Rentech (RTK) 10-Q 10 May 17 2017 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Trading Symbol	RTK
Entity Registrant Name	RENTECH, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	868,725
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		23,208,456

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Un

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets
Cash	$ 23,699	$ 28,319
Accounts receivable, including unbilled revenue	6,241	12,490
Inventories	26,936	28,131
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,028	3,744
Other receivables	3,807	4,495
Total current assets	64,711	77,179
Property, plant and equipment, net	106,617	117,565
Construction in progress	1,024	905
Other assets
Equity investment	52,429	53,335
Goodwill	15,451	28,576
Intangible assets	26,717	31,227
Deposits and other assets	2,039	3,930
Property held for sale	5,471
Total other assets	102,107	117,068
Total assets	274,459	312,717
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	10,731	12,389
Accrued payroll and benefits	3,422	4,529
Accrued liabilities	15,120	16,836
Deferred revenue	2,120	1,730
Current portion of long term debt	13,250	11,237
Accrued interest	434	301
Other	1,367	1,628
Liabilities of discontinued operations		150
Total current liabilities	46,444	48,800
Long-term liabilities
Debt	102,190	103,733
Earn-out consideration	110	234
Asset retirement obligation	246	245
Deferred income taxes	7,786	7,826
Other	1,601	1,761
Total long-term liabilities	111,933	113,799
Total liabilities	158,377	162,599
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Stockholders' equity
Common stock: $.01 par value; 45,000 shares authorized; 23,208 and 23,200 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	232	232
Additional paid-in capital	533,811	533,575
Accumulated deficit	(396,974)	(362,696)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(23,600)	(23,533)
Total Rentech stockholders' equity	113,469	147,578
Noncontrolling interests	2,613	2,540
Total equity	116,082	150,118
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	274,459	312,717
Series A Convertible Preferred Shares [Member]
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock
Series C Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock [Member]
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Preferred stock, par value	$ 10	$ 10
Preferred stock, shares authorized	1,000,000	1,000,000
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	45,000,000	45,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	23,208,000	23,200,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	23,208,000	23,200,000
Series A Convertible Preferred Shares [Member]
Preferred stock, shares authorized	90,000	90,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	90,000	90,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
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	500,000	500,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0

Consolidated Statements of Oper

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Revenues
Product sales		$ 16,235	$ 23,316
Service revenues		15,986	16,621
Total revenues		32,221	39,937
Cost of sales
Product		19,200	26,503
Service		13,766	13,303
Total cost of sales		32,966	39,806
Gross profit (loss)		(745)	131
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative expense		8,684	9,114
Depreciation and amortization		624	1,008
Asset impairment		7,759
Goodwill impairment		13,125
Other expense, net		13	13
Total operating expenses		30,205	10,135
Operating loss		(30,950)	(10,004)
Other expense, net
Interest expense		(2,397)	(3,572)
Other income (expense)		(1,344)	146
Total other expenses, net		(3,741)	(3,426)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in loss of investee		(34,691)	(13,430)
Income tax benefit		(1,224)	(2,402)
Loss from continuing operations before equity in loss of investee		(33,467)	(11,028)
Equity in loss of investee		918
Loss from continuing operations		(34,385)	(11,028)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	[1]	96	5,574
Net loss		(34,289)	(5,454)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		11	(3,406)
Preferred stock dividends			(1,320)
Net loss attributable to Rentech common shareholders		$ (34,278)	$ (10,180)
Basic:
Continuing operations		$ (1.48)	$ (0.54)
Discontinued operations		0	0.10
Net loss		(1.48)	(0.44)
Diluted:
Continuing operations		(1.48)	(0.54)
Discontinued operations		0	0.10
Net loss		$ (1.48)	$ (0.44)
Weighted-average shares used to compute net income (loss) per common share:
Basic		23,202	23,036
Diluted		23,202	23,036
[1]	For the three months ended March 31, 2016, income from discontinued operations, net of tax includes a loss of $0.8 million related to the sale of Rentech Nitrogen Holdings, LLC (“Pasadena Holdings”) and a loss of $0.4 million related to the sale of the property that housed the Company’s product demonstration unit (“PDU”).

Consolidated Statements of Comp

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net loss	$ (34,289)	$ (5,454)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	(67)	7,484
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(67)	7,484
Comprehensive income (loss)	(34,356)	2,030
Less: net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	11	(3,406)
Comprehensive loss attributable to Rentech	$ (34,345)	$ (1,376)

Consolidated Statements of Stoc

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Total Rentech Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ (80,420)	$ 230	$ 543,724	$ (531,971)	$ (27,204)	$ (15,221)	$ (65,199)
Beginning balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2015		23,033
Dividends - preferred stock	(1,320)		(1,320)			(1,320)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,345)						(3,345)
Equity-based compensation expense	619		619			619
Restricted stock units	(15)		(15)			(15)
Restricted stock units, Shares		10
Net income (loss)	(5,454)			(8,860)		(8,860)	3,406
Other comprehensive income (loss)	7,484				7,484	7,484
Other	6		16			16	(10)
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2016	(82,445)	$ 230	543,024	(540,831)	(19,720)	(17,297)	(65,148)
Ending balance, Shares at Mar. 31, 2016		23,043
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016	150,118	$ 232	533,575	(362,696)	(23,533)	147,578	2,540
Beginning balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2016		23,200
Common stock issued for services, Shares		6
Equity-based compensation expense	322		322			322
Restricted stock units	(1)		(1)			(1)
Restricted stock units, Shares		2
Net income (loss)	(34,289)			(34,278)		(34,278)	(11)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(67)				(67)	(67)
Other	(1)		(85)			(85)	84
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2017	$ 116,082	$ 232	$ 533,811	$ (396,974)	$ (23,600)	$ 113,469	$ 2,613
Ending balance, Shares at Mar. 31, 2017		23,208

Consolidated Statements of Cash

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss		$ (34,289)	$ (5,454)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Income from discontinued operations	[1]	(96)	(5,574)
Non-cash equity in loss of investee		906
Depreciation and amortization		4,010	6,111
Asset impairment		7,759
Goodwill impairment		13,125
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense			230
Utilization of spare parts		133	202
Write-down of inventory		2,429	5,062
Change in deferred taxes		(40)
Non-cash interest expense		191	120
Equity-based compensation		322	469
Other		(422)	(323)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		6,264	(4,145)
Other receivables		708	(3,803)
Inventories		(1,702)	(7,396)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		1,617	539
Accounts payable		(1,646)	858
Deferred revenue		385	501
Accrued interest		133	2
Accrued liabilities, accrued payroll and other		(2,212)	(2,228)
Cash used in operating activities of continuing operations		(2,425)	(14,829)
Cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations			19,594
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(2,425)	4,765
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures		(2,357)	(5,799)
Other items		15	2
Cash used in investing activities of continuing operations		(2,342)	(5,797)
Cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations			(8,184)
Net cash used in investing activities		(2,342)	(13,981)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from debt and credit facilities		3,872	17,971
Payments and retirement of debt		(3,730)	(3,826)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests			(3,345)
Other		(2)
Net cash provided by financing activities		140	10,800
Effect of exchange rate on cash		7	473
Increase (decrease) in cash		(4,620)	2,057
Cash, beginning of period - continuing operations		28,319	33,119
Cash, beginning of period - discontinued operations			15,823
Cash, end of period		23,699	50,999
Cash from discontinued operations, end of period			33,772
Cash from continuing operations, end of period		23,699	17,227
Non-cash investing and financing activities
Purchase of property, plant, equipment and construction in progress in accounts payable and accrued liabilities		366	8,416
Issuance of additional shares to noncontrolling interests		$ 84
Increase in QS Construction Facility obligation			56
Accrued dividends on preferred stock			1,125
Pasadena [Member]
Non-cash investing and financing activities
Sale of Pasadena Facility			34,796
Increase in other assets from sale of Pasadena Facility			$ 6,295
[1]	For the three months ended March 31, 2016, income from discontinued operations, net of tax includes a loss of $0.8 million related to the sale of Rentech Nitrogen Holdings, LLC (“Pasadena Holdings”) and a loss of $0.4 million related to the sale of the property that housed the Company’s product demonstration unit (“PDU”).

