Rentech (RTK) 10-Q 7 Nov 13 2013 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Entity Registrant Name	'RENTECH INC /CO/	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000868725	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	226,818,019

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets	'	'
Cash	$180,418	$141,736
Accounts receivable	28,920	9,705
Inventories	37,966	27,140
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	8,585	7,046
Deferred income taxes	766	766
Other receivables, net	3,945	4,670
Intangible assets	5,758	'
Total current assets	266,358	191,063
Property, plant and equipment, net	230,622	134,195
Construction in progress	119,615	61,417
Other assets	'	'
Goodwill	51,271	56,592
Intangible assets	49,783	26,185
Debt issuance costs	9,749	6,458
Property held for sale	4,641	2,475
Deposits and other assets	2,043	817
Total other assets	117,487	92,527
Total assets	734,082	479,202
Current liabilities	'	'
Accounts payable	20,334	17,788
Accrued payroll and benefits	7,336	8,445
Accrued liabilities	23,929	17,044
Deferred revenue	35,504	29,699
Debt	16,364	7,750
Accrued interest	10,032	142
Asset retirement obligation	2,469	2,776
Other	1,675	360
Total current liabilities	117,643	84,004
Long-term liabilities	'	'
Debt	410,311	185,540
Earn-out consideration	1,571	4,920
Deferred income taxes	2,646	766
Other	8,628	2,904
Total long-term liabilities	423,156	194,130
Total liabilities	540,799	278,134
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)	'	'
Stockholders' equity:	'	'
Common stock: $.01 par value; 450,000 shares authorized; 226,368 and 224,121 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	2,264	2,241
Additional paid-in capital	540,636	539,448
Accumulated deficit	-370,808	-383,807
Accumulated other comprehensive income	77	105
Total Rentech stockholders' equity	172,169	157,987
Noncontrolling interests	21,114	43,081
Total equity	193,283	201,068
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	734,082	479,202
Series A Convertible Preferred Shares [Member]	'	'
Stockholders' equity:	'	'
Preferred stock	'	'

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
Preferred stock, par value	$10	$10
Preferred stock, shares authorized	1,000	1,000
Common stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	450,000	450,000
Common stock, shares issued	226,368	224,121
Common stock, shares outstanding	226,368	224,121
Series A Convertible Preferred Shares [Member]	'	'
Preferred stock, shares authorized	90	90
Preferred stock, shares issued	90	90
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	'	'
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share	$0	$0
Series C Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock [Member]	'	'
Preferred stock, par value	$10	$10
Preferred stock, shares authorized	500	500
Preferred stock, shares issued	'	'
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	'	'
Series D Junior Participating Preferred Stock [Member]	'	'
Preferred stock, par value	$10	$10
Preferred stock, shares authorized	45	45
Preferred stock, shares issued	'	'
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	'	'

Consolidated_Statements_of_Ope

Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenues	'	'	'	'
Product sales	$96,621	$60,118	$262,934	$169,311
Service revenues	18,663	52	30,545	154
Other revenues	478	'	2,103	'
Total revenues	115,762	60,170	295,582	169,465
Cost of sales	'	'	'	'
Product	80,272	25,080	185,372	65,984
Service	14,291	50	23,925	150
Total cost of sales	94,563	25,130	209,297	66,134
Gross profit	21,199	35,040	86,285	103,331
Operating expenses	'	'	'	'
Selling, general and administrative expense	15,195	12,058	44,363	33,832
Research and development	'	5,563	5,747	14,675
Depreciation and amortization	2,454	670	5,455	2,486
Loss on goodwill impairment	30,029	'	30,029	'
Net (gain) loss on sale of fixed assets	-6,248	237	-6,220	285
Other	-15	-92	-15	-577
Total operating expenses	41,415	18,436	79,359	50,701
Operating income (loss)	-20,216	16,604	6,926	52,630
Other income (expense), net	'	'	'	'
Interest expense	-4,753	-828	-11,020	-5,288
Loss on debt extinguishment	'	'	-6,001	'
Gain on fair value adjustment to earn-out consideration	586	'	5,197	'
Other expense, net	-68	-265	-179	-652
Total other expenses, net	-4,235	-1,093	-12,003	-5,940
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in loss of investee	-24,451	15,511	-5,077	46,690
Income tax (benefit) expense	-976	68	-26,729	1,243
Income (loss) from continuing operations before equity in loss of investee	-23,475	15,443	21,652	45,447
Equity in loss of investee	103	'	138	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations	-23,578	15,443	21,514	45,447
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	'	134	'	134
Net income (loss)	-23,578	15,577	21,514	45,581
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	8,985	-11,307	-8,515	-35,056
Net income (loss) attributable to Rentech common shareholders	($14,593)	$4,270	$12,999	$10,525
Basic:	'	'	'	'
Continuing operations	($0.06)	$0.02	$0.06	$0.05
Discontinued operations	$0	$0	$0	$0
Net income (loss)	($0.06)	$0.02	$0.06	$0.05
Diluted:	'	'	'	'
Continuing operations	($0.06)	$0.02	$0.05	$0.04
Discontinued operations	$0	$0	$0	$0
Net income (loss)	($0.06)	$0.02	$0.05	$0.04
Weighted-average shares used to compute net income (loss) per common share:	'	'	'	'
Basic	226,305	220,063	225,840	223,572
Diluted	226,305	229,815	232,171	232,773

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	($23,578)	$15,577	$21,514	$45,581
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:	'	'	'	'
Pension and postretirement plan adjustments	-5	'	3	'
Foreign currency translation	'	'	-30	'
Other comprehensive loss	-5	'	-27	'
Comprehensive income (loss)	-23,583	15,577	21,487	45,581
Less: net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	8,985	-11,307	-8,515	-35,056
Less: other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	2	'	-1	'
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Rentech	($14,596)	$4,270	$12,971	$10,525

Consolidated_Statements_of_Sto

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $)	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Total Rentech Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
In Thousands, except Share data
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$248,273	$2,252	$576,403	($369,807)	'	$208,848	$39,425
Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2011	'	225,231,000	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock issued for services	'	3	-3	'	'	'	'
Common stock issued for services, Shares	'	260,000	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock issued for acquisition	'	20	-20	'	'	'	'
Common stock issued for acquisition, Shares	'	2,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock issued for stock options exercised	185	2	183	'	'	185	'
Common stock issued for stock options exercised, Shares	'	161,000	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock issued for warrants exercised	716	13	703	'	'	716	'
Common stock issued for warrants exercised, Shares	'	1,336,000	'	'	'	'	'
Payment of stock issuance costs	-40	'	-40	'	'	-40	'
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	-33,845	'	'	'	'	'	-33,845
Equity-based compensation expense	8,914	'	8,023	'	'	8,023	891
Restricted stock units	-141	4	-145	'	'	-141	'
Restricted stock units, Shares	'	376,000	'	'	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock, including commissions	-16,721	-91	-16,630	'	'	-16,721	'
Repurchase of common stock, including commissions, Shares	'	-9,084,000	'	'	'	'	'
Net income	45,581	'	'	10,525	'	10,525	35,056
Other	-81	'	32	'	'	32	-113
Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	252,841	2,203	568,506	-359,282	'	211,427	41,414
Balance, Shares at Sep. 30, 2012	'	220,280,000	'	'	'	'	'
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	201,068	2,241	539,448	-383,807	105	157,987	43,081
Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2012	'	224,121,000	'	'	'	'	'
Noncontrolling interests	4,000	'	'	'	'	'	4,000
Acquisition of additional interest in subsidiary	-2,500	'	-536	'	'	-536	-1,964
Common stock issued for services	'	2	-2	'	'	'	'
Common stock issued for services, Shares	'	178,000	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock issued for stock options exercised	129	3	126	'	'	129	'
Common stock issued for stock options exercised, Shares	'	313,000	'	'	'	'	'
Payment of stock issuance costs	-48	'	-48	'	'	-48	'
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	-33,075	'	'	'	'	'	-33,075
Equity-based compensation expense	5,669	'	5,113	'	'	5,113	556
Restricted stock units	-3,447	18	-3,465	'	'	-3,447	'
Restricted stock units, Shares	'	1,756,000	'	'	'	'	'
Net income	21,514	'	'	12,999	'	12,999	8,515
Other comprehensive income	-27	'	'	'	-28	-28	1
Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	$193,283	$2,264	$540,636	($370,808)	$77	$172,169	$21,114
Balance, Shares at Sep. 30, 2013	'	226,368,000	'	'	'	'	'

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities	'	'
Net income	$21,514	$45,581
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	18,669	11,216
Utilization of spare parts	2,377	763
Write-down of inventory	7,334	'
Non-cash interest expense	315	5,132
Net (gain) loss on sale of fixed assets	-6,220	285
Loss on goodwill impairment	30,029	'
Loss on debt extinguishment	6,001	'
(Gain) loss on interest rate swaps	-17	903
Stock-based compensation	5,669	8,914
Other	-178	-810
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:	'	'
Accounts receivable	-15,279	1,163
Other receivables	6,054	800
Inventories	-15,654	-1,326
Deposits on gas contracts	'	2,807
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	-75	-1,521
Accounts payable	-7,710	1,928
Deferred revenue	4,745	5,597
Accrued interest	7,753	'
Accrued liabilities, accrued payroll and other	-38,440	-11,090
Net cash provided by operating activities	26,887	70,342
Cash flows from investing activities	'	'
Purchase of property, plant, equipment and construction in progress	-60,450	-42,375
Payment for acquisitions	-65,583	'
Proceeds from disposal of fixed assets	9,146	'
Other items	-665	-186
Net cash used in investing activities	-117,552	-42,561
Cash flows from financing activities	'	'
Proceeds from debt	385,600	26,990
Payments to retire credit facility	-205,015	'
Payments on debt	-7,425	'
Payment of debt issuance costs	-9,827	-2,793
Payments on notes payable for financed insurance premiums	'	-1,000
Repurchase of common stock, including commissions	'	-16,721
Payment of stock issuance costs	-48	-40
Payment of offering costs	-972	-245
Proceeds from options and warrants exercised	129	901
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	-33,075	-33,845
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	129,367	-26,753
Impact of exchange rates on cash	-20	'
Increase in cash	38,682	1,028
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	141,736	237,478
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	180,418	238,506
Cash flows non-cash investing and financing activities disclosure:	'	'
Fair value of assets and liabilities assumed in acquisition	174,032	'
Purchase of property, plant, equipment and construction in progress in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	18,067	5,599
Restricted stock units surrendered for withholding taxes payable	3,447	141
Contingent consideration related to acquisition	$1,850	'

Basis_of_Presentation

Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation	'
	Note 1 — Basis of Presentation
	The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Rentech, Inc. (“Rentech”) and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and in compliance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X, neither of which requires all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. Accordingly, the accompanying financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2013, and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Rentech, its wholly owned subsidiaries and all subsidiaries in which Rentech directly or indirectly owns a controlling financial interest. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2013 or any other reporting period. The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the calendar year ended December 31, 2012 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 18, 2013 (the “Annual Report”).
	On May 1, 2013, the Company acquired all of the capital stock of Fulghum Fibres, Inc. (“Fulghum”). Upon the closing of this transaction (the “Fulghum Acquisition”), Fulghum became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Fulghum provides wood fibre processing services and wood yard operations, and sells wood chips to the pulp and paper sector. Through Fulghum and its subsidiaries, the Company now operates 32 wood chipping mills, of which 26 are located in the United States, five are located in Chile and one is located in Uruguay. Noncontrolling interests of $4.0 million represent the non-acquired ownership interests in the subsidiaries located in Chile and Uruguay as of May 1, 2013. During the three months ended September 30, 2013, Fulghum acquired an additional equity interest of approximately 13% in the subsidiary located in Chile. Fulghum currently owns approximately 88% and 87% of the equity interests in the subsidiaries located in Chile and Uruguay, respectively. For information on the Fulghum Acquisition refer to Note 3 – Fulghum Acquisition.
	The final purchase price of the Fulghum Acquisition and the Agrifos Acquisition, as defined in Note 4 – Agrifos Acquisition, and the allocation thereof will not be known until the final working capital, income tax and other adjustments are completed. The Company will finalize the accounting for each of these acquisitions within one year of the respective acquisition date.
	The Company, through its indirect majority-owned subsidiary, Rentech Nitrogen Partners, L.P. (“RNP”), owns and operates two fertilizer facilities: the Company’s East Dubuque Facility and the Company’s Pasadena Facility, referred to collectively as the “Facilities.” Our East Dubuque Facility is located in East Dubuque, Illinois and owned by Rentech Nitrogen, LLC (“RNLLC”). The Company primarily produces ammonia and urea ammonium nitrate solution (“UAN”) at the Company’s East Dubuque Facility, using natural gas as the facility’s primary feedstock. Our Pasadena Facility, which the Company acquired in November 2012, is located in Pasadena, Texas and owned by Rentech Nitrogen Pasadena, LLC (“RNPLLC”). The Company produces ammonium sulfate, ammonium thiosulfate and sulfuric acid at the Company’s Pasadena Facility, using ammonia and sulfur as the facility’s primary feedstocks. The noncontrolling interests reflected on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets are affected by the net income of, and distributions from, RNP.
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
	Fair values of cash, receivables, deposits, other current assets, accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other current liabilities were assumed to approximate carrying values for these financial instruments since they are short term in nature or they are receivable or payable on demand. These items meet the definition of Level 1 financial instruments as defined in Note 5 – Fair Value.
	Accounting guidance establishes accounting and reporting requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities. This guidance requires recognition of all derivative instruments as assets or liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet and measurement of those instruments at fair value. The accounting treatment of changes in fair value is dependent upon whether or not a derivative instrument is designated as a hedge and if so, the type of hedge. The Company currently does not designate any of its derivatives as hedges for financial accounting purposes. Gains and losses on derivative instruments not designated as hedges are currently included in earnings and reported under cash from operating activities.
	The following describes certain accounting policies applicable to Fulghum:
	Tolling and Offtake Arrangements – The Company has certain wood chip processing, wood yard operation and wood pellet agreements, which contain embedded leases for accounting purposes. This generally occurs when the agreement designates a specific chip mill or pellet plant in which the buyer purchases substantially all of the output and does not otherwise meet a fixed price per unit of output exception. The Company determined that these are operating leases.
	A tolling and offtake agreement that does not contain a lease may be classified as a derivative subject to a normal purchase and sale exception, in which case the agreement is classified as an executory contract and accounted for on an accrual basis. Tolling and offtake agreements, and components of these agreements that do not meet the above classifications, are accounted for on an accrual basis.
	Chip Mill, Wood Chip and Wood Pellet Revenue Recognition – For sales which are not accounted for as operating leases as described above, the Company recognizes revenue at the time the service is provided or when customers take ownership upon shipment from the facilities of the chips or pellets and assumes risk of loss, collection of the related receivable is probable, persuasive evidence of a sale arrangement exists and the sales price is fixed or determinable. Revenues associated with tolling arrangements are included in service revenues and sales of product under offtake agreements are included in product sales in our consolidated statements of operations.
	Inventory – Raw materials inventory consists of purchased roundwood to be chipped. Finished goods inventory consists of processed wood chips. Inventory is recorded at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market.
	During the first quarter of 2013, the Company identified errors that impacted the prior year. The impact of correcting these errors in the first quarter of 2013 increased operating income by $0.2 million. Management does not believe the impact of these errors was material to the first quarter of 2013, the expected full year results or any previously issued financial statements.
	The Company has evaluated events occurring between September 30, 2013 and the date of these financial statements to ensure that such events are properly reflected in these statements.

