabilities	1,868	1,848
Commodity Contracts [Member] | Non Designated Derivative Instruments [Member]
Commodity contracts, Other current assets	1,774	2,081
Commodity contracts, Other current liabilities	$ 1,868	$ 1,848

Derivatives - Schedule of Recog

Derivatives - Schedule of Recognized Gains (Losses) for Derivatives (Details) - Commodity contracts [Member] - Non Designated Derivative Instruments [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Realized Gains (Losses)	$ 908	$ (115)
Unrealized Losses	$ (326)	$ (74)

Debt (Details Narrative)

Debt (Details Narrative) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Feb. 26, 2016
Payment of term loan	$ 17,003
Asset unavailable for transfer due to loan restrictions	145,000
Kinergy Marketing LLC [Member]
Available borrowing base	7,366
Pacific Ethanol West Plants [Member]
Term debt			$ 17,003
Purchase increased amount of term debt			$ 58,766
Pacific Ethanol Central Plants [Member]
Payment of term loan	$ 3,786

Debt - Schedule of Long Term De

Debt - Schedule of Long Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Kinergy operating line of credit	$ 55,972	$ 61,003
Term debt	149,405	162,622
Total debt	205,377	223,625
Less unamortized discount	(1,996)	(2,299)
Less unamortized debt financing costs	$ (408)	(462)
Less short-term portion		(17,003)
Long-term debt	$ 202,973	$ 203,861

Commitments and Contingencies (

Commitments and Contingencies (Details Narrative) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Feb. 27, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016
Ethanol Purchase Contracts [Member]
Indexed-price purchase contracts		30,835,000 gallons
Fixed-price purchase contracts value		$ 10,326
Ethanol Purchase Contracts [Member] | Suppliers [Member]
Fixed-price purchase contracts value		$ 20,500
Western Sugar [Member]
Expectation damages	$ 8,600
Litigation contingency liability	$ 3,300
Ethanol Sales Contracts [Member]
Open ethanol indexed-price sales contracts		311,013,000 gallons
Open fixed-price sales contracts valued		$ 7,175
Co-products Sales Contracts [Member]
Open ethanol indexed-price sales contracts		145,000 tons
Open fixed-price sales contracts valued		$ 33,500

Pension and Retirement Benefi33

Pension and Retirement Benefit Plans (Details Narrative) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Pension Plan [Member]
Accumulated projected benefit obligation		$ 16,600
Fair value of plan assets		12,600
Underfunded amount		4,000
Net periodic expense	$ 29
Interest cost	172
Service cost	56
Partially offset expected return on plan assets	199
Postretirement Plan [Member]
Accumulated projected benefit obligation		$ 3,600
Net periodic expense	47
Interest cost	35
Service cost	$ 12

Fair Value Measurements - Sched

Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Significant Assumptions Used and Related Fair Values for Warrants (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair value	$ 234	$ 273
Original issuance 7/3/2012 [Member]
Exercise price	$ 6.09	$ 6.09
Volatility	51.10%	49.10%
Risk free interest rate	0.59%	0.86%
Term (years)	1 year 3 months 4 days	1 year 6 months 4 days
Market Discount	22.10%	22.90%
Warrants Outstanding	211,000	211,000
Fair value	$ 178	$ 200
Original Issuance 12/13/2011 [Member]
Exercise price	$ 8.43	$ 8.43
Volatility	52.90%	48.40%
Risk free interest rate	0.49%	0.65%
Term (years)	8 months 12 days	11 months 12 days
Market Discount	17.40%	18.30%
Warrants Outstanding	138,000	138,000
Fair value	$ 56	$ 73

Fair Value Measurements - Summa

Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Recurring Fair Value Measurements by Level (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets		$ 1,774	$ 14,648
Liabilities		(2,102)	(2,121)
Derivative Financial Instrument [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets	[1]	1,774	2,081
Liabilities	[2]	(1,868)	(1,848)
Warrants [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities		(234)	(273)	[3]
Defined Benefit Plan Assets Large U.S. Equity [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets	[4]		3,662
Defined Benefit Plan Assets Small/Mid U.S. Equity [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets	[4]		1,099
Defined Benefit Plan Assets International Equity [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets	[4]		1,525
Defined Benefit Plan Assets Fixed Income [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets	[4]		6,281
Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets		1,774	2,081
Liabilities		(1,868)	(1,848)
Level 1 [Member] | Derivative Financial Instrument [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets	[1]	1,774	2,081
Liabilities	[2]	$ (1,868)	$ (1,848)
Level 1 [Member] | Warrants [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities				[3]
Level 1 [Member] | Defined Benefit Plan Assets Large U.S. Equity [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets	[4]
Level 1 [Member] | Defined Benefit Plan Assets Small/Mid U.S. Equity [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets	[4]
Level 1 [Member] | Defined Benefit Plan Assets International Equity [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets	[4]
Level 1 [Member] | Defined Benefit Plan Assets Fixed Income [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets	[4]
Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets			$ 12,567
Liabilities
Level 2 [Member] | Derivative Financial Instrument [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets	[1]
Liabilities	[2]
Level 2 [Member] | Warrants [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities				[3]
Level 2 [Member] | Defined Benefit Plan Assets Large U.S. Equity [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets	[4]		$ 3,662
Level 2 [Member] | Defined Benefit Plan Assets Small/Mid U.S. Equity [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets	[4]		1,099
Level 2 [Member] | Defined Benefit Plan Assets International Equity [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets	[4]		1,525
Level 2 [Member] | Defined Benefit Plan Assets Fixed Income [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets	[4]		$ 6,281
Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets
Liabilities		$ (234)	$ (273)
Level 3 [Member] | Derivative Financial Instrument [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets	[1]
Liabilities	[2]
Level 3 [Member] | Warrants [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities		$ (234)	$ (273)	[3]
Level 3 [Member] | Defined Benefit Plan Assets Large U.S. Equity [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets	[4]
Level 3 [Member] | Defined Benefit Plan Assets Small/Mid U.S. Equity [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets	[4]
Level 3 [Member] | Defined Benefit Plan Assets International Equity [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets	[4]
Level 3 [Member] | Defined Benefit Plan Assets Fixed Income [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets	[4]
[1]	Included in other current assets in the consolidated balance sheets.
[2]	Included in accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
[3]	Included in warrant liabilities at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets.
[4]	Fair values of plan assets are determined annually and therefore are not included as of March 31, 2016. For further descriptions of these assets see the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Fair Value Measurements - Sch36

Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Fair Value of Level 3 Inputs to Warrants (Details) - Level 3 [Member] - Warrants [Member] $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$ 273
Adjustments to fair value for the period	(39)
Ending Balance	$ 234

Earnings Per Share (Details Nar

Earnings Per Share (Details Narrative) - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
potentially dilutive weighted-average shares from convertible securities outstanding	635,000	1,080,000

Earnings Per Share - Schedule o

Earnings Per Share - Schedule of Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net loss attributed to Pacific Ethanol, Inc.	$ (13,226)	$ (4,380)
Less: Preferred stock dividends	(315)	(312)
Net loss attributed to common stockholders	$ (13,541)	$ (4,692)
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted	42,052	24,104
Net loss per share, basic and diluted	$ (0.32)	$ (0.19)