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
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 authority 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 March 31, 2017, 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 intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017 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 year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 7, 2017 (the “Annual Report”). The preparation of consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Liquidity & Going Concern We have a history of operating losses and an accumulated deficit of $397.0 million as of March 31, 2017. We believe we have sufficient liquidity from cash on hand, expected working capital and other expected sources to fund operations and corporate activities through calendar year 2017, but we may have costs associated with idling the wood pellet production facility located in Wawa, Ontario (the “Wawa Facility”), pursuing strategic alternatives and other events that could arise that could increase our liquidity needs in 2017. We may also need additional liquidity to fund corporate activities through the first quarter of 2018. As a result of the above, there exists substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for one year from the date of the issuance of our financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Management’s plans to address these concerns are discussed below. We have implemented plans to address our liquidity needs through a combination of cost reductions and pursuing strategic alternatives. In February 2017, we announced that we have idled the Wawa Facility to conserve liquidity as we explore strategic alternatives for the facility. We also announced our plan to address potential liquidity needs by considering strategic alternatives for the Company as a whole that may include, but are not limited to, a sale of us, a merger or other business combination, a sale of all or a material portion of our assets or a recapitalization. We have retained Wells Fargo Securities, LLC to assist in the strategic alternatives review process. Over the past 18 months, we have been reorganizing our businesses to lower our cost structure. We expect our New England Wood Pellet, LLC (“NEWP”) and Fulghum Fibres, Inc. (“Fulghum”) businesses to generate positive cash flow and be self-sufficient from a liquidity perspective in 2017; however, there can be no assurance that either business will perform in line with our expectations. We expect the wood pellet production facility located in Atikokan, Ontario (the “Atikokan Facility”) to generate cash flow in the range of break-even to slightly positive under the revised operating plan to produce 45,000 metric tons of wood pellets per year. We expect that NEWP will need to renew its $6 million revolving credit facility in May of 2017 to address seasonal working capital needs, but there can be no assurance the revolving credit facility will be renewed on acceptable terms. We announced in February of 2017 that a customer of Fulghum has indicated its intent to exercise its option to purchase two wood chipping mills that Fulghum is operating for the customer under a processing agreement. The Company expects the loss of the contract to negatively impact Fulghum’s cash flow in the second half of 2017 and going forward. On May 5, 2017, Fulghum consummated the sale of the two chip mills resulting in net proceeds of between $5.0 million and $5.5 million that will be paid by Fulghum to Rentech in satisfaction of intercompany balances. The Company is required to offer the net proceeds of the sale as prepayment of its debt under the GSO Credit Agreement. Our subsidiaries can distribute cash to us, although restrictions in our debt agreements may restrict such distributions. Under the GSO Credit Agreement we are required to maintain at least $5 million of cash on hand, including cash available for distribution from our subsidiaries. Under the NEWP credit facility, NEWP must receive the lender’s prior approval before making any cash distributions to Rentech, and the lender may not provide such approval. NEWP is also required to comply with financial performance covenants in its debt agreements. These covenants include maintaining: (i) a minimum debt service coverage ratio of at least 1.4 to 1.0 on a trailing four quarter basis, (ii) a senior debt coverage ratio of less than 3.0 to 1.0 on a trailing four quarter basis and (iii) a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.2 to 1.0 calculated at the end of each calendar year. As of March 31, 2017, NEWP was in compliance with its financial covenants. Fulghum is required to comply with the financial performance covenants in its debt agreements. These covenants include maintaining (i) a minimum cash flow coverage ratio of at least 1.1 to 1.0, measured on a consolidated basis for Fulghum and its domestic subsidiaries and collectively for selected projects and (ii) a minimum tangible net worth of no less than $11.28 million plus 50% of the net income of Fulghum from and after December 31, 2010. As of March 31, 2017, Fulghum was in compliance with its financial covenants. In the event that Fulghum does not comply with these covenants, the debt agreements do not permit it to make cash distributions to Rentech. In the event that NEWP or Fulghum is not permitted to make cash distributions to Rentech, these restrictions would limit Rentech’s ability to access and use cash from its operating subsidiaries to fund its corporate activities and operations. A failure to comply with the debt agreements described above also could constitute an event of default, which would give rise to the right of the applicable lenders to seek remedies against NEWP or Fulghum, as applicable. There is no assurance that the strategic review process will result in a transaction, that we will achieve the cost savings we expect or that we will not require an additional source of funds. If we require additional capital and are unable to obtain it, there would be a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

Recent Accounting Pronouncement

Recent Accounting Pronouncements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Note 2 — Recent Accounting Pronouncements Accounting Pronouncements In July 2015, the FASB issued guidance that replaces the current lower of cost or market method of measurement for inventory with a lower of cost and net realizable value measurement. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures. In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance on how to assess whether contingent call (put) options that accelerate the payment on debt instruments are clearly and closely related to their debt hosts. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures. In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance on stock-based compensation, which modifies certain aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income taxes, classification of awards, and classification on the statements of cash flows. This guidance will require recognizing excess tax benefits and deficiencies (that result from an increase or decrease in the value of an award from grant date to the vesting date or exercise date) on share-based compensation arrangements in the tax provision, instead of in equity as under the current guidance. In addition, these amounts will be classified as an operating activity in the statement of cash flows, instead of as a financing activity. The Company does not have any material unrecorded excess tax benefits. In addition, cash paid for shares withheld to satisfy employee taxes will be classified as a financing activity, instead of as an operating activity. Cash paid for employee taxes was $1,400 and $15,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The Company adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of 2017 as follows: • Regarding excess tax benefits and deficiencies, the guidance required prospective adoption for the statement of income and allowed for either prospective or retrospective adoption for the statement of cash flows. The Company elected to prospectively adopt the effect to the statement of cash flows. • Cash paid for shares withheld to satisfy employee taxes of $15,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was classified as a use in financing activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The guidance required retrospective adoption; accordingly, a $15,000 use was reclassified from an operating activity to a financing activity in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2016. In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance that eliminates the requirement to determine implied goodwill in measuring an impairment loss, making this guidance preferable to the former guidance, which required a two-step goodwill impairment test. Upon adoption, a goodwill impairment will be measured as the excess of the reporting unit’s carrying value over fair value, limited to the amount of goodwill. This guidance is effective for goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for annual and interim goodwill impairment testing dates after January 1, 2017. As early adoption of the guidance is permitted, the Company has elected to implement the guidance in this report. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures. Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued guidance that will significantly enhance comparability of revenue recognition practices across entities, industries, jurisdictions, and capital markets. In August 2015, the FASB approved a one-year deferral of the effective date making the guidance effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. In addition, the FASB will continue to permit entities to early adopt the guidance for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016. The Company currently expects to adopt the guidance as of January 1, 2018, under the modified retrospective method where the cumulative effect is recognized at the date of initial application. The Company’s evaluation of the guidance is ongoing and not complete. The FASB has issued and may issue in the future, interpretative guidance, which may cause our evaluation to change. The Company is evaluating the provisions of this guidance and the potential impact, if any, on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures. To date, the Company has not identified any material differences in its existing revenue recognition methods that would require modification under the new guidance. In February 2016, the FASB issued an update to its guidance on lease accounting. This update revises accounting for operating leases by a lessee, among other changes, and requires a lessee to recognize a liability to make lease payments and an asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term in the balance sheet. The distinction between finance and operating leases has not significantly changed and the update does not significantly change the effect of finance and operating leases on the statement of operations. The new guidance is effective for the first interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. At adoption, this update will be applied using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently assessing the impact of adoption of this standard on our consolidated financial statements. In August 2016, the FASB issued guidance on eight specific cash flow issues. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is evaluating the provisions of this guidance and the potential impact, if any, on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosure. In October 2016, the FASB issued guidance that requires the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory to be recognized when the transfer occurs instead of when the asset is sold to an outside party. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The guidance is required to be adopted retrospectively by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the adoption period. The Company is evaluating the provisions of this guidance and the potential impact, if any, on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosure.