Recent_Accounting_Pronouncemen

Recent Accounting Pronouncements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Changes And Error Corrections [Abstract]	'
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	'
	Note 2 — Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In January 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued guidance requiring companies to disclose information about financial instruments that have been offset on the balance sheet or subject to an enforceable master netting agreement, irrespective of whether they have been offset, and related arrangements to enable users of a company’s financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on the company’s financial position. Companies will be required to provide both net (offset amounts) and gross information in the notes to the financial statements for relevant assets and liabilities that are offset. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013 and requires retrospective application, and thus became effective for the Company’s interim period beginning on January 1, 2013. The adoption of this guidance did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
	In February 2013, the FASB issued guidance that requires a company to disclose information about amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income and their corresponding effect on net income. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2012, and thus became effective for the Company’s interim period beginning on January 1, 2013. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
	In July 2013, the FASB issued guidance as to when an unrecognized tax benefit should be classified as a reduction of a deferred tax asset or when it should be classified as a liability in the consolidated balance sheet. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. It is effective for the Company’s interim period beginning on January 1, 2014. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or disclosures.

Acquisition

Acquisition	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fulghum [Member]	'
Acquisition	'
	Note 3 — Fulghum Acquisition
	On May 1, 2013, the Company acquired all of the capital stock of Fulghum. The preliminary purchase price consisted of approximately $63.3 million of cash, including approximately $3.3 million used to retire certain debt of Fulghum at closing. The amount of the purchase price is subject to certain potential post-closing adjustments set forth in the stock purchase agreement.
	This business combination has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting, which requires, among other things, that assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recognized at their fair values as of the acquisition date.
	The Company’s preliminary purchase price allocation as of May 1, 2013 is as follows (amounts in thousands):
	Cash		$	10,397
	Accounts receivable			3,936
	Inventories			2,389
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets			952
	Other receivables, net			5,345
	Property, plant and equipment			94,006
	Intangible assets (Trade name - $5,496 and Processing agreements - $27,000)			32,496
	Goodwill			24,069
	Other assets			440
	Accounts payable			(7,022	)
	Accrued liabilities			(2,605	)
	Customer deposits			(1,059	)
	Asset retirement obligation			(178	)
	Credit facility and loans			(60,650	)
	Unfavorable processing agreements			(6,161	)
	Deferred income taxes			(29,052	)
	Noncontrolling interests			(4,000	)
	Total preliminary purchase price		$	63,303
	Long-term deferred tax liabilities and other tax liabilities result from identifiable tangible and intangible assets fair value adjustments. These adjustments create excess book basis over the tax basis which is multiplied by the statutory tax rate for the jurisdiction in which the deferred taxes exist. As part of purchase accounting for Fulghum, we recorded additional deferred tax liabilities of approximately $16.0 million attributable to identifiable tangible and intangible assets.
	The final purchase price and the allocation thereof will not be known until the final working capital adjustments are performed and a review of various tax issues is completed.
	The operations of Fulghum are included in the consolidated statement of operations effective May 1, 2013. During the three months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded revenue and net income related to Fulghum of approximately $22.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded revenue and net income related to Fulghum of approximately $38.5 million and $0.9 million, respectively. Acquisition related costs for this acquisition totaled approximately $0.7 million and $1.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and have been included in the consolidated statements of operations within selling, general and administrative expense.
	Pro Forma Information
	The unaudited pro forma information has been prepared as if the Fulghum Acquisition and the Agrifos Acquisition, as defined in Note 4 – Agrifos Acquisition, had taken place on January 1, 2012. The unaudited pro forma information is not necessarily indicative of the results that the Company would have achieved had the transactions actually taken place on January 1, 2012, and the unaudited pro forma information does not purport to be indicative of future financial operating results.
			For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
			As Reported			Pro Forma			Pro Forma
						Adjustments
			(in thousands)
	Revenues		$	295,582		$	36,683		$	332,265
	Net income (loss)(1)		$	21,514		$	(26,656	)	$	(5,142	)
	Net income (loss) attributable to Rentech		$	12,999		$	(26,791	)	$	(13,792	)
	Basic net income (loss) per common share attributable to Rentech		$	0.06		$	(0.12	)	$	(0.06	)
	Diluted net income (loss) per common share attributable to Rentech		$	0.05		$	(0.11	)	$	(0.06	)
			For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
			As Reported			Pro Forma			Pro Forma
						Adjustments
			(in thousands)
	Revenues		$	169,465		$	197,343		$	366,808
	Net income(1)		$	45,581		$	23,911		$	69,492
	Net income attributable to Rentech		$	10,525		$	25,437		$	35,962
	Basic net income per common share attributable to Rentech		$	0.05		$	0.11		$	0.16
	Diluted net income per common share attributable to Rentech		$	0.04		$	0.11		$	0.15
	-1	As discussed in Note 15 – Income Taxes, during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, there was a release of a valuation allowance resulting from recording deferred tax liabilities from the Fulghum Acquisition. Since the pro forma information is presented as if the transaction had taken place on January 1, 2012, the release of the valuation allowance is included in the pro forma results for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and excluded from the pro forma results for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
	Fulghum Operations
	Each of the Company’s mills typically operates under an exclusive processing agreement with a single customer. Under each agreement, the customer is responsible for procuring and delivering wood, and Fulghum is paid a processing fee based on tons processed, with minimum and maximum fees based on volumes. In most cases, if the customer fails to deliver the minimum contracted volume, it must pay liquidated damages to Fulghum. Generally, under the terms of the Company’s processing agreements, customers have the option to purchase the mill equipment for a pre-negotiated amount (which decreases over time). Fulghum’s Chilean operations also include the sale of wood chips for export and the local sale of bark for power production. In both situations, the wood is either supplied by the customer or purchased by Fulghum.
Agrifos [Member]	'
Acquisition	'
	Note 4 — Agrifos Acquisition
	The Company adjusted the preliminary purchase price related to its acquisition on November 1, 2012 of Agrifos LLC (the “Agrifos Acquisition”). The adjusted preliminary purchase price consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
	Cash (through borrowings under the Second 2012 Credit Agreement) less working capital adjustments		$	136,308
	Fair market value of 538,793 Common Units issued			20,000
	Estimate of potential earn-out consideration(1)			4,920
	Total adjusted preliminary purchase price		$	161,228
	-1	The amount of earn-out consideration reflected in the table above reflects the Company’s estimate, as of November 1, 2012, of the amount of the earn-out consideration RNP will be required to pay pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, as defined in Note 5 – Fair Value. The earn-out consideration will be measured at each reporting date with changes in its fair value recognized in the consolidated statements of operations. As of September 30, 2013, the fair value of the potential earn-out consideration was $0.
	RNP’s adjusted preliminary purchase price allocation as of November 1, 2012 is as follows (amounts in thousands):
	Cash		$	2,622
	Accounts receivable			3,204
	Inventories			30,373
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets			566
	Property, plant and equipment			68,688
	Construction in progress			7,011
	Intangible assets (Technology - $23,680 and Marketing Agreement - $3,088)			26,768
	Goodwill			57,231
	Other assets			73
	Accounts payable			(10,638	)
	Accrued liabilities			(6,640	)
	Customer deposits			(13,301	)
	Asset retirement obligation			(2,776	)
	Other long-term liabilities			(1,953	)
	Total adjusted preliminary purchase price		$	161,228
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, RNP and the seller finalized the working capital adjustments which resulted in an increase in the preliminary purchase price of approximately $0.3 million. The working capital adjustments receivable was recorded separately from the purchase price allocation shown above. The finalization and recording of the cash receipt resulted in cash increasing by approximately $2.2 million and other receivables decreasing by approximately $2.5 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, RNP recognized adjustments to the preliminary purchase price allocation with an increase in fair value to goodwill of approximately $0.6 million and accrued liabilities of approximately $0.3 million. The Company will finalize the accounting for the Agrifos Acquisition during the fourth quarter of 2013.
	The unaudited pro forma information relating to the Agrifos Acquisition is reflected in the pro forma information shown in Note 3 – Fulghum Acquisition.

Fair_Value

Fair Value	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value	'
	Note 5 — Fair Value
	Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date in a principal or most advantageous market. Fair value is a market-based measurement that is determined based on inputs, which refer broadly to assumptions that market participants use in pricing assets or liabilities. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated or generally unobservable inputs. The Company makes certain assumptions it believes that market participants would use in pricing assets or liabilities, including assumptions about risk, and the risks inherent in the inputs to valuation techniques. Credit risk of the Company and its counterparties is incorporated in the valuation of assets and liabilities. The Company believes it uses valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable market-based inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.
	A fair value hierarchy has been established that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value in three broad levels. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). In some cases, the inputs used to measure fair value might fall in different levels of the fair value hierarchy. All assets and liabilities are required to be classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Assessing the significance of a particular input may require judgment considering factors specific to the asset or liability, and may affect the valuation of the asset or liability and its placement within the fair value hierarchy. The Company classifies fair value balances based on the fair value hierarchy, defined as follows:
		•		Level 1 — Consists of unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access as of the reporting date.
		•		Level 2 — Consists of inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are directly observable for the asset or liability or indirectly observable through corroboration with observable market data.
		•		Level 3 — Consists of unobservable inputs for assets or liabilities whose fair value is estimated based on internally developed models or methodologies using inputs that are generally less readily observable and supported by little, if any, market activity at the measurement date. Unobservable inputs are developed based on the best available information and subject to cost-benefit constraints.
	The following table presents the financial instruments that require fair value disclosure as of September 30, 2013.
			Fair Value								Carrying Value
			(in thousands)
			Level 1		Level 2			Level 3
	Liabilities
	Notes		$	319,002	$	—		$	—		$	320,000
	Fulghum debt		$	—	$	55,265		$	—		$	56,675
	Revolving Loan		$	—	$	50,000		$	—		$	50,000
	Earn-out consideration		$	—	$	—		$	1,571		$	1,571
	The following table presents the financial instruments that require fair value disclosure as of December 31, 2012.
			Fair Value								Carrying Value
			(in thousands)
			Level 1		Level 2			Level 3
	Liabilities
	Credit facilities and term loan		$	—	$	193,290		$	—		$	193,290
	Interest rate swaps		$	—	$	929		$	—		$	929
	Earn-out consideration		$	—	$	—		$	4,920		$	4,920
	Notes
	The Notes, as defined in Note 11 – Debt, are deemed to be Level 1 financial instruments because there was an active market for such debt. The fair value of such debt had been determined based on market prices.
	Fulghum Debt
	Fulghum’s debt is deemed to be Level 2 financial instruments because the measurement is based on observable market data. The fair value was determined by management using an independent, third party valuations company.
	Revolving Loan
	The Revolving Loan, as defined in Note 11 – Debt, is deemed to be a Level 2 financial instrument because the measurement is based on observable market data. It was concluded that the carrying value of the Revolving Loan approximates the fair value of such loan as of September 30, 2013 because the agreement for the loan was executed near quarter end, on September 23, 2013.
	Credit Facilities and Term Loan
	The credit facilities and term loan were deemed to be Level 2 financial instruments because the measurement was based on observable market data. RNP used part of the proceeds from the offering of the Notes to repay in full and terminate the Second 2012 Credit Agreement, as defined in Note 11 – Debt, and related interest rate swaps.
	Interest Rate Swaps
	The interest rate swaps were deemed to be Level 2 financial instruments because the measurements were based on observable market data. The Company used a standard swap contract valuation method to value its interest rate derivatives, and the inputs it used for present value discounting included forward one-month and three-month LIBOR rates, risk-free interest rates and an estimate of credit risk. The change in fair value was recorded in other expense, net on the consolidated statement of operations. The realized loss represents the cash payments required under the interest rate swaps.
	Net gain (loss) on interest rate swaps:
			For the Three Months Ended					For the Nine Months Ended
			September 30,					September 30,
			2013		2012			2013			2012
			(in thousands)
	Realized loss		$	—	$	(4	)	$	(24	)	$	(4	)
	Unrealized gain (loss)			—		(323	)		17			(903	)
	Total net loss on interest rate swaps		$	—	$	(327	)	$	(7	)	$	(907	)
	RNP paid approximately $912,000 to terminate the interest rate swaps as described above.
	Earn-out Consideration
	The earn-out consideration is deemed to be a Level 3 financial instrument because the measurement is based on unobservable inputs. The earn-out consideration will be measured at each reporting date with changes in its fair value recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.
	The earn-out consideration includes potential additional consideration RNP may be required to pay under the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) relating to the Agrifos Acquisition. The fair value of earn-out consideration was determined based on the Company’s analysis of various scenarios involving the achievement of certain levels of Adjusted EBITDA, as defined in the Purchase Agreement, over a two year period. The scenarios, which included a weighted probability factor, involved assumptions relating to the market prices of RNP’s products and feedstocks, as well as product profitability and production. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, the fair value of the liability decreased by approximately $0.3 million and $4.9 million, respectively. At September 30, 2013, the fair value of the potential earn-out consideration relating to the Agrifos Acquisition was $0. The decrease in fair value was a result of lower than expected profitability in 2013 due primarily to unfavorable weather and increased Chinese exports, as well as a reduced outlook for longer-term profitability due to reduced levels of nitrogen fertilizer prices. Due to an unusually wet spring, there was a shortened planting season which resulted in lower ammonium sulfate revenues during the nine months ended September 30, 2013. In addition, significant volumes of urea were exported from China and this supply suppressed global urea and other nitrogen fertilizer prices.
	At September 30, 2013, the earn-out consideration also includes approximately $1.6 million of potential earn-out consideration relating to the Atikokan Acquisition, as defined in Note 7 – Property, Plant and Equipment and Construction in Progress. The fair value of earn-out consideration was determined based on the Company’s analysis of various scenarios involving the achievement of certain levels of EBITDA, as defined in the asset purchase agreement related to the Atikokan Acquisition, over a ten year period. The scenarios, which included a weighted probability factor, involved assumptions relating to product profitability and production. The Company provided a loan to the sellers of approximately $0.9 million, which will be repayable from any earn-out consideration.
	The levels within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company’s financial instruments have been evaluated have not changed for any of the Company’s financial instruments during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013.