Investment in CVR

Investment in CVR	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Equity Method Investments And Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Investment in CVR	Note 3 — Investment in CVR The Company owns approximately 7.2 million common units of CVR Partners, L.P. (“CVR”) (“CVR Common Units”). The 7.2 million CVR Common Units were valued at $60.1 million, based on CVR’s closing price of $8.36 per Common Unit as of March 31, 2016. The 7.2 million CVR Common Units had a market value of $33.4 million, based on CVR’s closing price of $4.65 per Common Unit as of March 31, 2017. The investment in CVR is shown on the consolidated balance sheets under equity investment. The investment in CVR is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The Company utilizes the equity method to account for investments when it possesses the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over the operating and financial policies of the investee. The ability to exercise significant influence is presumed when an investor possesses 3% to 5% or more ownership of a limited partnership. The Company’s ownership in CVR represents approximately 6% of the total CVR Common Units outstanding, which is based on total CVR Common Units outstanding at March 31, 2017 of 113,282,973. In applying the equity method, the Company recorded the investment at fair value and subsequently increases or decreases the carrying amount of the investment by its proportionate share of the net earnings or losses and other comprehensive income of the investee. The Company records dividends or other equity distributions as reductions in the carrying value of the investment. The investment is reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment charge would only be recognized in earnings for a decline in value that is determined to be other than temporary. As of March 31, 2017, the carrying value and fair value of the Company’s investment in CVR Common Units were $52.4 million and $33.4 million, respectively. Given this differential, the Company is closely monitoring the performance of CVR to determine whether the investment is other-than-temporarily impaired. The Company considered a variety of factors in its impairment analysis, including the historical volatility in the price of CVR units, the seasonality of the fertilizer industry in which CVR operates and recent public statements made by CVR’s management regarding CVR’s results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and their expectations for the upcoming spring fertilizer season. The Company concluded that the decline in value of the CVR Common Units is not other than temporary and no other-than-temporary impairment is required as of March 31, 2017. Over the upcoming quarters, particularly the spring planting season, we will continue to monitor the fair value of the Company’s CVR Common Units as well as all publicly available information on CVR and the fertilizer industry to determine if an other-than-temporary impairment is necessary. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company recorded its proportionate share of loss from its investment in CVR of $0.7 million, which is shown on the consolidated statement of operations under equity in loss of investee. In addition, as of the date of the Company’s investment in CVR, basis differences between the book value of equity on CVR’s balance sheet and the amount recorded on the Company’s books was ascribed to an asset and amortized over its useful life, which resulted in an additional expense of $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 .

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Discontinued Operations And Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Discontinued Operations	Note 4 — Discontinued Operations The Company has classified its consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented in this report to reflect Rentech Nitrogen Partners, L.P. (“RNP”), excluding certain corporate expenses that the Company expects to continue on an on-going basis, which were previously allocated to RNP, and the Energy Technologies segment as discontinued operations. On March 14, 2016, RNP completed the sale of Rentech Nitrogen Pasadena Holdings, LLC to Interoceanic Corporation. The estimated loss on sale of $0.8 million was recorded in discontinued operations. On March 18, 2016, the Company completed the sale of the property that housed its product demonstration unit in Colorado. The preliminary loss recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $0.4 million. In the consolidated statements of cash flows, the cash flows of discontinued operations are separately classified or aggregated under operating and investing activities. All discussions and amounts in the consolidated financial statements and related notes for all periods presented relate to continuing operations only, unless otherwise noted. At December 31, 2016, the only item relating to discontinued operations on the balance sheet was a current liability for the Energy Technologies segment of $0.1 million, which was written off during the three months ended March 31, 2017, and is recorded in income from discontinued operations, net of tax on the consolidated statements of operations. The following table summarizes the results of discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016. For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 RNP Energy Technologies Total (in thousands) Revenues $ 54,347 $ — $ 54,347 Cost of sales 34,696 — 34,696 Gross profit 19,651 — 19,651 Operating income 14,242 163 14,405 Other expenses, net (5,549 ) (50 ) (5,599 ) Income before income taxes 8,693 113 8,806 Income tax expense 3,191 41 3,232 Net income 5,502 72 5,574 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 3,222 — 3,222 Net income attributable to Rentech common shareholders $ 2,280 $ 72 $ 2,352 Net income attributable to Rentech common shareholders $ 2,280 $ 72 $ 2,352 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 3,222 — 3,222 Income from discontinued operations, net of tax $ 5,502 $ 72 $ 5,574

Fair Value

Fair Value	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
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 and is classified in one of the following three categories: • 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. Fair values of cash, receivables, deposits, other current assets, accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other current liabilities were assumed to approximate carrying value since they are short term and can be settled on demand. The following table presents the financial instruments that were accounted for at fair value by level as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016. Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 (in thousands) Liabilities Earn-out consideration - March 31, 2017 $ — $ — $ 110 Earn-out consideration - December 31, 2016 — — 234 The following table presents the fair value and carrying value of the Company’s borrowings as of March 31, 2017. Fair Value Carrying Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Value (in thousands) Liabilities Fulghum debt $ — $ 34,465 $ — $ 37,559 NEWP debt — 13,952 — 14,143 GSO Credit Agreement — 52,250 — 50,266 The following table presents the fair value and carrying value of the Company’s borrowings as of December 31, 2016. Fair Value Carrying Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Value (in thousands) Liabilities Fulghum debt $ — $ 38,424 $ — $ 37,473 NEWP debt — 14,042 — 13,973 GSO Credit Agreement — 52,250 — 50,024 Earn-out Consideration At March 31, 2017, the earn-out consideration was $0.1 million which related to the Atikokan Facility. This consideration is deemed to be a Level 3 financial instrument because the measurement is based on unobservable inputs. 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 Facility, over a ten-year period. The scenarios, which included a weighted probability factor, involved assumptions relating to product profitability and production levels. The earn-out consideration will be measured at each reporting date with changes in its fair value recognized in the consolidated statements of operations. Assuming the minimum required EBITDA level is achieved, an increase or decrease of $1.0 million in EBITDA would result in an increase or decrease in earn-out consideration of $0.1 million. The Company provided a loan to the sellers of the Atikokan Facility of $0.9 million, which will be repayable from any earn-out consideration. The collectability of the loan is tied to the amount of earn-out consideration the sellers receive from the Company. The Company adjusts the balances of the loan and the earn-out consideration at the same time so that they are equal. A reconciliation of the change in the carrying value of the earn-out consideration during the three months ended March 31, 2017 is as follows: Atikokan (in thousands) Balance at December 31, 2016 $ 234 Less: Unrealized gain (125 ) Add: Unrealized loss on foreign currency translation 1 Balance at March 31, 2017 $ 110 A reconciliation of the change in the carrying value of the earn-out consideration during the three months ended March 31, 2016 is as follows: Atikokan (in thousands) Balance at December 31, 2015 $ 871 Less: Unrealized loss on foreign currency translation 62 Balance at March 31, 2016 $ 933 Debt Valuation The Fulghum debt and NEWP debt are deemed to be Level 2 financial instruments because the measurements are based on observable market data. The Company’s valuation reflects discounted expected future cash flows, which incorporate yield curves for instruments with similar characteristics, such as credit ratings, weighted average lives and maturity dates. The credit agreement we have entered into with certain funds managed by or affiliated with GSO Capital Partners LP (the “GSO Credit Agreement”) is deemed to be a Level 2 financial instrument because the measurement is based on observable market data. The Company concluded that the carrying value, before the discount, of the GSO Credit Agreement approximated the fair value of such loan as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 based on its floating interest rate and the Company’s assessment that the fixed-rate margins are still at market. 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 months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

Derivative Instruments

Derivative Instruments	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Derivative Instruments	Note 6 — Derivative Instruments Accounting guidance establishes accounting and reporting requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities. This guidance requires recognition of all derivative instruments, not subject to the normal purchase and sale exception, as assets or liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets 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 included in earnings in other income (expense) and reported under cash flows from operating activities. Interest Rate and Currency Swaps The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, NEWP, entered into three interest rate swaps in notional amounts that cover the borrowings under its two industrial revenue bonds and a real estate mortgage loan. Under the interest rate swaps, NEWP pays interest at a fixed rate of 5.29% on the outstanding balance of one of the industrial revenue bonds, 5.05% on the outstanding balance of the other industrial revenue bond and 7.95% on the outstanding balance of the real estate mortgage loan. NEWP receives interest at the variable interest rates specified in the various swap agreements. The interest rate swap on the real estate mortgage loan was terminated in July 2016. The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Fulghum, has entered into an interest rate swap in a notional amount that covers the borrowings under one of its long-term loans. Under the interest rate swap, Fulghum pays interest at a fixed rate of 6.83% on the outstanding balance of the loan. Fulghum receives interest at the variable interest rate specified in the swap agreement. Through the interest rate swaps, the Company is essentially fixing the variable interest rate to be paid on these borrowings. The interest rate swaps are accounted for as derivatives for accounting purposes. The interest rate swaps are deemed to be Level 2 financial instruments because the measurements are based on observable market data. The Company used a standard swap contract valuation method to value its interest rate derivatives, and the inputs it uses for present value discounting included forward one-month LIBOR rates, risk-free interest rates and an estimate of credit risk. The fair value of the interest rate swaps at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 represents the unrealized loss of $0.3 million. Any adjustments to the fair value of the interest rate swaps are recorded in other income (expense) on the consolidated statements of operations. Net gain (loss) on interest rate swaps: For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 2016 (in thousands) Realized loss $ — $ — Unrealized gain (loss) 53 (36 ) Total net gain (loss) on interest rate swaps $ 53 $ (36 ) Fulghum’s subsidiary in Chile uses foreign currency economic hedges to offset the earnings impact that fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates have on certain monetary liabilities (in this case, four loans) denominated in nonfunctional currencies. The changes in fair value of economic hedges used to offset the monetary liabilities are recognized into earnings in the line item other income - net in our consolidated statements of operations. In addition, Fulghum uses foreign currency economic hedges to minimize the variability in cash flows associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The total notional values of derivatives related to our foreign currency economic hedges were $11.1 million as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016. The currency swaps are accounted for as derivatives for accounting purposes. The currency swaps are deemed to be Level 2 financial instruments because the measurements are based on observable market data. The fair value of the currency derivatives is the difference between the contract values and the exchange rates at the end of the period. The fair value of the currency swaps at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 represents the unrealized loss. Net gain (loss) on currency swaps: For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 2016 (in thousands) Realized loss $ — $ — Unrealized gain 208 348 Total net gain on currency swaps $ 208 $ 348 The interest rate swaps are recorded in other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. As of March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 (in thousands) Interest rate swaps recorded in current liabilities: Gross amounts recognized $ (275 ) $ (328 ) Gross amounts offset in consolidated balance sheets — — Net amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheets $ (275 ) $ (328 ) The currency swaps are recorded in other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. As of March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 (in thousands) Currency swaps recorded in current liabilities: Gross amounts recognized $ (657 ) $ (865 ) Gross amounts offset in consolidated balance sheets — — Net amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheets $ (657 ) $ (865 ) The following table presents the financial instruments that were accounted for at fair value by level as of March 31, 2017: Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 (in thousands) Liabilities Interest rate swaps — 275 — Currency swaps — 657 — The following table presents the financial instruments that were accounted for at fair value by level as of December 31, 2016: Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 (in thousands) Liabilities Interest rate swaps — 328 — Currency swaps — 865 —