Inventories

Inventories	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventories	'
	Note 6 — Inventories
	Inventories consisted of the following:
		As of
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
		(in thousands)
	Finished goods	$	33,050	$	21,756
	Raw materials		4,701		5,269
	Other		215		115
	Total inventory	$	37,966	$	27,140
	During the three months ended September 30, 2013, the Company incurred an approximate $5.0 million write-down of ammonium sulfate inventory to market value due to lower market prices of ammonium sulfate, in accordance with accounting guidance. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company incurred an approximate $7.3 million write-down of ammonium sulfate, sulfur and sulfuric acid inventory to market value due primarily to lower market prices of ammonium sulfate, in accordance with accounting guidance.

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_a

Property, Plant and Equipment and Construction in Progress	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment and Construction in Progress	'
	Note 7 — Property, Plant and Equipment and Construction in Progress
	Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following:
		As of
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
		(in thousands)
	Land and land improvements	$	25,901		$	22,988
	Buildings and building improvements		29,062			27,120
	Machinery and equipment		230,235			135,636
	Furniture, fixtures and office equipment		1,134			1,085
	Computer equipment and computer software		7,485			5,981
	Vehicles		5,040			309
	Leasehold improvements		3,225			114
	Conditional asset (asbestos removal)		210			210
			302,292			193,443
	Less accumulated depreciation		(71,670	)		(59,248	)
	Total property, plant and equipment, net	$	230,622		$	134,195
	Construction in progress consisted of the following:
		As of
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
		(in thousands)
	East Dubuque Facility	$	89,630		$	52,435
	Pasadena Facility		23,542			8,512
	Fulghum Fibres		603			—
	Wawa Project		1,557			—
	Atikokan Project		2,683			—
	Other		1,600			470
	Total construction in progress	$	119,615		$	61,417
	The construction in progress balance at September 30, 2013 includes approximately $4.0 million of capitalized interest costs.
	On May 13, 2013, the Company acquired a former oriented strand board processing mill from Weyerhaeuser Corporation in Wawa, Ontario, Canada for approximately $5.5 million (the “Wawa Acquisition”); the Company expects to convert the facility to produce approximately 360,000 metric tons of wood pellets annually (the “Wawa Project”). Also, on June 7, 2013, the Company acquired a former particle board processing mill from Atikokan Renewable Fuels in Atikokan, Ontario, Canada (the “Atikokan Acquisition”), which is expected to be converted to produce approximately 125,000 metric tons of wood pellets annually (the “Atikokan Project”). The initial purchase price for the Atikokan Acquisition was approximately $3.8 million in cash plus potential earn-out consideration. The earn-out consideration will equal 7% of EBITDA of the Atikokan Project, as defined in the asset purchase agreement for the Atikokan Acquisition, over a ten-year period. In addition to the initial purchase price, the Company provided a loan to the sellers of approximately $0.9 million, which will be repayable from earn-out consideration. Both the Wawa and Atikokan Acquisitions were accounted for as asset purchases.

Joint_Venture

Joint Venture	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Joint Venture	'
	Note 8 — Joint Venture
	In connection with the Fulghum Acquisition, the Company entered into a joint venture with Graanul Invest AS (“Graanul”), a European producer of wood pellets, for the potential development and construction of, and investment in, wood pellet plants in the United States and Canada. The Company and Graanul each own a 50% equity interest in the joint venture (the “JV”) which is accounted for under the equity method. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, the JV’s loss, which is shown as equity in loss of investee in the consolidated statements of operations, was $0.1 million.

Property_Held_for_Sale

Property Held for Sale	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Property Held for Sale	'
	Note 9 — Property Held for Sale
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company reclassified its research and development Product Demonstration Unit (“PDU”), located in Commerce City, Colorado, from property, plant and equipment, net to property held for sale. The PDU is available for immediate sale and is being actively marketed for sale. On August 15, 2013, the Company sold a property held for sale located in Natchez, Mississippi (“Natchez”) for approximately $8.6 million, resulting in a gain on sale of approximately $6.3 million. As of September 30, 2013, property held for sale only includes the PDU. There are no discontinued operations associated with these properties. Both properties are included in the energy technologies segment.

Goodwill

Goodwill	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Goodwill	'
	Note 10 — Goodwill
	A reconciliation of the change in the carrying value of goodwill is as follows (in thousands):
	Balance at December 31, 2012 – Pasadena	$	56,592
	Increase attributable to Pasadena		639
	Fulghum Acquisition		24,069
	Goodwill impairment – Pasadena		(30,029	)
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	51,271
	The Company tests goodwill for impairment annually, or more often if an event or circumstances indicates an impairment may have occurred. The inventory impairment (see Note 6 – Inventories), negative gross margin and EBITDA in the three months ended September 30, 2013 and revised cash flow projections developed during the three months ended September 30, 2013 indicated that an impairment of the goodwill related to the Pasadena Facility was probable.
	Ammonium sulfate is the primary product of the Pasadena Facility. Results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and our projections of future cash flow from the production and sale of this product are worse than the results originally projected in late 2012, when the Company acquired Agrifos. The expected results and cash flows as of 2012 were utilized to allocate the purchase price of the Agrifos Acquisition, as described in Note 4 – Agrifos Acquisition. The primary cause of the reduction in the estimated fair value of the Pasadena reporting unit is the decline in the cash flow expected to be generated from the sale of ammonium sulfate, compared to the expectations at the time of the acquisition. A major cause of the lower expected cash flows is a decline in the level of prices, and expected prices, for nitrogen fertilizer caused by, among other things, lower corn prices, poor weather conditions for fertilizer application throughout the United States in 2013 and increased supply of urea from China.
	Factors that affect cash flows include, but are not limited to, product prices; product sales volumes; feedstock prices and availability; labor, maintenance, and other operating costs; required capital expenditures, and plant productivity. The Pasadena Facility generated negative EBITDA during the three months ended September 30, 2013, and is expected to generate negative EBITDA in the three months ended December 31, 2013. EBITDA is currently expected to be positive in 2014, but the current projection is well below the projection at the time of the acquisition, and is based on current and projected levels of prices for the products of, and inputs for, the Pasadena Facility. Current and projected prices for the products and inputs are below the levels at the time of the acquisition, yielding expectations for lower variable dollar margins per ton of product, even though percentage margins are expected to be consistent with those at the time of the acquisition because the prices of ammonium sulfate and its major raw materials have dropped by similar percentages. Lower dollar variable margins provide fewer dollars per ton sold to cover the fixed costs of the facility, resulting in reduced expectations of cash generated by the facility in a lower-price environment. In addition, the Pasadena Facility’s production has been lower than expected due to plant outages, and costs have been higher than expected due to higher maintenance expense.
	The analysis of the potential impairment of goodwill is a two step process. Step one of the impairment test consists of comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with the aggregate carrying value, including goodwill. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, step two must be performed to determine the amount, if any, of the goodwill impairment. Step one of the goodwill impairment test involves a high degree of judgement and consists of a comparison of the fair value of a reporting unit with its book value. The fair value of the Pasadena reporting unit is based upon various assumptions and is based on the discounted cash flows that the business can be expected to generate in the future (the “Income Approach”). The Income Approach valuation method requires the Company to make projections of revenue and operating costs over a multi-year period. Additionally, the Company made an estimate of a weighted average cost of capital that a market participant would use as a discount rate. Based upon its analysis of the value of the Pasadena reporting unit using the Income Approach, the Company believes it is probable that the Pasadena reporting unit had a carrying value in excess of its fair value at September 30, 2013. The inputs utilized in the analyses are classified as Level 3 inputs within the fair value hierarchy as defined in accounting guidance.
	Step two of the goodwill impairment test consists of comparing the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill against the carrying value of the goodwill. Determining the implied fair value of goodwill requires the valuation of a reporting unit’s identifiable tangible and intangible assets and liabilities as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination on the testing date, or September 30, 2013 in this case. The valuation of assets and liabilities in step two is performed only for purposes of assessing goodwill for impairment and the Company did not adjust the net book value of the assets and liabilities on its balance sheet other than goodwill as a result of this process. The estimated difference between fair value of the entire reporting unit as determined in step one and the net fair value of all identifiable assets and liabilities represents the implied fair value of goodwill. The goodwill impairment charge of $30.0 million is the difference between the $57.2 million carrying amount of goodwill and the $27.2 million implied value of goodwill upon the completion of step two.
	Significant effort is required to determine the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill in step two of the goodwill impairment test and although the Company is unable to fully complete the process before filing this report, the $30.0 million impairment is its best estimate of the probable loss which will be finalized in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Debt