Inventories

Inventories	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Inventories	Note 7 — Inventories Inventories consisted of the following: As of March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 (in thousands) Finished goods $ 20,320 $ 22,047 Raw materials 6,616 6,084 Total inventory $ 26,936 $ 28,131 During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company wrote down the value of its wood pellet inventory by $2.4 million to estimated net realizable value within its Wood Pellets: Industrial segment. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company wrote down the value of its wood pellet inventory by $5.1 million to net realizable value within its Wood Pellets: Industrial segment. The write-downs were reflected in cost of goods sold for the applicable periods.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment	Note 8 — Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following: As of March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 (in thousands) Land and land improvements $ 4,509 $ 4,508 Buildings and building improvements 13,061 13,059 Machinery and equipment 109,651 120,578 Furniture, fixtures and office equipment 462 445 Computer equipment and computer software 3,121 3,105 Vehicles 8,225 8,529 Leasehold improvements 1,958 2,575 140,987 152,799 Less: Accumulated depreciation (34,370 ) (35,234 ) Total property, plant and equipment, net $ 106,617 $ 117,565 Construction in progress consisted of the following: As of March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 (in thousands) Fulghum Fibres $ 647 $ 746 NEWP 348 130 Other 29 29 Total construction in progress $ 1,024 $ 905 The construction in progress balance includes no capitalized interest costs at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016. Fulghum Fibres On April 8, 2016, Fulghum completed the sale of one of its mills in the United States to one of its customers, and the customer took over operations of the mill. Since the carrying value was written down in 2015, an immaterial amount of loss was recognized upon the sale in 2016. In February 2017, Fulghum was notified by a customer of its intent to exercise its purchase option on two of Fulghum’s mills. Since the purchase price under the option was lower than the carrying values of the two mills, during the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company wrote down the carrying values by $2.6 million. In addition, the processing agreements for the two mills totaling $3.9 million were written off as well as the spare parts inventory of $1.3 million. The total impairment charge recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $7.8 million. As of March 31, 2017, the Company classified the mills, which were sold on May 5, 2017, as property held for sale on its consolidated balance sheet. Atikokan and Wawa In February 2017, the Company announced that it has reduced annualized production to levels sufficient only to fulfill the delivery requirements under the ten-year take-or-pay contract (the “OPG Contract”) with Ontario Power Generation (“OPG”). The Atikokan Facility will no longer ship wood pellets to the Port of Quebec to help fulfill delivery requirements under the ten-year take-or-pay contract (the “Drax Contract”) with Drax Power Limited (“Drax”). The Company will continue to explore alternatives for selling additional wood pellets that could be produced from the Atikokan Facility to increase its utilization. In February 2017, the Company also announced that its Board decided to idle the Wawa Facility, which experienced equipment and operating challenges subsequent to the replacement of problematic conveyors in the fourth quarter of 2016. The Board’s decision to idle the Wawa Facility was based in part on the Company’s review of the work by a third-party engineering firm to identify necessary capital improvements. While the Company believes that the issues it had been experiencing at the facility can be resolved with additional capital investments, it has concluded that it is not economical to pursue those investments or to continue to operate the facility at this time. As a result of this decision, the Wawa Facility operations team completed a safe and orderly idling of the facility in early March 2017. While the facility is idled, a small workforce remains in place to maintain the facility so that it can resume operations with minimal cost if there is interest from a third party to invest in or purchase the facility. The remainder of the workforce has been placed on a temporary layoff while options for the facility are explored.

Goodwill

Goodwill	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill	Note 9 - Goodwill A reconciliation of the change in the carrying value of goodwill is as follows: Fulghum NEWP Total (in thousands) Balance at December 31, 2016 $ 18,253 $ 10,323 $ 28,576 Impairment (13,125 ) — (13,125 ) Balance at March 31, 2017 $ 5,128 $ 10,323 $ 15,451 In February 2017, Fulghum was notified by a customer of its intent to exercise its purchase option on two of Fulghum’s mills. Fulghum expects the loss of these mills to negatively impact operating income and cash flow in the second half of 2017 and going forward. The customer’s decision was considered a triggering event to perform a goodwill impairment test for Fulghum U.S. as of March 31, 2017. The analysis of goodwill indicated an impairment to goodwill of $13.1 million, which was recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The estimate of fair value requires significant judgment. We based our fair value estimates on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable but that are unpredictable and inherently uncertain, including but not limited to estimates of future growth rates, future production levels, product pricing, raw material and operating costs, and other assumptions about the overall economic and market conditions for our business units. There can be no assurance that our estimates and assumptions made for purposes of our goodwill testing as of the time of testing will prove to be accurate predictions of the future. If our assumptions regarding business plans, market conditions or anticipated growth rates or other changes in prior assumptions or estimates are not correct or if our market capitalization declines, we may be required to record goodwill and/or intangible asset impairment charges in future periods, whether in connection with our next annual impairment testing or earlier, if an indicator of an impairment is present before our next annual evaluation.

Debt

Debt	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt	Note 10 — Debt As of March 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with its debt covenants. Total debt consisted of the following: As of March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 (in thousands) QS Construction Facility $ 13,472 $ 13,500 Fulghum debt 36,883 36,756 GSO Credit Agreement 52,250 52,250 NEWP debt 14,124 13,944 Total debt $ 116,729 $ 116,450 Less: Debt issuance costs (1,212 ) (1,357 ) Plus: Unamortized net discount (77 ) (123 ) Less: Current portion (13,117 ) (11,082 ) Less: Current portion unamortized net premium (164 ) (186 ) Plus: Current portion debt issuance costs 31 31 Long-term debt $ 102,190 $ 103,733

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Note 11 — Commitments and Contingencies Contractual Obligations Wood Pellets On May 1, 2013, Rentech’s subsidiary that owns the Wawa Facility (the “Wawa Company”) entered into the Drax Contract with Drax. Under the Drax Contract, the Wawa Company is required to sell to Drax the first 400,000 metric tons of wood pellets per year produced from the Wawa Facility. In the event that it does not deliver wood pellets as required under the Drax Contract, the Wawa Company is required to pay Drax an amount equal to the positive difference, if any, between the contract price for the wood pellets and the price of any wood pellets Drax purchases in replacement. Rentech, Inc. has guaranteed the Wawa Company’s obligation in an amount not to exceed CAD$20 million until May 1, 2018, and thereafter through the term of the Drax Contract for an amount not to exceed CAD$11 million. The Drax Contract was amended in order to adjust required delivery schedules and annual delivery amounts to reflect the delays the Wawa Company was experiencing in production at the Wawa Facility prior to our decision to idle the facility. The amendments resulted in certain contract adjustments, including cash payments to Drax, credits on deliveries in early 2016, and adding 36,000 metric tons of contracted deliveries in each of 2018 and 2019 at pricing levels contracted for 2015, which would be lower than the pricing levels for 2018-19 in the original contract. In particular, in August 2015, the Company entered into an amendment to the Drax Contract pursuant to which the Wawa Company canceled all 2015 wood pellet deliveries and agreed to a total penalty, which encompassed all amendments relating to 2015 shipments to date, of $2.6 million associated with costs for Drax to purchase replacement pellets and to cancel shipping commitments. In 2015, the Company accrued the $2.6 million penalty in operating expenses. The penalty was paid in the form of credits on the first several deliveries to Drax in early 2016. The Wawa Company delivered approximately 134,000 metric tons to Drax in 2016. The Wawa Facility did not incur penalties in 2016 for the shortfall in delivered pellets from originally contracted volumes because the spot market prices for wood pellets were less than the contracted price with Drax. Prior to our decision to idle the facility, the Wawa Company agreed to deliver approximately 336,000 metric tons to Drax in 2017. In January 2017 we shipped 48,000 metric tons of pellets to Drax. In March 2017, Drax and the Wawa Company agreed to cancel the next two shipments of 2017 without any penalties, leaving the Wawa Company with an obligation to deliver approximately 193,000 metric tons to Drax later in the year. In April 2017, the Wawa Company shipped approximately 12,000 metric tons of pellets to Drax pursuant to an amendment to the Drax Contract; this shipment does not affect our delivery obligations for 2017. Further amendments to the delivery schedule under the Drax Contract will most likely occur as a result of the continued idling of the facility. At this time we cannot make a determination if any penalties will be associated with future changes to the Drax Contract. Rentech, Inc. has guaranteed the payment obligations of the Wawa Company under the terms of the Drax Contract up to a maximum amount of CAD$20 million. Rentech’s subsidiary that owns the Atikokan Facility (the “Atikokan Company”) entered into the OPG Contract with OPG under which such subsidiary is required to deliver 45,000 metric tons of wood pellets annually through December 31, 2023. OPG has the option to increase required delivery of wood pellets from the Atikokan Facility to up to 90,000 metric tons annually. Under the OPG Contract, Rentech, Inc. has guaranteed the Atikokan Company’s obligations in an amount not to exceed CAD$1.0 million. The Wawa Company has contracted with Canadian National Railway Company through December 31, 2023 for all rail transportation of wood pellets from the Atikokan Facility and the Wawa Facility to the Port of Quebec (the “Canadian National Contract”). Under the Canadian National Contract, the Wawa Company committed to transport a minimum of 3,600 rail carloads annually for the duration of the long-term contract. Delivery shortfalls would result in a penalty of CAD$1,000 per rail car under the terms of the Canadian National Contract. Due to issues discovered at the Wawa Facility, the Wawa Company did not fully meet its 2015 commitment under the Canadian National Contract. In addition, the Wawa Company incurred additional carload shortfall penalties for 2016 under the Canadian National Contract as a result of the continued delays in ramping up the Wawa Facility and the revised 2016 deliveries scheduled to Drax. During 2015 and 2016, the Wawa Company incurred and either paid or accrued penalties of $3.3 million and $1.4 million, respectively. In addition, we may incur additional carload shortfall penalties for 2017 under the Canadian National Contract as a result of idling the Wawa Facility and the revised 2017 deliveries scheduled to Drax. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company recorded one-fourth of the estimated liability of shortfall penalties for 2017, which resulted in an expense of $0.6 million. The Company is looking at various alternatives related to the Wawa Facility and may need to record additional liabilities for the Canadian National Contract. As facts and circumstances change, the Company will review its estimated liability and adjust the liability, if needed. Under the Canadian National Contract, Rentech, Inc. has guaranteed the Wawa Company’s obligations in an amount not to exceed CAD$1.5 million. We are currently in litigation with Canadian National regarding the payment of penalties related to the Canadian National Contract. In November 2013, the Wawa Company entered into a lease agreement through April 30, 2024 (the “TrinityRail Lease”) with TrinityRail Canada, Inc. (“Trinity”) under which it committed to lease the required rail cars (258 rail cars per full calendar year) needed to satisfy its delivery requirements under the Drax Contract. The TrinityRail Lease was terminated on March 31, 2017. Due to the lease termination, the Company recorded an estimated remaining liability of $1.3 million that represents the Company’s liability for the remainder of the term of the TrinityRail Lease reduced by an estimate for sublease rental of the rail cars. As facts and circumstances change, the Company will review its estimated liability and adjust the liability, if needed. Litigation The Company is party to litigation from time to time in the normal course of business. The Company accrues liabilities related to litigation only when it concludes that it is probable that it will incur costs related to such litigation, 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. The outcome of the Company’s current litigation matters is 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’s financial statements. Litigation Relating to the Atikokan and Wawa Facilities In June of 2015, RDR Industrial Contractors, Inc. (“RDR”) recorded liens against both the Atikokan Facility and Wawa Facility. RDR performed work at both of the facilities as a subcontractor to Agrirecycle, Inc. (“Agrirecycle”) and asserted that Agrirecycle had failed to pay RDR according to the terms of its subcontract. In September of 2015, EAD Control Systems, Inc. (“EAD Controls”) similarly filed liens against both pellet facilities alleging Agrirecycle’s failure to pay EAD Controls for work performed at both facilities as a subcontractor to Agrirecycle. In October of 2015, Agrirecycle filed liens against both facilities asserting that (i) it had not been paid for services performed as subcontractor for EAD Engineering, Inc. (“EAD Engineering”) and (ii) it had not been paid for work performed under direct contracts with certain wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company (the “RTK Parties”). In December of 2015 and January of 2016, the RTK Parties filed statements of defense denying the allegations set forth by RDR, EAD Controls and Agrirecycle and seeking over $40.2 million in the aggregate by way of counterclaims and cross-claims against EAD Engineering, EAD Controls, Agrirecycle and RDR for damages incurred due to defective engineering, design, equipment supply and construction at our pellet facilities, including the cost to remedy and replace defective work as well as penalties, schedule delays and lost profits. In late August of 2016, EAD Engineering filed crossclaims against the RTK Parties, within Agrirecycle’s lien actions for amounts allegedly owing by the RTK Parties to EAD Engineering. Specifically, EAD Engineering alleges that it is owed unpaid contract amounts and amounts for extra work completed at both pellet facilities for the RTK Parties. EAD Engineering did not register any liens against the facilities for the amounts it now claims are allegedly owed. The amounts claimed by RDR, EAD Controls, EAD Engineering and Agrirecycle in the separate causes of action in Ontario Superior Court naming the RTK Parties and the Company as defendants is approximately $6.5 million. This includes claims for amounts allegedly due under contracts with the RTK Parties and claims by subcontractors against our direct contractors. The Company will continue to vigorously defend itself against the allegations made by EAD Engineering, EAD Controls, Agrirecycle and RDR and vigorously pursue recovery from EAD Engineering, EAD Controls, Agrirecycle and RDR. Given that this litigation is in the pleadings stage and discovery has yet to begin, the Company is unable to estimate at this time the likelihood or the amount of any judgments which may be rendered either in favor of or against it or the RTK Parties. On February 20, 2017 Canadian National Railway Company (“CN”) filed claims against Rentech, Inc. and RTK WP in Superior Court in the Province of Quebec, District of Montreal for CAD$2,391,858 plus costs relating to penalties for volume shortfalls under the Canadian National Contract, freight services and demurrage charges in calendar year 2016. Further, CN has requested that for CAD$1,500,000 of the aforementioned amount, Rentech, Inc. be ordered to compensate CN pursuant to the terms of the Rentech, Inc. parent company guaranty. Both the Company and RTK WP are reviewing these claims, and intends to defend against them vigorously. On February 22, 2017, Juan Las Heras, a purported shareholder of the Company, filed a federal securities class action complaint on behalf of other shareholders of Rentech similarly situated to Mr. Heras, against Rentech, Inc., Jeffrey R. Spain, and Keith Forman in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York (the “Heras Lawsuit”). On February 23, 2017, Cheng Jiangchen , a purported shareholder of the Company, filed a federal securities class action complaint on behalf of other shareholders of Rentech, Inc. similarly situated to Mr. Jiangchen, against Rentech, Inc. and Keith Forman in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (the “Jiangchen Lawsuit”). On March 7, 2017, Carlos Raul Cuadra, a purported shareholder of Rentech, filed a federal securities class action complaint on behalf of other shareholders of Rentech similarly situated to Mr. Cuadra, against Rentech, Inc., Jeffrey R. Spain, and Keith Forman in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York (the “Cuadra Lawsuit”, and together with the Heras Lawsuit and the Jiangchen Lawsuit, the “Lawsuits”). The Lawsuits allege, among other things, that in the Company’s disclosure related to third quarter earnings and financial results in November 2016, the Company made false and misleading statements because they failed to disclose certain material facts regarding Canadian operations which facts were later disclosed in a press release issued by Rentech on February 21, 2017 (the “Press Release”). The Lawsuits also allege that Company officers named in the respective Lawsuits knowingly and substantially participated or acquiesced in the issuance or dissemination of materially false and misleading statements. The Lawsuits seek compensation for losses resulting from fluctuations in stock price of the Company in the period from November 2016 through February 2017, as well as attorney fees, expert fees and costs. The Lawsuits are each at a preliminary stage. The Company believes the Lawsuits are without merit and intends to defend against these claims vigorously. On March 24, 2017, Jingwen Fu, derivatively on behalf of Rentech, Inc., filed a shareholder derivative complaint against Keith Forman, Jeffrey R. Spain, Paul Summers and the members of the Rentech, Inc. board of directors (the “Derivative Defendants”) in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (the “Fu Lawsuit”). On May 8, 2017, Anton Shaigne, derivatively on behalf of Rentech, Inc., filed a shareholder derivative complaint against the Derivative Defendants in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (the “Shaigne Lawsuit”, and together with the Fu Lawsuit, the “Derivative Lawsuits”). The Derivative Lawsuits allege, among other things, that the Derivative Defendants breached their fiduciary duties by failing to maintain proper disclosure controls and making false and/or misleading statements and/or omissions concerning the Company’s business in the period from November 9, 2016 through the present, and in the case of the Shaigne Lawsuit also in calendar year 2016 related to the Company’s restatement of financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. The Derivative Lawsuits also allege unjust enrichment, abuse of control, gross mismanagement and waste of corporate assets by the Derivative Defendants. The Derivative Lawsuits seek to change certain corporate governance policies of the Company, to nominate at least four members for election to the Company Board of Directors and restitution from each of the Derivative Defendants, as well as attorney fees, expert fees and costs. The Derivative Lawsuits are at a preliminary stage. The Company believes the Derivative Lawsuits are without merit and intends to defend against them vigorously. Regulation The Company’s business is subject to extensive and frequently changing federal, provincial, 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 products, wood fibre feedstock, 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, provincial, 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.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Note 12 — Income Taxes For the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $1.2 million, consisting of a $1.2 million income tax benefit in continuing operations and a $0.1 million income tax expense in discontinued operations. The allocation to discontinued operations was determined using the incremental method by subtracting the benefit that was generated from continuing operations from the provision for the Company as a whole. The Company’s effective income tax rate (income tax benefit as a percentage of loss from continuing operations before income taxes) was 3% for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The difference between the United States federal statutory rate of 35% and the effective rate primarily was attributable to the Company having a valuation allowance on substantially all of its net deferred tax assets, state taxes, outside basis difference in foreign subsidiaries, and the impact of foreign earnings. The tax benefit for three months ended March 31, 2017 also includes a discrete income tax benefit of $1.4 million related to the reversal of uncertain tax positions. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $0.8 million, consisting of a $2.4 million income tax benefit in continuing operations and a $3.2 million income tax expense in discontinued operations. The allocation to discontinued operations was determined using the incremental method by subtracting the benefit that was generated from continuing operations from the provision for the Company as a whole. The Company’s effective income tax rate (income tax benefit as a percentage of loss from continuing operations before income taxes) was 18% for the three months ended March 31, 2016. 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, outside basis difference in foreign subsidiaries, impact of foreign earnings and impact of state taxes. The Company has considered results of operations and concluded that it is more likely than not that substantially all the net deferred tax assets will not be realized. Therefore, a valuation allowance has been recorded against substantially all of the net deferred tax asset.