Debt	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Debt	'
	Note 11 — Debt
	First and Second 2012 Credit Agreements
	On February 28, 2012, RNLLC entered into a credit agreement (the “First 2012 Credit Agreement”). The First 2012 Credit Agreement consisted of (i) a $100.0 million multiple draw term loan, and (ii) a $35.0 million revolving facility.
	On October 31, 2012, RNLLC, RNP, RNPLLC and certain subsidiaries of RNPLLC entered into a new credit agreement (the “Second 2012 Credit Agreement”). The Second 2012 Credit Agreement amended, restated and replaced the First 2012 Credit Agreement. The Second 2012 Credit Agreement consisted of (i) a $110.0 million multiple draw term loan to be used by RNP and its subsidiaries for expansion projects and general partnership purposes, (ii) a $155.0 million term loan to fund the Agrifos Acquisition and (iii) the $35.0 million revolving credit facility.
	RNP Notes Offering
	On April 12, 2013, RNP and Rentech Nitrogen Finance Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of RNP (“Finance Corporation” and collectively with RNP, the “Issuers”), issued $320.0 million of 6.5% second lien senior secured notes due 2021 (the “Notes”) to qualified institutional buyers and non-U.S. persons in a private offering exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.5% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears with the first interest payment due on October 15, 2013. The Notes will mature on April 15, 2021, unless repurchased or redeemed earlier in accordance with their terms. RNP used part of the net proceeds from the offering to repay in full and terminate the Second 2012 Credit Agreement and related interest rate swaps, and intends to use the remaining proceeds to pay for expenditures related to its expansion projects and for general partnership purposes. The payoff of the Second 2012 Credit Agreement resulted in a loss on debt extinguishment, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, of approximately $6.0 million.
	The Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by each of RNP’s existing domestic subsidiaries, other than Finance Corporation. In addition, the Notes and the guarantees thereof are collateralized by a second priority lien on substantially all of RNP’s and the guarantors’ assets, subject to permitted liens.
	The Issuers may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time prior to April 15, 2016 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus a “make whole” premium, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption. At any time prior to April 15, 2016, RNP may also, on any one or more occasions, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings at 106.5% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption. On or after April 15, 2016, RNP may redeem some or all of the Notes at a premium that will decrease over time, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.
	2013 Credit Agreement
	On April 12, 2013, RNP and Finance Corporation (collectively the “Borrowers”) entered into a new credit agreement (the “2013 Credit Agreement”). The 2013 Credit Agreement consists of a $35.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”). The Borrowers may use the 2013 Credit Agreement to fund their working capital needs, to issue letters of credit and for other general partnership purposes. The 2013 Credit Agreement also includes a $10.0 million letter of credit sublimit. The commitment under the Credit Facility may be increased by up to $15.0 million upon the Borrowers’ request at the discretion of the lenders and subject to certain customary requirements.
	Borrowings under the 2013 Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate equal to an applicable margin plus, at the Borrowers’ option, either (a) in the case of base rate borrowings, a rate equal to the highest of (1) the prime rate, (2) the federal funds rate plus 0.5% or (3) LIBOR for an interest period of three months plus 1.00% or (b) in the case of LIBOR borrowings, the offered rate per annum for deposits of dollars for the applicable interest period on the day that is two business days prior to the first day of such interest period. If the Borrowers maintain a secured leverage ratio of less than 1.75:1 for the last quarter reported to the lenders, then the applicable margin for borrowings under the 2013 Credit Agreement is 2.25% with respect to base rate borrowings and 3.25% with respect to LIBOR borrowings. If the Borrowers maintain a secured leverage ratio equal or greater than 1.75:1 for the last quarter reported to the lenders, then the applicable margin for borrowings under the 2013 Credit Agreement is 2.50% with respect to base rate borrowings and 3.50% with respect to LIBOR borrowings.
	Additionally, the Borrowers are required to pay a fee to the lenders under the 2013 Credit Agreement on the average undrawn available portion of the Credit Facility at a rate equal to 0.50% per annum. The Borrowers must also pay a fee to the lenders under the 2013 Credit Agreement at a rate equal to the product of the average daily undrawn face amount of all letters of credit issued, guaranteed or supported by risk participation agreements multiplied by a per annum rate equal to the applicable margin with respect to LIBOR borrowings, plus all customary letter of credit fees on issued letters of credit.
	All of RNP’s existing subsidiaries (other than Finance Corporation) guarantee, and certain of RNP’s future domestic subsidiaries will guarantee, RNP’s obligations pursuant to the 2013 Credit Agreement. The 2013 Credit Agreement, any hedging agreements issued by lenders under the 2013 Credit Agreement and the subsidiary guarantees are collateralized by the same collateral securing the Notes, which includes substantially all of RNP’s assets and all of the assets of its subsidiaries. After the occurrence and during the continuation of an event of default, proceeds of any collection, sale, foreclosure or other realization upon any collateral will be applied to repay obligations under the 2013 Credit Agreement and the subsidiary guarantees thereof to the extent secured by the collateral before any such proceeds are applied to repay obligations under the Notes, subject to a first lien cap (equal to the greater of $65 million or 20% of RNP’s consolidated net tangible assets (as defined in the Indenture governing the Notes), plus obligations in respect of the first-priority secured indebtedness and obligations under certain hedging agreements and cash management agreements).
	The 2013 Credit Agreement will terminate on April 12, 2018. Any amounts still outstanding at that time will be immediately due and payable. The Borrowers may voluntarily prepay their utilization and/or permanently cancel all or part of the available commitments under the 2013 Credit Agreement in a minimum amount of $5.0 million. Amounts repaid may be reborrowed. Borrowings under the 2013 Credit Agreement will be subject to mandatory prepayment under certain circumstances, with customary exceptions, from the proceeds of permitted dispositions of assets and from certain insurance and condemnation proceeds.
	Fulghum Debt
	As of September 30, 2013, Fulghum had outstanding debt of approximately $55.3 million with a weighted average interest rate of approximately 6.8%. The debt consists primarily of term loans with various financial institutions with each term loan collateralized by specific property and equipment. The term loans have maturity dates ranging from 2013 through 2028. Approximately $50.5 million and $4.8 million of the outstanding debt is with financial institutions located in the United States and South America, respectively.
	Fulghum debt at September 30, 2013 consisted of the following (in thousands):
	Outstanding debt	$	55,250
	Plus unamortized premium		1,425
	Total debt		56,675
	Less current portion		16,364
	Long-term debt	$	40,311
	Future maturities of the Fulghum debt are as follows (in thousands):
	For the Three Months Ending December 31, 2013 and
	Thereafter the Years Ending December 31,
	2013	$	10,299
	2014		7,424
	2015		7,026
	2016		5,348
	2017		4,177
	2018		1,593
	Thereafter		19,383
		$	55,250
	Revolving Loan
	On September 23, 2013, Rentech Nitrogen Holdings, Inc. (“RNHI”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Rentech, obtained a new $100.0 million revolving loan facility (“Revolving Loan”) by entering into a credit agreement (the “RNHI Credit Agreement”) among RNHI, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent and each other lender from time to time party thereto. The Company expects that the new facility will be used to fund growth in its wood fibre processing business and for general corporate purposes. On September 24, 2013, the Company borrowed $50.0 million under the facility.
	All obligations of RNHI under the new facility are unconditionally guaranteed by the Company in a guaranty agreement (the “Guaranty”) and are secured by a portion of the common units of RNP owned by RNHI (the “Underlying Equity”). RNHI currently owns 23.25 million common units in RNP, 15.4 million of which have been provided as initial collateral under the RNHI Credit Agreement. Under certain circumstances, up to 19.4 million common units may be pledged as collateral.
	The new facility has a three year maturity and borrowings under the new facility bear interest at a rate equal to LIBOR plus 4.00% per annum. In the event the Company reduces a portion of or terminates all of the facility prior to its second anniversary through a refinancing collateralized by the Underlying Equity in form or substance materially similar to the facility and in which Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch is not the lead lender, the Company will be required to pay a refinancing fee equal to 2.75% of the amount of commitments to be terminated, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days from the date of such termination until the second anniversary of the closing and the denominator of which is 360. The Company is also required to pay a commitment fee to the administrative agent on the daily undrawn loan amount at a rate of 0.70% per annum. Additionally, on the closing date the Company paid one-time customary structuring and administrative fees to certain of the lenders.
	The new facility and the Guaranty contain customary affirmative and negative covenants and events of default relating to RNHI and the Company. The covenants and events of default in the RNHI Credit Agreement restrict RNHI from engaging in activities outside of its ordinary course operation as a holding company and include, among other things, limitations on the incurrence of indebtedness and liens, the making of investments, the sale of assets, and the making of restricted payments. There are also events of default relating to substantial declines in value of the Underlying Equity in relation to the amount drawn under the RNHI Credit Agreement. Dividends and distributions from RNHI are permitted so long as no default or event of default exists or will result therefrom, including if the Value (as defined in the RNHI Credit Agreement) of the Underlying Equity pledged to secure the loan does not meet the valuation requirements set forth in the RNHI Credit Agreement. RNHI also has the right to sell RNP common units not held as collateral as long as certain conditions outlined in the new facility, including meeting a certain LTV Ratio (as defined below) and realizing a minimum price on the sale, are met.
	In addition, the Company’s ability to draw or maintain an outstanding balance under the new facility is subject to the ratio of (i) the amount of loans and unpaid interest minus the Value of cash and cash equivalents in the collateral account divided by (ii) the Value of the collateral shares (the “LTV Ratio”), being less than an agreed upon ratio.
	Total Debt
	Total debt consisted of the following:
		As of
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
		(in thousands)
	Second 2012 Credit Agreement	$	—	$	193,290
	Notes		320,000		—
	Fulghum debt		56,675		—
	Revolving Loan		50,000		—
	Total debt	$	426,675	$	193,290

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	Note 12 — Commitments and Contingencies
	Natural Gas Forward Purchase Contracts
	The Company’s policy and practice are to enter into fixed-price forward purchase contracts for natural gas in conjunction with contracted product sales in order to substantially fix gross margin on those product sales contracts. The Company may also enter into a limited amount of additional fixed-price forward purchase contracts for natural gas in order to minimize monthly and seasonal gas price volatility. The Company occasionally enters into index-price contracts for the purchase of natural gas. The Company elects the normal purchase normal sale exemption for these derivative instruments. As such, the Company does not recognize the unrealized gains or losses related to these derivative instruments in its financial statements. The Company has entered into multiple natural gas forward purchase contracts for various delivery dates through March 31, 2014. Commitments for natural gas purchases consist of the following:
			As of
			September 30,		December 31,
			2013		2012
			(in thousands, except weighted
			average rate)
	MMBtus under fixed-price contracts			3,630		1,955
	MMBtus under index-price contracts			—		143
	Total MMBtus under contracts			3,630		2,098
	Commitments to purchase natural gas		$	14,090	$	7,531
	Weighted average rate per MMBtu based on the fixed rates and the indexes applicable to each contract		$	3.88	$	3.59
	During October 2013, the Company entered into fixed-quantity forward purchase contracts at fixed and indexed prices for various delivery dates through March 31, 2014. The total MMBtus associated with these additional forward purchase contracts are approximately 0.7 million and the total amount of the purchase commitments are approximately $2.6 million, resulting in a weighted average rate per MMBtu of approximately $3.84 in these new commitments. The Company is required to make additional prepayments under these forward purchase contracts in the event that market prices fall below the purchase prices in the contracts.
	Contractual Obligations
		•		On April 17, 2013, the Company entered into an engineering, procurement and construction contract (the “EPC Contract”) with Abeinsa Abener Teyma General Partnership (“Abeinsa”). The EPC Contract provides for Abeinsa to be the contractor on the Company’s power generation project at the Pasadena Facility. The value of the contract is approximately $25.0 million and the project is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2014.
		•		On April 30, 2013, the Company entered into a contract (the “Drax Contract”) with Drax Power Limited (“Drax”). Under the Drax Contract, the Company is required to sell the full output of wood pellets from the Wawa Project to Drax, with the first delivery under the contract scheduled for the fourth quarter of calendar year 2014. Rentech guarantees the payment obligations under the Drax Contract.
		•		In connection with the Drax Contract, on April 30, 2013, the Company and Quebec Stevedoring Company Limited (“Quebec Stevedoring”) entered into that certain Master Services Agreement (the “Port Agreement”) pursuant to which Quebec Stevedoring is required to provide stevedoring, terminalling and warehousing services to the Company at the Port of Quebec. The Port Agreement is designed to support the term and volume commitments of the Drax Contract as well as future wood pellet exports through the Port of Quebec. Pursuant to the Port Agreement, Quebec Stevedoring is required to invest approximately $20.0 million to build handling equipment and 75,000 metric tons of wood pellet storage exclusively for the Company’s use at the port, with the same amount becoming a lease obligation for the Company, with such obligation guaranteed by Rentech.
	Litigation
	The Company is party to litigation from time to time in the normal course of business. The Company accrues legal liabilities only when it concludes that it is probable that it has an obligation for such costs and can reasonably estimate the amount of such costs. In cases where the Company determines that it is not probable, but reasonably possible that it has a material obligation, it discloses such obligations and the possible loss or range of loss, if such estimate can be made. While the outcome of the Company’s current matters are not estimable or probable, the Company maintains insurance to cover certain actions and believes that resolution of its current litigation matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company.
	The Company’s business is subject to extensive and frequently changing federal, state and local, environmental, health and safety regulations governing a wide range of matters, including the emission of air pollutants, the release of hazardous substances into the environment, the treatment and discharge of waste water and the storage, handling, use and transportation of the Company’s fertilizer products, raw materials, and other substances that are part of our operations. These laws include the Clean Air Act (the “CAA”), the federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, and various other federal, state and local laws and regulations. The laws and regulations to which the Company is subject are complex, change frequently and have tended to become more stringent over time. The ultimate impact on the Company’s business of complying with existing laws and regulations is not always clearly known or determinable due in part to the fact that the Company’s operations may change over time and certain implementing regulations for laws, such as the CAA, have not yet been finalized, are under governmental or judicial review or are being revised. These laws and regulations could result in increased capital, operating and compliance costs.

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Postemployment Benefits [Abstract]	'
Employee Benefit Plans	'
	Note 13 — Employee Benefit Plans
	RNP made contributions of approximately $109,000 to its pension plans and payments to retirees of approximately $45,000 under its postretirement plan during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and expects to contribute $0 to its pension plans and make payments to retirees of approximately $13,000 under its postretirement plan during the remainder of 2013.
	The components of net periodic benefit cost are as follows:
		For the Three Months Ended						For the Nine Months Ended
		September 30, 2013						September 30, 2013
		Pension			Post-			Pension			Post-
					retirement						retirement
		(in thousands)
	Service cost	$	34		$	11		$	103		$	33
	Interest cost		49			11			146			32
	Expected return on plan assets		(65	)		—			(195	)		—
	Amortization of prior service cost		—			6			—			17
	Amortization of net gain		(1	)		(4	)		(4	)		(11	)
	Net periodic pension costs	$	17		$	24		$	50		$	71
	The Company had no defined benefit pension or postretirement benefit plans before the Agrifos Acquisition in November 2012.

Stockholders_Equity

Stockholders' Equity	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Stockholders' Equity	'
	Note 14 — Stockholders’ Equity
	On April 22, 2013, Rentech announced that its board of directors (the “Board”) authorized the repurchase of up to $25.0 million, exclusive of commissions, of outstanding shares of its common stock through December 31, 2013. As of September 30, 2013, the Company has not repurchased any shares of its common stock under the program. The share repurchase program is subject to blackout periods under the Company’s insider trading policy. The Company may buy shares in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions from time to time through the expiration of the program on December 31, 2013 as permitted by federal securities laws and other legal requirements. The timing, manner, price and amount of any repurchases will be determined by the Company in its discretion and will be subject to economic and market conditions, stock price and other factors and compliance with applicable legal requirements. The plan does not obligate the Company to acquire any particular amount of common stock, and can be implemented, suspended or discontinued at any time without prior notice at the Company’s sole discretion.
	Shelf Registration Statement
	On July 9, 2013, the Company filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC, which allows it from time to time, in one or more offerings, to offer and sell up to $200.0 million in aggregate initial offering price of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, rights to purchase shares of common stock and/or any of the other registered securities, purchase contracts or units of any of the other registered securities.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	Note 15 — Income Taxes
	For the three months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded a net income tax benefit of approximately $1.0 million which is comprised of approximately $1.2 million income tax benefit for Rentech and approximately $0.2 million income tax expense for RNP. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded a net income tax benefit of approximately $26.7 million which is comprised of approximately $27.1 million income tax benefit for Rentech and approximately $0.4 million income tax expense for RNP. The Company’s effective income tax rate (income tax benefit as a percentage of income before income taxes) was 526% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The differences between the United States federal statutory rate of 35% and the effective rate were primarily attributable to differences between GAAP income and income reported on tax returns, the impact of state taxes, federal alternative minimum tax and suspension of net operating loss utilization for the state of Illinois. In addition, the effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was impacted by the release of valuation allowance of $27.2 million resulting from recording of deferred tax liabilities related to the Fulghum Acquisition. Because of the change of ownership provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, use of a portion of Fulghum’s domestic net operating loss carryforwards may be limited in future periods. The Company will further analyze the utilization of acquired net operating losses and will record or release valuation allowances as required to reflect the amount more likely than not to be realized. The Company evaluated all other deferred tax assets for realizability and has considered results of operations and concluded that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Segment_Information

Segment Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Information	'
	Note 16 — Segment Information
	The Company operated in three business segments prior to the Fulghum Acquisition, the Atikokan Acquisition, the Wawa Acquisition and the winding down of the PDU. The Company now operates in five business segments, as described below. The operations of the Pasadena Facility and Fulghum are included in the Company’s historical results of operations only from the date of the closing of the Agrifos Acquisition and the Fulghum Acquisition, which were November 1, 2012 and May 1, 2013, respectively.
		•		East Dubuque — The operations of the East Dubuque Facility, which produces primarily ammonia and urea ammonium nitrate solution (“UAN”).
		•		Pasadena — The operations of the Pasadena Facility, which produces primarily ammonium sulfate.
		•		Fulghum Fibres — The operations of Fulghum, which provides wood fibre processing services and wood yard operations, sells wood chips to the pulp and paper sector, and owns and manages forestland and sells bark to industrial consumers in South America.
		•		Wood pellets — This segment includes wood pellet projects owned by the Company, currently the Atikokan Project and Wawa Project, equity in the JV and wood pellet development costs. The wood pellet development costs represent the Company’s personnel costs for employees dedicated to the wood pellet business and other supporting third party costs.
		•		Energy technologies — Owns technologies designed to convert low-value, carbon-bearing solids or gases into valuable hydrocarbons and electric power. This segment includes the Company’s research and development activities that were centered at the Rentech Energy Technology Center (the “RETC”), which houses the PDU and the ClearFuels Technology Inc. (“ClearFuels”) biomass gasifier. This segment also includes expenses related to the SilvaGas Holdings Corporation (“SilvaGas”) biomass gasification technology, holding and operating costs and gain on sale in connection with Natchez, Company personnel costs for employees supporting this segment, including support related to the ClearFuels’ Department of Energy (“DOE”) grant, other third party costs and historical business development activities related to the Company’s alternative energy technologies.
	The Company’s reportable operating segments have been determined in accordance with the Company’s internal management structure, which is organized based on operating activities. The Company evaluates performance based upon several factors, of which the primary financial measure is segment-operating income.
			For the Three Months Ended						For the Nine Months Ended
			September 30,						September 30,
			2013			2012			2013			2012
			(in thousands)
	Revenues
	East Dubuque		$	50,572		$	60,112		$	146,838		$	169,228
	Pasadena			42,707			—			109,961			—
	Fulghum Fibres			22,378			—			38,483			—
	Energy technologies			105			58			300			237
	Total revenues		$	115,762		$	60,170		$	295,582		$	169,465
	Gross profit (loss)
	East Dubuque		$	25,114		$	35,035		$	81,353		$	103,253
	Pasadena			(8,294	)		—			(1,966	)		—
	Fulghum Fibres			4,324			—			6,749			—
	Energy technologies			55			5			149			78
	Total gross profit		$	21,199		$	35,040		$	86,285		$	103,331
	Selling, general and administrative expense
	East Dubuque		$	981		$	1,661		$	3,423		$	4,480
	Pasadena			1,227			—			3,811			—
	Fulghum Fibres			1,250			—			2,109			—
	Wood pellets			2,350			518			4,233			839
	Energy technologies			1,782			738			5,544			3,252
	Total selling, general and administrative expense		$	7,590		$	2,917		$	19,120		$	8,571
	Research and development
	Energy technologies		$	—		$	5,563		$	5,747		$	14,675
	Total research and development		$	—		$	5,563		$	5,747		$	14,675
	Depreciation and amortization
	East Dubuque		$	46		$	90		$	152		$	726
	Pasadena			972			—			2,722			—
	Fulghum Fibres			1,266			—			1,984			—
	Energy technologies			18			389			122			1,168
	Total depreciation and amortization recorded in operating expenses		$	2,302		$	479		$	4,980		$	1,894
	East Dubuque			1,666			3,589			6,348			8,730
	Pasadena			1,702			—			3,159			—
	Fulghum Fibres			2,150			—			3,707			—
	Total depreciation and amortization expense recorded in cost of sales			5,518			3,589			13,214			8,730
	Total depreciation and amortization		$	7,820		$	4,068		$	18,194		$	10,624
	Other operating (income) expenses
	East Dubuque		$	28		$	237		$	36		$	284
	Pasadena			30,029			—			30,029			—
	Fulghum Fibres			(4	)		—			(1	)		—
	Wood pellets			—			—			—			—
	Energy technologies			(6,287	)		(93	)		(6,270	)		(577	)
	Total other operating (income) expenses		$	23,766		$	144		$	23,794		$	(293	)
	Operating income (loss)
	East Dubuque		$	24,059		$	33,047		$	77,742		$	97,763
	Pasadena			(40,522	)		—			(38,528	)		—
	Fulghum Fibres			1,812			—			2,657			—
	Wood pellets			(2,350	)		(518	)		(4,233	)		(839	)
	Energy technologies			4,542			(6,592	)		(4,994	)		(18,440	)
	Total operating income (loss)		$	(12,459	)	$	25,937		$	32,644		$	78,484
	Interest expense
	East Dubuque		$	—		$	39		$	—		$	181
	Pasadena			—			—			6			—
	Fulghum Fibres			714			—			1,250			—
Energy technologies			(4	)		(1,582	)		(3	)		(1,582	)
Total interest expense		$	710		$	(1,543	)	$	1,253		$	(1,401	)
Net income (loss)
East Dubuque		$	24,069		$	33,022		$	77,383		$	97,625
Pasadena			(40,765	)		—			(38,915	)		—
Fulghum Fibres			813			—			941			—
Wood pellets			(2,058	)		(518	)		(3,941	)		(839	)
Energy technologies			4,568			(5,010	)		(4,903	)		(16,854	)
Total net income (loss)		$	(13,373	)	$	27,494		$	30,565		$	79,932
Reconciliation of segment net income (loss) to consolidated net income (loss):
Segment net income (loss)		$	(13,373	)	$	27,494		$	30,565		$	79,932
RNP – partnership and unallocated expenses recorded as selling, general and administrative expenses			(1,872	)		(3,847	)		(6,488	)		(7,502	)
RNP – partnership and unallocated income (expenses) recorded as other expense			309			—			(1,081	)		232
RNP – unallocated interest expense and loss on interest rate swaps			(3,996	)		(327	)		(9,726	)		(907	)
RNP – Income tax benefit			—			—			302			—
Corporate and unallocated expenses recorded as selling, general and administrative expenses			(5,733	)		(5,294	)		(18,755	)		(17,759	)
Corporate and unallocated depreciation and amortization expense			(152	)		(191	)		(475	)		(592	)
Corporate and unallocated expenses recorded as other expense			7			47			(19	)		(25	)
Corporate and unallocated interest expense			(47	)		(2,370	)		(47	)		(6,688	)
Corporate income tax benefit (expense)			1,279			(69	)		27,238			(1,244	)
Income from discontinued operations			—			134			—			134
Consolidated net income (loss)		$	(23,578	)	$	15,577		$	21,514		$	45,581
		As of
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
		(in thousands)
Total assets
East Dubuque		$	177,891		$	124,900
Pasadena			180,065			191,279
Fulghum Fibres			168,568			—
Wood pellets			18,470			—
Energy technologies			6,261			10,160
Total assets		$	551,255		$	326,339
Reconciliation of segment total assets to consolidated total assets:
Segment total assets		$	551,255		$	326,339
RNP – partnership and other			95,421			60,266
Corporate and other			87,406			92,597
Consolidated total assets		$	734,082		$	479,202
Partnership and unallocated expenses represent costs that relate directly to RNP or to RNP and its subsidiaries but are not allocated to a segment. Partnership and unallocated expenses recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of services from Rentech for executive, legal, finance, accounting, human resources, and investor relations support in accordance with the services agreement between RNP and Rentech, accounting and tax fees, legal fees, unit-based compensation, taxes, board expense and certain insurance costs. Partnership and unallocated expenses recorded in other expense represent primarily loss on debt extinguishment partially offset by gain on fair value adjustment to earn-out consideration. Unallocated interest expense represents primarily interest expense on the Notes.
Corporate and unallocated expenses represent costs that relate directly to Rentech or to Rentech and its non-RNP subsidiaries but are not allocated to a segment. Corporate and unallocated expenses recorded in operating expenses consist primarily of selling, general and administrative expenses and depreciation and amortization. Corporate and unallocated interest expense consists primarily of interest expense on convertible debt which was completely redeemed for cash on December 31, 2012.
The Company’s revenue by geographic area, based on where the customer takes title to the product, was as follows:
		For the Three Months						For the Nine Months
		Ended September 30,						Ended September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
		(in thousands)
United States		$	108,848		$	60,170		$	282,413		$	169,465
Other			6,914			—			13,169			—
Total revenues		$	115,762		$	60,170		$	295,582		$	169,465
The following table sets forth assets by geographic area:
		As of
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
		(in thousands)
United States		$	715,105		$	479,202
Other			18,977			—
Total assets		$	734,082		$	479,202

Net_Income_Loss_Per_Common_Sha

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share Allocated to Rentech	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share Allocated to Rentech	'
	Note 17 — Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share Allocated to Rentech
	Basic income (loss) per common share allocated to Rentech is calculated by dividing net income (loss) allocated to Rentech by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income (loss) per common share allocated to Rentech is calculated by dividing net income (loss) allocated to Rentech by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the dilutive effect, calculated using the “treasury stock” method for the unvested restricted stock units, outstanding stock options and warrants and using the “if converted” method for the convertible debt.
	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share attributable to the Company (in thousands, except for per share data).
		For the Three Months					For the Nine Months
		Ended September 30,					Ended September 30,
		2013			2012		2013		2012
	Numerator:
	Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Rentech common shareholders	$	(14,593	)	$	4,136	$	12,999	$	10,391
	Less: Income from continuing operations allocated to unvested restricted stock		—			—		348		—
	Income (loss) from continuing operations allocated to common shareholders	$	(14,593	)	$	4,136	$	12,651	$	10,391
	Numerator:
	Income from discontinued operations attributable to Rentech common shareholders	$	—		$	134	$	—	$	134
	Less: Income from discontinued operations allocated to unvested restricted stock		—			—		—		—
	Income from discontinued operations allocated to common shareholders	$	—		$	134	$	—	$	134
	Numerator:
	Net income (loss) attributable to Rentech common shareholders	$	(14,593	)	$	4,270	$	12,999	$	10,525
	Less: Income allocated to unvested restricted stock		—			—		348		—
	Net income (loss) allocated to common shareholders	$	(14,593	)	$	4,270	$	12,651	$	10,525
	Denominator:
	Weighted average common shares outstanding		226,305			220,063		225,840		223,572
	Effect of dilutive securities:
	Warrants		—			2,025		945		1,900
	Common stock options		—			1,527		1,752		1,323
	Restricted stock		—			6,200		3,634		5,978
	Diluted shares outstanding		226,305			229,815		232,171		232,773
	Continuing operations	$	(0.06	)	$	0.02	$	0.06	$	0.05
	Discontinued operations		—			—		—		—
	Basic net income (loss) per common share	$	(0.06	)	$	0.02	$	0.06	$	0.05
	Continuing operations	$	(0.06	)	$	0.02	$	0.05	$	0.04
	Discontinued operations		—			—		—		—
	Diluted net income (loss) per common share	$	(0.06	)	$	0.02	$	0.05	$	0.04
	For the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, approximately 13.8 million and 19.0 million shares, respectively, of Rentech’s common stock issuable pursuant to stock options, stock warrants, restricted stock units and convertible debt were excluded from the calculation of diluted income per share because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, approximately 3.5 million and 19.3 million shares, respectively, of Rentech’s common stock issuable pursuant to stock options, stock warrants, restricted stock units and convertible debt were excluded from the calculation of diluted income per share because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.

Subsequent_Events

Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Subsequent Events [Abstract]	'
Subsequent Events	'
	Note 18 — Subsequent Events
	On October 24, 2013, RNP announced a cash distribution to its common unitholders for the period July 1, 2013 through and including September 30, 2013 of $0.27 per unit, which will result in total distributions in the amount of approximately $10.5 million, including payments to phantom unitholders. RNHI will receive a distribution of approximately $6.3 million, representing its share of distributions based on its ownership of common units. The cash distribution will be paid on November 14, 2013 to unitholders of record at the close of business on November 7, 2013. On October 28, 2013, RNP announced a change to its policy regarding the timing of the payments of its cash distributions. Distributions will be paid on or about 60 days, rather than the current practice of 45 days, after the end of each quarter.

Acquisition_Tables

Acquisition (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Preliminary Purchase Price	'
	on November 1, 2012 of Agrifos LLC (the “Agrifos Acquisition”). The adjusted preliminary purchase price consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
	Cash (through borrowings under the Second 2012 Credit Agreement) less working capital adjustments		$	136,308
	Fair market value of 538,793 Common Units issued			20,000
	Estimate of potential earn-out consideration(1)			4,920
	Total adjusted preliminary purchase price		$	161,228
Agrifos [Member]	'
Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation	'
	RNP’s adjusted preliminary purchase price allocation as of November 1, 2012 is as follows (amounts in thousands):
	Cash		$	2,622
	Accounts receivable			3,204
	Inventories			30,373
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets			566
	Property, plant and equipment			68,688
	Construction in progress			7,011
	Intangible assets (Technology - $23,680 and Marketing Agreement - $3,088)			26,768
	Goodwill			57,231
	Other assets			73
	Accounts payable			(10,638	)
	Accrued liabilities			(6,640	)
	Customer deposits			(13,301	)
	Asset retirement obligation			(2,776	)
	Other long-term liabilities			(1,953	)
	Total adjusted preliminary purchase price		$	161,228
Fulghum [Member]	'
Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation	'
	The Company’s preliminary purchase price allocation as of May 1, 2013 is as follows (amounts in thousands):
	Cash		$	10,397
	Accounts receivable			3,936
	Inventories			2,389
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets			952
	Other receivables, net			5,345
	Property, plant and equipment			94,006
	Intangible assets (Trade name - $5,496 and Processing agreements - $27,000)			32,496
	Goodwill			24,069
	Other assets			440
	Accounts payable			(7,022	)
	Accrued liabilities			(2,605	)
	Customer deposits			(1,059	)
	Asset retirement obligation			(178	)
	Credit facility and loans			(60,650	)
	Unfavorable processing agreements			(6,161	)
	Deferred income taxes			(29,052	)
	Noncontrolling interests			(4,000	)
	Total preliminary purchase price		$	63,303
Pro forma Information	'
	The unaudited pro forma information has been prepared as if the Fulghum Acquisition and the Agrifos Acquisition, as defined in Note 4 – Agrifos Acquisition, had taken place on January 1, 2012. The unaudited pro forma information is not necessarily indicative of the results that the Company would have achieved had the transactions actually taken place on January 1, 2012, and the unaudited pro forma information does not purport to be indicative of future financial operating results.
			For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
			As Reported			Pro Forma			Pro Forma
						Adjustments
			(in thousands)
	Revenues		$	295,582		$	36,683		$	332,265
	Net income (loss)(1)		$	21,514		$	(26,656	)	$	(5,142	)
	Net income (loss) attributable to Rentech		$	12,999		$	(26,791	)	$	(13,792	)
	Basic net income (loss) per common share attributable to Rentech		$	0.06		$	(0.12	)	$	(0.06	)
	Diluted net income (loss) per common share attributable to Rentech		$	0.05		$	(0.11	)	$	(0.06	)
			For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
			As Reported			Pro Forma			Pro Forma
						Adjustments
			(in thousands)
	Revenues		$	169,465		$	197,343		$	366,808
	Net income(1)		$	45,581		$	23,911		$	69,492
	Net income attributable to Rentech		$	10,525		$	25,437		$	35,962
	Basic net income per common share attributable to Rentech		$	0.05		$	0.11		$	0.16
	Diluted net income per common share attributable to Rentech		$	0.04		$	0.11		$	0.15
	-1	As discussed in Note 15 – Income Taxes, during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, there was a release of a valuation allowance resulting from recording deferred tax liabilities from the Fulghum Acquisition. Since the pro forma information is presented as if the transaction had taken place on January 1, 2012, the release of the valuation allowance is included in the pro forma results for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and excluded from the pro forma results for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