Segment Information

Segment Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Information	Note 13 — Segment Information The Company operates in three business segments, as described below. Results of the East Dubuque, Pasadena and the energy technologies segments are accounted for as discontinued operations for all periods presented. As of March 31, 2017, the Company’s three business segments are: • Fulghum Fibres — The operations of Fulghum, which provides wood yard operations services and wood fibre processing services, sells wood chips to the pulp, paper and packaging industry, and owns and manages forestland and sells bark to industrial consumers in South America. • Wood Pellets: Industrial — The operations of this segment include the Atikokan and Wawa Facilities, which produce, aggregate and sell wood pellets for the utility and industrial power generation market, corporate allocations, and wood pellet development activities. The wood pellet development activities represent the Company’s personnel costs for employees dedicated to the wood pellet business infrastructure and administration costs, corporate allocations, expenses associated with the Company’s joint venture with Graanul Invest AS and third party costs. • Wood Pellets: NEWP — The operations of NEWP, which produces wood pellets for the residential and commercial heating markets. 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 March 31, 2017 2016 (in thousands) Revenues Fulghum Fibres $ 19,935 $ 27,436 Wood Pellets: Industrial 8,147 9,861 Wood Pellets: NEWP 4,139 2,640 Total revenues $ 32,221 $ 39,937 Gross profit (loss) Fulghum Fibres $ 2,285 $ 4,666 Wood Pellets: Industrial (3,387 ) (4,969 ) Wood Pellets: NEWP 357 434 Total gross profit (loss) $ (745 ) $ 131 Selling, general and administrative expenses Fulghum Fibres $ 1,457 $ 1,201 Wood Pellets: Industrial 2,504 1,308 Wood Pellets: NEWP 500 561 Total segment selling, general and administrative expenses $ 4,461 $ 3,070 Depreciation and amortization Fulghum Fibres $ 293 $ 541 Wood Pellets: Industrial 12 47 Wood Pellets: NEWP 241 295 Total segment depreciation and amortization recorded in operating expenses 546 883 Fulghum Fibres 1,968 1,886 Wood Pellets: Industrial 933 2,994 Wood Pellets: NEWP 482 168 Total depreciation and amortization recorded in cost of sales 3,383 5,048 Total segment depreciation and amortization $ 3,929 $ 5,931 Other operating expenses Fulghum Fibres $ 20,887 (1) $ — Wood Pellets: Industrial — — Wood Pellets: NEWP 10 12 Total segment other operating expenses $ 20,897 $ 12 Operating income (loss) Fulghum Fibres $ (20,352 ) (1) $ 2,923 Wood Pellets: Industrial (5,903 ) (6,324 ) Wood Pellets: NEWP (395 ) (434 ) Total segment operating loss $ (26,650 ) $ (3,835 ) Interest expense Fulghum Fibres $ 497 $ 571 Wood Pellets: Industrial 451 438 Wood Pellets: NEWP 136 141 Total segment interest expense $ 1,084 $ 1,150 Net income (loss) Fulghum Fibres $ (20,862 ) $ 1,653 Wood Pellets: Industrial (6,354 ) (6,738 ) Wood Pellets: NEWP (500 ) (555 ) Total segment net loss $ (27,716 ) $ (5,640 ) Reconciliation of segment net loss to consolidated net loss: Segment net loss $ (27,716 ) $ (5,640 ) Corporate and unallocated expenses recorded as selling, general and administrative expenses (4,222 ) (6,045 ) Corporate and unallocated depreciation and amortization expense (78 ) (125 ) Corporate and unallocated income (expenses) recorded as other income (expense) 2 4 Corporate and unallocated interest expense (1,313 ) (2,423 ) Corporate income tax benefit (expense) (140 ) 3,201 Equity in loss of CVR(2) (918 ) — Income from discontinued operations, net of tax(3) 96 5,574 Consolidated net loss $ (34,289 ) $ (5,454 ) (1) Includes goodwill impairment of $13.1 million and asset impairments of $7.8 million. (2) For the three months ended March 31, 2017, equity in loss of investee includes $0.9 million, which includes the Company’s proportionate share of loss from its investment in CVR and amortization of the basis differences. (3) For the three months ended March 31, 2016, income from discontinued operations, net of tax includes a loss of $0.8 million related to the sale of Rentech Nitrogen Holdings, LLC (“Pasadena Holdings”) and a loss of $0.4 million related to the sale of the property that housed the Company’s product demonstration unit (“PDU”). As of March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 (in thousands) Total assets Fulghum Fibres $ 130,898 $ 155,646 Wood Pellets: Industrial 15,535 19,060 Wood Pellets: NEWP 60,867 61,674 Total segment assets $ 207,300 $ 236,380 Reconciliation of segment total assets to consolidated total assets: Segment total assets $ 207,300 $ 236,380 Corporate and other 67,159 76,337 Consolidated total assets $ 274,459 $ 312,717 As of March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 (in thousands) Total goodwill Fulghum Fibres $ 5,128 $ 18,253 Wood Pellets: NEWP 10,323 10,323 Total goodwill $ 15,451 $ 28,576 For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 2016 (in thousands) Capital expenditures Fulghum Fibres $ 1,312 $ 2,291 Wood Pellets: Industrial 837 2,877 Wood Pellets: NEWP 192 232 Corporate and other 16 399 Total capital expenditures - continuing operations $ 2,357 $ 5,799 Discontinued operations — 11,075 Total capital expenditures $ 2,357 $ 16,874 The Company’s revenues by geographic area, based on where the customer takes title to the product, were as follows: For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 2016 (in thousands) United States $ 16,743 $ 16,328 Canada 8,147 9,861 Other 7,331 13,748 Total revenues $ 32,221 $ 39,937 The following table sets forth assets by geographic area: As of March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 (in thousands) United States $ 220,893 $ 254,255 Canada 15,535 19,060 Other 38,031 39,402 Total assets $ 274,459 $ 312,717