Fair_Value_Tables

Fair Value (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Disclosure	'
	The following table presents the financial instruments that require fair value disclosure as of September 30, 2013.
		Fair Value								Carrying Value
		(in thousands)
		Level 1		Level 2			Level 3
	Liabilities
	Notes	$	319,002	$	—		$	—		$	320,000
	Fulghum debt	$	—	$	55,265		$	—		$	56,675
	Revolving Loan	$	—	$	50,000		$	—		$	50,000
	Earn-out consideration	$	—	$	—		$	1,571		$	1,571
	The following table presents the financial instruments that require fair value disclosure as of December 31, 2012.
		Fair Value								Carrying Value
		(in thousands)
		Level 1		Level 2			Level 3
	Liabilities
	Credit facilities and term loan	$	—	$	193,290		$	—		$	193,290
	Interest rate swaps	$	—	$	929		$	—		$	929
	Earn-out consideration	$	—	$	—		$	4,920		$	4,920
Net Gain (Loss) on Interest Rate Swaps	'
	Net gain (loss) on interest rate swaps:
		For the Three Months Ended					For the Nine Months Ended
		September 30,					September 30,
		2013		2012			2013			2012
		(in thousands)
	Realized loss	$	—	$	(4	)	$	(24	)	$	(4	)
	Unrealized gain (loss)		—		(323	)		17			(903	)
	Total net loss on interest rate swaps	$	—	$	(327	)	$	(7	)	$	(907	)

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventories	'
	Inventories consisted of the following:
		As of
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
		(in thousands)
	Finished goods	$	33,050	$	21,756
	Raw materials		4,701		5,269
	Other		215		115
	Total inventory	$	37,966	$	27,140

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_a1

Property, Plant and Equipment and Construction in Progress (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following:
		As of
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
		(in thousands)
	Land and land improvements	$	25,901		$	22,988
	Buildings and building improvements		29,062			27,120
	Machinery and equipment		230,235			135,636
	Furniture, fixtures and office equipment		1,134			1,085
	Computer equipment and computer software		7,485			5,981
	Vehicles		5,040			309
	Leasehold improvements		3,225			114
	Conditional asset (asbestos removal)		210			210
			302,292			193,443
	Less accumulated depreciation		(71,670	)		(59,248	)
	Total property, plant and equipment, net	$	230,622		$	134,195
Construction in Progress	'
	Construction in progress consisted of the following:
		As of
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
		(in thousands)
	East Dubuque Facility	$	89,630		$	52,435
	Pasadena Facility		23,542			8,512
	Fulghum Fibres		603			—
	Wawa Project		1,557			—
	Atikokan Project		2,683			—
	Other		1,600			470
	Total construction in progress	$	119,615		$	61,417

Goodwill_Tables

Goodwill (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Reconciliation of Change in Carrying Value of Goodwill	'
	A reconciliation of the change in the carrying value of goodwill is as follows (in thousands):
	Balance at December 31, 2012 – Pasadena	$	56,592
	Increase attributable to Pasadena		639
	Fulghum Acquisition		24,069
	Goodwill impairment – Pasadena		(30,029	)
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	51,271

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Long-term Debt	'
	Fulghum debt at September 30, 2013 consisted of the following (in thousands):
	Outstanding debt	$	55,250
	Plus unamortized premium		1,425
	Total debt		56,675
	Less current portion		16,364
	Long-term debt	$	40,311
Future Maturities of Long-term Debt	'
	Future maturities of the Fulghum debt are as follows (in thousands):
	For the Three Months Ending December 31, 2013 and
	Thereafter the Years Ending December 31,
	2013	$	10,299
	2014		7,424
	2015		7,026
	2016		5,348
	2017		4,177
	2018		1,593
	Thereafter		19,383
		$	55,250
Summary of Total Debt	'
	Total debt consisted of the following:
		As of
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
		(in thousands)
	Second 2012 Credit Agreement	$	—	$	193,290
	Notes		320,000		—
	Fulghum debt		56,675		—
	Revolving Loan		50,000		—
	Total debt	$	426,675	$	193,290

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments for Natural Gas Purchases	'
	Commitments for natural gas purchases consist of the following:
		As of
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
		(in thousands, except weighted
		average rate)
	MMBtus under fixed-price contracts		3,630		1,955
	MMBtus under index-price contracts		—		143
	Total MMBtus under contracts		3,630		2,098
	Commitments to purchase natural gas	$	14,090	$	7,531
	Weighted average rate per MMBtu based on the fixed rates and the indexes applicable to each contract	$	3.88	$	3.59

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Tables

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Postemployment Benefits [Abstract]	'
Summary of Net Periodic Benefit Cost	'
	The components of net periodic benefit cost are as follows:
		For the Three Months Ended						For the Nine Months Ended
		September 30, 2013						September 30, 2013
		Pension			Post-			Pension			Post-
					retirement						retirement
		(in thousands)
	Service cost	$	34		$	11		$	103		$	33
	Interest cost		49			11			146			32
	Expected return on plan assets		(65	)		—			(195	)		—
	Amortization of prior service cost		—			6			—			17
	Amortization of net gain		(1	)		(4	)		(4	)		(11	)
	Net periodic pension costs	$	17		$	24		$	50		$	71

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Information	'
	The Company’s reportable operating segments have been determined in accordance with the Company’s internal management structure, which is organized based on operating activities. The Company evaluates performance based upon several factors, of which the primary financial measure is segment-operating income.
		For the Three Months Ended						For the Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
		(in thousands)
	Revenues
	East Dubuque	$	50,572		$	60,112		$	146,838		$	169,228
	Pasadena		42,707			—			109,961			—
	Fulghum Fibres		22,378			—			38,483			—
	Energy technologies		105			58			300			237
	Total revenues	$	115,762		$	60,170		$	295,582		$	169,465
	Gross profit (loss)
	East Dubuque	$	25,114		$	35,035		$	81,353		$	103,253
	Pasadena		(8,294	)		—			(1,966	)		—
	Fulghum Fibres		4,324			—			6,749			—
	Energy technologies		55			5			149			78
	Total gross profit	$	21,199		$	35,040		$	86,285		$	103,331
	Selling, general and administrative expense
	East Dubuque	$	981		$	1,661		$	3,423		$	4,480
	Pasadena		1,227			—			3,811			—
	Fulghum Fibres		1,250			—			2,109			—
	Wood pellets		2,350			518			4,233			839
	Energy technologies		1,782			738			5,544			3,252
	Total selling, general and administrative expense	$	7,590		$	2,917		$	19,120		$	8,571
	Research and development
	Energy technologies	$	—		$	5,563		$	5,747		$	14,675
	Total research and development	$	—		$	5,563		$	5,747		$	14,675
	Depreciation and amortization
	East Dubuque	$	46		$	90		$	152		$	726
	Pasadena		972			—			2,722			—
	Fulghum Fibres		1,266			—			1,984			—
	Energy technologies		18			389			122			1,168
	Total depreciation and amortization recorded in operating expenses	$	2,302		$	479		$	4,980		$	1,894
	East Dubuque		1,666			3,589			6,348			8,730
	Pasadena		1,702			—			3,159			—
	Fulghum Fibres		2,150			—			3,707			—
	Total depreciation and amortization expense recorded in cost of sales		5,518			3,589			13,214			8,730
	Total depreciation and amortization	$	7,820		$	4,068		$	18,194		$	10,624
	Other operating (income) expenses
	East Dubuque	$	28		$	237		$	36		$	284
	Pasadena		30,029			—			30,029			—
	Fulghum Fibres		(4	)		—			(1	)		—
	Wood pellets		—			—			—			—
	Energy technologies		(6,287	)		(93	)		(6,270	)		(577	)
	Total other operating (income) expenses	$	23,766		$	144		$	23,794		$	(293	)
	Operating income (loss)
	East Dubuque	$	24,059		$	33,047		$	77,742		$	97,763
	Pasadena		(40,522	)		—			(38,528	)		—
	Fulghum Fibres		1,812			—			2,657			—
	Wood pellets		(2,350	)		(518	)		(4,233	)		(839	)
	Energy technologies		4,542			(6,592	)		(4,994	)		(18,440	)
	Total operating income (loss)	$	(12,459	)	$	25,937		$	32,644		$	78,484
	Interest expense
	East Dubuque	$	—		$	39		$	—		$	181
	Pasadena		—			—			6			—
	Fulghum Fibres		714			—			1,250			—
	Energy technologies		(4	)		(1,582	)		(3	)		(1,582	)
	Total interest expense	$	710		$	(1,543	)	$	1,253		$	(1,401	)
	Net income (loss)
	East Dubuque	$	24,069		$	33,022		$	77,383		$	97,625
	Pasadena		(40,765	)		—			(38,915	)		—
	Fulghum Fibres		813			—			941			—
	Wood pellets		(2,058	)		(518	)		(3,941	)		(839	)
Energy technologies		4,568			(5,010	)		(4,903	)		(16,854	)
Total net income (loss)	$	(13,373	)	$	27,494		$	30,565		$	79,932
Reconciliation of segment net income (loss) to consolidated net income (loss):
Segment net income (loss)	$	(13,373	)	$	27,494		$	30,565		$	79,932
RNP – partnership and unallocated expenses recorded as selling, general and administrative expenses		(1,872	)		(3,847	)		(6,488	)		(7,502	)
RNP – partnership and unallocated income (expenses) recorded as other expense		309			—			(1,081	)		232
RNP – unallocated interest expense and loss on interest rate swaps		(3,996	)		(327	)		(9,726	)		(907	)
RNP – Income tax benefit		—			—			302			—
Corporate and unallocated expenses recorded as selling, general and administrative expenses		(5,733	)		(5,294	)		(18,755	)		(17,759	)
Corporate and unallocated depreciation and amortization expense		(152	)		(191	)		(475	)		(592	)
Corporate and unallocated expenses recorded as other expense		7			47			(19	)		(25	)
Corporate and unallocated interest expense		(47	)		(2,370	)		(47	)		(6,688	)
Corporate income tax benefit (expense)		1,279			(69	)		27,238			(1,244	)
Income from discontinued operations		—			134			—			134
Consolidated net income (loss)	$	(23,578	)	$	15,577		$	21,514		$	45,581
	As of
	September 30,			December 31,
	2013			2012
	(in thousands)
Total assets
East Dubuque	$	177,891		$	124,900
Pasadena		180,065			191,279
Fulghum Fibres		168,568			—
Wood pellets		18,470			—
Energy technologies		6,261			10,160
Total assets	$	551,255		$	326,339
Reconciliation of segment total assets to consolidated total assets:
Segment total assets	$	551,255		$	326,339
RNP – partnership and other		95,421			60,266
Corporate and other		87,406			92,597
Consolidated total assets	$	734,082		$	479,202
Summary of Revenue by Geographic Area	'
	The Company’s revenue by geographic area, based on where the customer takes title to the product, was as follows:
		For the Three Months						For the Nine Months
		Ended September 30,						Ended September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
		(in thousands)
	United States	$	108,848		$	60,170		$	282,413		$	169,465
	Other		6,914			—			13,169			—
	Total revenues	$	115,762		$	60,170		$	295,582		$	169,465
Summary of Assets by Geographic Area	'
	The following table sets forth assets by geographic area:
		As of
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
		(in thousands)
	United States	$	715,105		$	479,202
	Other		18,977			—
	Total assets	$	734,082		$	479,202

Net_Income_Loss_Per_Common_Sha1

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share Allocated to Rentech (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Common Share Attributable to Parent	'
	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share attributable to the Company (in thousands, except for per share data).
		For the Three Months					For the Nine Months
		Ended September 30,					Ended September 30,
		2013			2012		2013		2012
	Numerator:
	Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Rentech common shareholders	$	(14,593	)	$	4,136	$	12,999	$	10,391
	Less: Income from continuing operations allocated to unvested restricted stock		—			—		348		—
	Income (loss) from continuing operations allocated to common shareholders	$	(14,593	)	$	4,136	$	12,651	$	10,391
	Numerator:
	Income from discontinued operations attributable to Rentech common shareholders	$	—		$	134	$	—	$	134
	Less: Income from discontinued operations allocated to unvested restricted stock		—			—		—		—
	Income from discontinued operations allocated to common shareholders	$	—		$	134	$	—	$	134
	Numerator:
	Net income (loss) attributable to Rentech common shareholders	$	(14,593	)	$	4,270	$	12,999	$	10,525
	Less: Income allocated to unvested restricted stock		—			—		348		—
	Net income (loss) allocated to common shareholders	$	(14,593	)	$	4,270	$	12,651	$	10,525
	Denominator:
	Weighted average common shares outstanding		226,305			220,063		225,840		223,572
	Effect of dilutive securities:
	Warrants		—			2,025		945		1,900
	Common stock options		—			1,527		1,752		1,323
	Restricted stock		—			6,200		3,634		5,978
	Diluted shares outstanding		226,305			229,815		232,171		232,773
	Continuing operations	$	(0.06	)	$	0.02	$	0.06	$	0.05
	Discontinued operations		—			—		—		—
	Basic net income (loss) per common share	$	(0.06	)	$	0.02	$	0.06	$	0.05
	Continuing operations	$	(0.06	)	$	0.02	$	0.05	$	0.04
	Discontinued operations		—			—		—		—
	Diluted net income (loss) per common share	$	(0.06	)	$	0.02	$	0.05	$	0.04

Basis_of_Presentation_Addition

Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013
	Location	United States [Member]	Chile [Member]	Chile [Member]	Uruguay [Member]	Pasadena [Member]
	Store	Store		Store	Store
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of stores	32	26	'	5	1	'
Ownership interest in the subsidiary	'	'	'	88.00%	87.00%	'
Noncontrolling interests	'	'	$4,000,000	$4,000,000	$4,000,000	'
Additional Ownership interest in subsidiary	'	'	13.00%	'	'	'
Number of fertilizer facilities	2	'	'	'	'	'
Increased revenue	'	'	'	'	'	$200,000

Fulghum_Acquisition_Additional

Fulghum Acquisition - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	1-May-13	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
					Fulghum [Member]	Fulghum [Member]	Fulghum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fulghum cash at closing	'	'	'	'	$63,300,000	'	'
Debt repaid	'	'	'	'	3,300,000	'	'
Additional deferred tax liabilities	'	'	'	'	'	16,000,000	16,000,000
Revenue	115,762,000	60,170,000	295,582,000	169,465,000	'	22,400,000	38,500,000
Net loss	-23,578,000	15,577,000	21,514,000	45,581,000	'	800,000	900,000
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs	'	'	'	'	'	$700,000	$1,800,000

Fulghum_Acquisition_Preliminar

Fulghum Acquisition - Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	1-May-13
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			Fulghum [Member]
Loans At Acquisition Date [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash	'	'	$10,397
Accounts receivable	'	'	3,936
Inventories	'	'	2,389
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	'	'	952
Other receivables, net	'	'	5,345
Property, plant and equipment	'	'	94,006
Intangible assets (Trade name - $5,496 and Processing agreements - $27,000)	'	'	32,496
Goodwill	51,271	56,592	24,069
Other assets	'	'	440
Accounts payable	'	'	-7,022
Accrued liabilities	'	'	-2,605
Customer deposits	'	'	-1,059
Asset retirement obligation	'	'	-178
Credit facility and loans	'	'	-60,650
Unfavorable processing agreements	'	'	-6,161
Deferred income taxes	'	'	-29,052
Noncontrolling interests	'	'	-4,000
Total adjusted preliminary purchase price	'	'	$63,303

Fulghum_Acquisition_Preliminar1

Fulghum Acquisition - Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation (Parenthetical) (Detail) (Fulghum [Member], USD $)	1-May-13
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Loans At Acquisition Date [Line Items]	'
Intangible assets, Trade name	$32,496
Trade Names [Member]	'
Loans At Acquisition Date [Line Items]	'
Intangible assets, Trade name	5,496
Processing Agreements [Member]	'
Loans At Acquisition Date [Line Items]	'
Intangible assets, Trade name	$27,000

Fulghum_Acquisition_Pro_forma_

Fulghum Acquisition - Pro forma Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
As Reported [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]	'	'
Revenues	$295,582	$169,465
Net income (loss)	21,514	45,581
Net income (loss) attributable to Rentech	12,999	10,525
Basic net income (loss) per common share attributable to Rentech	$0.06	$0.05
Diluted net income (loss) per common share attributable to Rentech	$0.05	$0.04
Pro Forma Adjustments [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]	'	'
Revenues	36,683	197,343
Net income (loss)	-26,656	23,911
Net income (loss) attributable to Rentech	-26,791	25,437
Basic net income (loss) per common share attributable to Rentech	($0.12)	$0.11
Diluted net income (loss) per common share attributable to Rentech	($0.11)	$0.11
Pro Forma [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]	'	'
Revenues	332,265	366,808
Net income (loss)	-5,142	69,492
Net income (loss) attributable to Rentech	($13,792)	$35,962
Basic net income (loss) per common share attributable to Rentech	($0.06)	$0.16
Diluted net income (loss) per common share attributable to Rentech	($0.06)	$0.15

Agrifos_Acquisition_Preliminar

Agrifos Acquisition - Preliminary Purchase Price (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Nov. 01, 2012
		Agrifos [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'
Cash (through borrowings under the Second 2012 Credit Agreement) less working capital adjustments	$65,583	$136,308
Fair market value of 538,793 Common Units issued	'	20,000
Estimate of potential earn-out consideration	'	4,920
Total adjusted preliminary purchase price	'	$161,228

Agrifos_Acquisition_Preliminar1

Agrifos Acquisition - Preliminary Purchase Price (Parenthetical) (Detail) (Agrifos [Member])	1 Months Ended
	Nov. 01, 2012
Agrifos [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Common Units	538,793

Agrifos_Acquisition_Additional

Agrifos Acquisition - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Loans At Acquisition Date [Line Items]	'	'
Increase in Accrued Liabilities Due to Fair Value Adjustment	($38,440,000)	($11,090,000)
Agrifos [Member]	'	'
Loans At Acquisition Date [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of the potential earn-out consideration	0	'
Increase in Preliminary Purchase Price Due to Working Capital Adjustment	300,000	'
Increase in Cash Due to Working Capital Adjustment	2,200,000	'
Decrease in Other Receivables Due to Working Capital Adjustment	2,500,000	'
Increase in Goodwill Due to Fair Value Adjustment	600,000	'
Increase in Accrued Liabilities Due to Fair Value Adjustment	$300,000	'

Agrifos_Acquisition_Preliminar2

Agrifos Acquisition - Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Nov. 01, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			Agrifos [Member]
Loans At Acquisition Date [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash	'	'	$2,622
Accounts receivable	'	'	3,204
Inventories	'	'	30,373
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	'	'	566
Property, plant and equipment	'	'	68,688
Construction in progress	119,615	61,417	7,011
Intangible assets (Technology-$23,680 and Marketing Agreement-$3,088)	'	'	26,768
Goodwill	51,271	56,592	57,231
Other assets	'	'	73
Accounts payable	'	'	-10,638
Accrued liabilities	'	'	-6,640
Customer deposits	'	'	-13,301
Asset retirement obligation	'	'	-2,776
Other long-term liabilities	'	'	-1,953
Total adjusted preliminary purchase price	'	'	$161,228

Agrifos_Acquisition_Preliminar3

Agrifos Acquisition - Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation (Parenthetical) (Detail) (Agrifos [Member], USD $)	Nov. 01, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Loans At Acquisition Date [Line Items]	'
Intangible assets, Marketing Agreement	$26,768
Technology [Member]	'
Loans At Acquisition Date [Line Items]	'
Intangible assets, Marketing Agreement	23,680
Marketing Agreement [Member]	'
Loans At Acquisition Date [Line Items]	'
Intangible assets, Marketing Agreement	$3,088

Fair_Value_Fair_Value_Disclosu

Fair Value - Fair Value Disclosure (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Liabilities	'	'
Credit facilities and term loan, Carrying Value	'	$193,290
Notes	320,000	'
Interest rate swaps	'	929
Earn-out consideration, Carrying Value	1,571	4,920
Revolving Loan	50,000	'
Fulghum [Member]	'	'
Liabilities	'	'
Fulghum debt, Carrying Value	56,675	'
Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Liabilities	'	'
Notes	319,002	'
Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Liabilities	'	'
Credit facilities and term loan, Fair Value	'	193,290
Interest rate swaps	'	929
Revolving Loan	50,000	'
Level 2 [Member] | Fulghum [Member]	'	'
Liabilities	'	'
Fulghum debt	55,265	'
Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Liabilities	'	'
Earn-out consideration, Fair Value	'	4,920
Earn-out consideration, Carrying Value	$1,571	'

Fair_Value_Net_Gain_Loss_on_In

Fair Value - Net Gain (Loss) on Interest Rate Swaps (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Unrealized gain (loss)	'	'	$17	($903)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Realized loss	'	-4	-24	-4
Unrealized gain (loss)	'	-323	17	-903
Total net loss on interest rate swaps	'	($327)	($7)	($907)

Fair_Value_Additional_Informat

Fair Value - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 07, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
			Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Atikokan Renewable [Member]	Atikokan Renewable [Member]	Agrifos [Member]
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Payment to Terminate the interest rate swaps	'	'	$912,000	'	'	'
Number of years to determine fair value of earn out consideration	'	'2 years	'	'	'	'
Decrease in fair value of earn out liability	300,000	4,900,000	'	'	'	'
Earn-out consideration, Fair Value	'	'	'	1,600,000	'	0
Number of years to determine fair value of earn out consideration	'	'	'	'10 years	'	'
Loan provided to sellers	$900,000	$900,000	'	'	$900,000	'

Inventories_Inventories_Detail

Inventories - Inventories (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Finished goods	$33,050	$21,756
Raw materials	4,701	5,269
Other	215	115
Total inventory	$37,966	$27,140

Inventories_Additional_Informa

Inventories - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Write-down of inventory	$5,000	$7,334

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_a2

Property, Plant and Equipment and Construction in Progress - Property, Plant and Equipment (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property and Equipment Gross	$302,292	$193,443
Less accumulated depreciation	-71,670	-59,248
Total property, plant and equipment, net	230,622	134,195
Land and Land Improvements [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property and Equipment Gross	25,901	22,988
Buildings and Building Improvements [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property and Equipment Gross	29,062	27,120
Machinery and Equipment [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property and Equipment Gross	230,235	135,636
Furniture Fixtures and Office Equipment [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property and Equipment Gross	1,134	1,085
Computer Equipment and Computer Software [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property and Equipment Gross	7,485	5,981
Vehicles [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property and Equipment Gross	5,040	309
Leasehold Improvements [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property and Equipment Gross	3,225	114
Conditional Asset (Asbestos Removal) [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property and Equipment Gross	$210	$210

PropertyPlant_and_Equipment_an

Property,Plant and Equipment and Construction in Progress - Construction in Progress (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Construction in progress	$119,615	$61,417
Construction in Progress for East Dubuque Facility [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Construction in progress	89,630	52,435
Construction in Progress for Pasadena Facility [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Construction in progress	23,542	8,512
Fulghum Fibers [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Construction in progress	603	'
Wawa Project [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Construction in progress	1,557	'
Atikokan Project [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Construction in progress	2,683	'
Other Construction In Progress [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Construction in progress	$1,600	$470

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_a3

Property, Plant and Equipment and Construction in Progress - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	13-May-13	Jun. 07, 2013	13-May-13
In Millions, unless otherwise specified		Construction In Progress [Member]	Weyerhaeuser [Member]	Atikokan Renewable [Member]	Wawa Project [Member]
			t	t
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Portion of capitalized interest costs included in construction in progress	'	$4	'	'	'
Purchase price	'	'	'	3.8	'
Production of wood pellets	'	'	360,000	125,000	'
Potential earn-out consideration, percentage of EBITDA	'	'	'	7.00%	'
Period of potential earn-out consideration	'	'	'	'10 years	'
Loan to sellers repayable from earn-out consideration	0.9	'	'	0.9	'
Purchase price	'	'	'	'	$5.50

Joint_Venture_Additional_Infor

Joint Venture - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Investment In Joint Venture [Line Items]	'	'
Equity interest in joint venture	50.00%	50.00%
Equity in loss of investee	$103	$138
Graanul Invest [Member]	'	'
Investment In Joint Venture [Line Items]	'	'
Equity interest in joint venture	50.00%	50.00%

Property_Held_for_Sale_Additio

Property Held for Sale - Additional Information (Detail) (Natchez, Mississippi [Member], USD $)	1 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 15, 2013
Natchez, Mississippi [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Product Demonstration Unit classified as held for sale	$8.60
Property held for sale	$6.30

Goodwill_Summary_of_Carrying_V

Goodwill - Summary of Carrying Value of Goodwill (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Balance at December 31, 2012 - Pasadena	'	$56,592
Goodwill impairment - Pasadena	-30,029	-30,029
Balance at September 30, 2013	51,271	51,271
Pasadena [Member]	'	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Acquisition of goodwill	'	639
Goodwill impairment - Pasadena	'	-30,029
Fulghum [Member]	'	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Acquisition of goodwill	'	$24,069

Goodwill_Additional_Informatio

Goodwill - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Goodwill impairment loss	$30,029,000	$30,029,000
Carrying amount of goodwill	57,200,000	57,200,000
Implied value of goodwill	$27,200,000	$27,200,000

Debt_Additional_Information_De

Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2013

Oct. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 23, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 24, 2013

Sep. 23, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Apr. 12, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Feb. 28, 2012

Oct. 31, 2012

Feb. 28, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Apr. 12, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Fulghum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Rentech Nitrogen Holdings Inc [Member]

Rentech Nitrogen Holdings Inc [Member]

Rentech Nitrogen Holdings Inc [Member]

Revolving Loan [Member]

United States [Member]

South America [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

2013 Credit Agreement [Member]

2013 Credit Agreement [Member]

2013 Credit Agreement [Member]

2013 Credit Agreement [Member]

Fulghum [Member]

Fulghum [Member]

Rentech Nitrogen Holdings Inc [Member]

Fulghum [Member]

Fulghum [Member]

Secured leverage ratio less than one point seven five [Member]

Secured leverage ratio equal to or more than one point seven five [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Multiple draw term loan

'

$110,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$100,000,000

$35,000,000

$35,000,000

'

'

'

'

Term loan used to finance cash consideration paid in the acquisition of Agrifos and transaction expenses

'

155,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Senior secured notes issued

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

320,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Senior secured note interest percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Date of first required payment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

15-Oct-13

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maturity date of instrument

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

15-Apr-21

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Loss on debt extinguishment

-6,001,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument latest call date

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

15-Apr-16

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument redemption price as percentage of principal amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

100.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument redemption percentage of principal amount before specified date maximum

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

35.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Equity offering percentage of principal amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

106.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Multiple draw term loan

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

35,000,000

'

'

Amount of letter of credit sublimit

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

10,000,000

'

'

'

Credit facility available for increase

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

15,000,000

'

'

Credit facility interest rate description

'

'

'

'

'

'Interest at a rate equal to LIBOR plus 4.00% per annum

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'Interest at a rate equal to an applicable margin plus, at the Borrowers' option, either (a) in the case of base rate borrowings, a rate equal to the highest of (1) the prime rate, (2) the federal funds rate plus 0.5% or (3) LIBOR for an interest period of three months plus 1.00% or (b) in the case of LIBOR borrowings, the offered rate per annum for deposits of dollars for the applicable interest period on the day that is two business days prior to the first day of such interest period.

'

'

'

Interest rate on borrowings under credit agreement, federal funds plus percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.50%

'

'

'

Interest rate on borrowings under credit agreement, LIBOR plus percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.00%

'

'

'

Debt instrument leverage ratio

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.75

'

'

'

Margin for borrowings with respect to base rate borrowings

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.25%

2.25%

Margin for borrowings with respect to LIBOR borrowings

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.25%

3.50%

Average undrawn available portion of the Credit Facility at a rate equal

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.50%

'

'

'

Repayment of obligations under Notes, subject to first lien cap

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

65,000,000

'

'

'

Repayment of obligations under Notes, subject to percentage of RNP's consolidated net tangible assets

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

20.00%

'

'

'

Line of credit facility minimum repayment or cancellation under agreement

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5,000,000

'

'

'

Termination date of credit agreement

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

12-Apr-18

'

'

'

Outstanding debt

55,250,000

'

55,300,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

50,500,000

4,800,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Weighted average interest rate

'

'

6.80%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maturity dates range, description

'

'

'Maturity dates ranging from 2013 through 2028

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maturity dates range

'

'

'

'2013

'2028

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total amount under revolving loan facility

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

100,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revolving loan borrowed

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

50,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Common unit held by RNHI in RNP

'

'

'

'

'

'

23.25

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of Common unit given as collateral

'

'

'

'

'

'

15.4

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of common unit expected to be provided as collateral

'

'

'

'

'

'

19.4

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Spread rate over LIBOR

'

'

'

'

'

4.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Refinancing fee to be paid

'

'

'

'

'

2.75%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revolving loan collateral fee

'

'

'

'

'

$0.01

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revolving loan maturity period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'3 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt_Longterm_Debt_Detail

Debt - Long-term Debt (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding debt	$55,250	'
Less current portion	16,364	7,750
Long-term debt	410,311	185,540
Fulghum [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding debt	55,250	'
Plus unamortized premium	1,425	'
Total debt	56,675	'
Less current portion	16,364	'
Long-term debt	$40,311	'

Debt_Future_Maturities_of_Long

Debt - Future Maturities of Long-term Debt (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
2013	$10,299
2014	7,424
2015	7,026
2016	5,348
2017	4,177
2018	1,593
Thereafter	19,383
Long Term Debt	$55,250

Debt_Summary_of_Total_Debt_Det

Debt - Summary of Total Debt (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long term debt outstanding	$426,675	$193,290
Second 2012 Credit Agreement [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long term debt outstanding	'	193,290
Note Payable [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long term debt outstanding	320,000	'
Fulghum [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long term debt outstanding	56,675	'
Revolving Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long term debt outstanding	$50,000	'

Commitments_and_Contingencies_1

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Apr. 17, 2013
	MMBTU	t	MMBTU	MMBTU
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Forward purchase additional contracts fixed and indexed delivery max	31-Dec-13	'	31-Mar-14	'	'
Total MMBtus associated with additional forward purchase contracts	700,000	'	3,630,000	2,098,000	'
Weighted average rate per MMBtu	3.84	'	3.88	3.59	'
Engineering, Procurement and Construction Contract value	'	'	'	'	$25
Investment required to build handling equipment by Quebec Stevedoring	'	20	'	'	'
Constructed capacity	'	75,000	'	'	'
Subsequent Event [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Purchase commitments	$2.60	'	'	'	'

Commitments_and_Contingencies_2

Commitments and Contingencies - Commitments for Natural Gas Purchases (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
	MMBTU	MMBTU	MMBTU
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'	'
MMBtus under fixed-price contracts	700,000	3,630,000	2,098,000
Commitments to purchase natural gas	'	$14,090	$7,531
Weighted average rate per MMBtu based on the fixed rates and the indexes applicable to each contract	3.84	3.88	3.59
Mmbtus Under Fixed-Price Contracts [Member]	'	'	'
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'	'
MMBtus under fixed-price contracts	'	3,630,000	1,955,000
Mmbtus Under Index-Price Contracts [Member]	'	'	'
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'	'
MMBtus under fixed-price contracts	'	'	143,000

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Additio

Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Pension [Member]	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Contribution to defined benefit plan	$109,000
Expected contribution to defined benefit plan in Current period	45,000
Post-retirement [Member]	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Contribution to defined benefit plan	0
Expected contribution to defined benefit plan in remainder of fiscal year	$13,000

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Summary

Employee Benefit Plans - Summary of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Pension [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Service cost	$34	$103
Interest cost	49	146
Expected return on plan assets	-65	-195
Amortization of prior service cost	'	'
Amortization of net gain	-1	-4
Net periodic pension costs	17	50
Post-retirement [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Service cost	11	33
Interest cost	11	32
Expected return on plan assets	'	'
Amortization of prior service cost	6	17
Amortization of net gain	-4	-11
Net periodic pension costs	$24	$71

Stockholders_Equity_Additional

Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 22, 2013	Jul. 09, 2013
		Maximum [Member]
Changes In Equity And Comprehensive Income Line Items [Line Items]	'	'
Common stock repurchased authorized amount	$25	'
Aggregate initial offering price	'	$200

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Income tax (benefit) expense	($976,000)	$68,000	($26,729,000)	$1,243,000
Income tax benefit	1,200,000	'	27,100,000	'
Income tax expense	200,000	'	400,000	'
Effective tax rate	'	'	526.00%	'
Federal statutory rate	'	'	35.00%	'
Effective tax rate, valuation allowance	'	'	$27,200,000	'

Segment_Information_Additional

Segment Information - Additional Information (Detail)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
	Segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Number of Operating segments before acquisition of Fulghum, Atikokan, Wawa and winding down of the PDU	3
Number of Business segments	5

Segment_Information_Segment_In

Segment Information - Segment Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	$115,762	$60,170	$295,582	$169,465	'
Total gross profit	21,199	35,040	86,285	103,331	'
Total selling, general and administrative expense	15,195	12,058	44,363	33,832	'
Total research and development	'	5,563	5,747	14,675	'
Total depreciation and amortization	2,454	670	5,455	2,486	'
Total operating income (loss)	-20,216	16,604	6,926	52,630	'
Total interest expense	4,753	828	11,020	5,288	'
Total net income (loss)	-23,578	15,443	21,514	45,447	'
Segment net income (loss)	-14,593	4,270	12,999	10,525	'
Income from discontinued operations	'	134	'	134	'
Consolidated net income (loss)	-23,578	15,577	21,514	45,581	'
Total assets	734,082	'	734,082	'	479,202
East Dubuque [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total assets	177,891	'	177,891	'	124,900
Pasadena [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total assets	180,065	'	180,065	'	191,279
Fulghum Fibers [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total assets	168,568	'	168,568	'	'
Energy Technologies [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total assets	6,261	'	6,261	'	10,160
Wood [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total assets	18,470	'	18,470	'	'
RNP - Unallocated Interest Expense and Loss on Interest Rate Swaps [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Corporate and unallocated depreciation and amortization expense	-3,996	-327	-9,726	-907	'
RNP - Unallocated Interest Expense and Loss on Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Parent Company [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Corporate and unallocated depreciation and amortization expense	-47	-2,370	-47	-6,688	'
RNP - Income Tax Benefit [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Corporate and unallocated depreciation and amortization expense	'	'	302	'	'
RNP - Income Tax Benefit [Member] | Parent Company [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Corporate and unallocated depreciation and amortization expense	1,279	-69	27,238	-1,244	'
Corporate and Unallocated Expenses Recorded as Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Corporate and unallocated depreciation and amortization expense	-5,733	-5,294	-18,755	-17,759	'
Total assets	87,406	'	87,406	'	92,597
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses [Member] | Parent Company [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Corporate and unallocated depreciation and amortization expense	-152	-191	-475	-592	'
Corporate and Unallocated Expense Recorded as Other Expenses [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Corporate and unallocated depreciation and amortization expense	7	47	-19	-25	'
Reportable Segments [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total selling, general and administrative expense	7,590	2,917	19,120	8,571	'
Total depreciation and amortization recorded in operating expenses	2,302	479	4,980	1,894	'
Total research and development	'	5,563	5,747	14,675	'
Total depreciation and amortization expense recorded in cost of sales	5,518	3,589	13,214	8,730	'
Total depreciation and amortization	7,820	4,068	18,194	10,624	'
Total other operating (income) expenses	23,766	144	23,794	-293	'
Total operating income (loss)	-12,459	25,937	32,644	78,484	'
Total interest expense	710	-1,543	1,253	-1,401	'
Total net income (loss)	-13,373	27,494	30,565	79,932	'
Segment net income (loss)	-13,373	27,494	30,565	79,932	'
Corporate and unallocated depreciation and amortization expense	-1,872	-3,847	-6,488	-7,502	'
Total assets	551,255	'	551,255	'	326,339
Reportable Segments [Member] | East Dubuque [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	50,572	60,112	146,838	169,228	'
Total gross profit	25,114	35,035	81,353	103,253	'
Total selling, general and administrative expense	981	1,661	3,423	4,480	'
Total depreciation and amortization recorded in operating expenses	46	90	152	726	'
Total depreciation and amortization expense recorded in cost of sales	1,666	3,589	6,348	8,730	'
Total other operating (income) expenses	28	237	36	284	'
Total operating income (loss)	24,059	33,047	77,742	97,763	'
Total interest expense	'	39	'	181	'
Total net income (loss)	24,069	33,022	77,383	97,625	'
Reportable Segments [Member] | Pasadena [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	42,707	'	109,961	'	'
Total gross profit	-8,294	'	-1,966	'	'
Total selling, general and administrative expense	1,227	'	3,811	'	'
Total depreciation and amortization recorded in operating expenses	972	'	2,722	'	'
Total depreciation and amortization expense recorded in cost of sales	1,702	'	3,159	'	'
Total other operating (income) expenses	30,029	'	30,029	'	'
Total operating income (loss)	-40,522	'	-38,528	'	'
Total interest expense	'	'	6	'	'
Total net income (loss)	-40,765	'	-38,915	'	'
Reportable Segments [Member] | Fulghum Fibers [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	22,378	'	38,483	'	'
Total gross profit	4,324	'	6,749	'	'
Total selling, general and administrative expense	1,250	'	2,109	'	'
Total depreciation and amortization recorded in operating expenses	1,266	'	1,984	'	'
Total depreciation and amortization expense recorded in cost of sales	2,150	'	3,707	'	'
Total other operating (income) expenses	-4	'	-1	'	'
Total operating income (loss)	1,812	'	2,657	'	'
Total interest expense	714	'	1,250	'	'
Total net income (loss)	813	'	941	'	'
Reportable Segments [Member] | Energy Technologies [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	105	58	300	237	'
Total gross profit	55	5	149	78	'
Total selling, general and administrative expense	1,782	738	5,544	3,252	'
Total depreciation and amortization recorded in operating expenses	18	389	122	1,168	'
Total research and development	'	5,563	5,747	14,675	'
Total other operating (income) expenses	-6,287	-93	-6,270	-577	'
Total operating income (loss)	4,542	-6,592	-4,994	-18,440	'
Total interest expense	-4	-1,582	-3	-1,582	'
Total net income (loss)	4,568	-5,010	-4,903	-16,854	'
Reportable Segments [Member] | Wood [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total selling, general and administrative expense	2,350	518	4,233	839	'
Reportable Segments [Member] | Wood Pellets [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total other operating (income) expenses	'	'	'	'	'
Total operating income (loss)	-2,350	-518	-4,233	-839	'
Total net income (loss)	-2,058	-518	-3,941	-839	'
Reportable Segments [Member] | RNP - Partnership and Unallocated Expenses Recorded as Other Expense [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Corporate and unallocated depreciation and amortization expense	309	'	-1,081	232	'
RNP - Partnership and Unallocated Expenses Recorded as Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total assets	$95,421	'	$95,421	'	$60,266

Segment_Information_Summary_of

Segment Information - Summary of Revenue by Geographic Area (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	$115,762	$60,170	$295,582	$169,465
United States [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	108,848	60,170	282,413	169,465
Other [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	$6,914	'	$13,169	'

Segment_Information_Summary_of1

Segment Information - Summary of Assets by Geographic Area (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Sales Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total assets	$734,082	$479,202
United States [Member]	'	'
Sales Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total assets	715,105	479,202
Other [Member]	'	'
Sales Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total assets	$18,977	'

Net_Income_Per_Common_Share_At

Net Income Per Common Share Attributable to Rentech - Schedule of Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Common Share Attributable to Parent (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Numerator:	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Rentech common shareholders	($14,593)	$4,136	$12,999	$10,391
Less: Income from continuing operations allocated to unvested restricted stock	'	'	348	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations allocated to common shareholders	-14,593	4,136	12,651	10,391
Numerator:	'	'	'	'
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Rentech common shareholders	'	134	'	134
Less: Income from discontinued operations allocated to unvested restricted stock	'	'	'	'
Income from discontinued operations allocated to common shareholders	'	134	'	134
Numerator:	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss) attributable to Rentech common shareholders	-14,593	4,270	12,999	10,525
Less: Income allocated to unvested restricted stock	'	'	348	'
Net income (loss) allocated to common shareholders	($14,593)	$4,270	$12,651	$10,525
Denominator:	'	'	'	'
Weighted average common shares outstanding	226,305	220,063	225,840	223,572
Diluted shares outstanding	226,305	229,815	232,171	232,773
Continuing operations	($0.06)	$0.02	$0.06	$0.05
Discontinued operations	$0	$0	$0	$0
Basic net income (loss) per common share	($0.06)	$0.02	$0.06	$0.05
Continuing operations	($0.06)	$0.02	$0.05	$0.04
Discontinued operations	$0	$0	$0	$0
Diluted net income (loss) per common share	($0.06)	$0.02	$0.05	$0.04
Warrant [Member]	'	'	'	'
Denominator:	'	'	'	'
Effect of dilutive securities	'	2,025	945	1,900
Employee Stock Option [Member]	'	'	'	'
Denominator:	'	'	'	'
Effect of dilutive securities	'	1,527	1,752	1,323
Restricted Stock [Member]	'	'	'	'
Denominator:	'	'	'	'
Effect of dilutive securities	'	6,200	3,634	5,978

Net_Income_Per_Common_Share_Al

Net Income Per Common Share Allocated to Rentech - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Anti-dilutive common stock	13.8	19	3.5	19.3

Subsequent_Events_Additional_I

Subsequent Events - Additional Information (Detail) (Subsequent Event [Member], Rentech Nitrogen Partners [Member], USD $)	1 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 28, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013
Subsequent Event [Line Items]	'	'
Cash distribution declared to RNP's common unitholders, per unit	'	$0.27
Cash distribution declared to RNP's common unitholders	'	$10.50
Cash distribution declaration date	'	24-Oct-13
Cash distribution date to be paid	'	14-Nov-13
Cash distribution date of record	'	7-Nov-13
Cash Distribution period	'60 days	'
Previous period for cash distribution	'45 days	'
Rentech Nitrogen Holdings Inc [Member]	'	'
Subsequent Event [Line Items]	'	'
Cash distribution declared to RNP's common unitholders	'	$6.30