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Sh

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share Allocated to Rentech	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share Allocated to Rentech	Note 14 — 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 (i) the “treasury stock” method for the unvested restricted stock units, outstanding stock options and warrants and (ii) the “if converted” method for the preferred stock if its inclusion would not have been anti-dilutive. The Company's policy is to only allocate earnings to participating securities, i.e., restricted stock, for continuing operations, discontinued operations and in total during periods in which income is reported. For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 2016 (in thousands, except for per share data) Numerator: Loss from continuing operations $ (34,385 ) $ (11,028 ) Less: Preferred stock dividends — (1,320 ) Less: (Income) loss from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests 11 (184 ) Less: Income from continuing operations allocated to participating securities — — Loss from continuing operations allocated to common shareholders $ (34,374 ) $ (12,532 ) Numerator: Income from discontinued operations $ 96 $ 5,574 Less: Income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests — (3,222 ) Less: Income from discontinued operations allocated to participating securities (3 ) (63 ) Income from discontinued operations allocated to common shareholders $ 93 $ 2,289 Numerator: Net loss attributable to Rentech common shareholders $ (34,278 ) $ (10,180 ) Less: Income allocated to participating securities — — Net loss allocated to common shareholders $ (34,278 ) $ (10,180 ) Denominator: Weighted average common shares outstanding 23,202 23,036 Effect of dilutive securities: Preferred stock — — Warrants — — Common stock options — — Restricted stock — — Diluted shares outstanding 23,202 23,036 Basic: Continuing operations $ (1.48 ) $ (0.54 ) Discontinued operations $ 0.00 $ 0.10 Net loss per common share $ (1.48 ) $ (0.44 ) Diluted: Continuing operations $ (1.48 ) $ (0.54 ) Discontinued operations $ 0.00 $ 0.10 Net loss per common share $ (1.48 ) $ (0.44 ) For the three months ended March 31, 2017, 1.9 million shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to stock options, stock warrants and restricted stock units were excluded from the calculation of diluted income per share because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, 6.3 million shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to stock options, stock warrants, restricted stock units and preferred stock were excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.

Basis of Presentation (Policies

Basis of Presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
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 authority 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 March 31, 2017, 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 intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017 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 year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 7, 2017 (the “Annual Report”). The preparation of consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements Accounting Pronouncements In July 2015, the FASB issued guidance that replaces the current lower of cost or market method of measurement for inventory with a lower of cost and net realizable value measurement. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures. In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance on how to assess whether contingent call (put) options that accelerate the payment on debt instruments are clearly and closely related to their debt hosts. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures. In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance on stock-based compensation, which modifies certain aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income taxes, classification of awards, and classification on the statements of cash flows. This guidance will require recognizing excess tax benefits and deficiencies (that result from an increase or decrease in the value of an award from grant date to the vesting date or exercise date) on share-based compensation arrangements in the tax provision, instead of in equity as under the current guidance. In addition, these amounts will be classified as an operating activity in the statement of cash flows, instead of as a financing activity. The Company does not have any material unrecorded excess tax benefits. In addition, cash paid for shares withheld to satisfy employee taxes will be classified as a financing activity, instead of as an operating activity. Cash paid for employee taxes was $1,400 and $15,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The Company adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of 2017 as follows: • Regarding excess tax benefits and deficiencies, the guidance required prospective adoption for the statement of income and allowed for either prospective or retrospective adoption for the statement of cash flows. The Company elected to prospectively adopt the effect to the statement of cash flows. • Cash paid for shares withheld to satisfy employee taxes of $15,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was classified as a use in financing activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The guidance required retrospective adoption; accordingly, a $15,000 use was reclassified from an operating activity to a financing activity in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2016. In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance that eliminates the requirement to determine implied goodwill in measuring an impairment loss, making this guidance preferable to the former guidance, which required a two-step goodwill impairment test. Upon adoption, a goodwill impairment will be measured as the excess of the reporting unit’s carrying value over fair value, limited to the amount of goodwill. This guidance is effective for goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for annual and interim goodwill impairment testing dates after January 1, 2017. As early adoption of the guidance is permitted, the Company has elected to implement the guidance in this report. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures. Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued guidance that will significantly enhance comparability of revenue recognition practices across entities, industries, jurisdictions, and capital markets. In August 2015, the FASB approved a one-year deferral of the effective date making the guidance effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. In addition, the FASB will continue to permit entities to early adopt the guidance for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016. The Company currently expects to adopt the guidance as of January 1, 2018, under the modified retrospective method where the cumulative effect is recognized at the date of initial application. The Company’s evaluation of the guidance is ongoing and not complete. The FASB has issued and may issue in the future, interpretative guidance, which may cause our evaluation to change. The Company is evaluating the provisions of this guidance and the potential impact, if any, on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures. To date, the Company has not identified any material differences in its existing revenue recognition methods that would require modification under the new guidance. In February 2016, the FASB issued an update to its guidance on lease accounting. This update revises accounting for operating leases by a lessee, among other changes, and requires a lessee to recognize a liability to make lease payments and an asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term in the balance sheet. The distinction between finance and operating leases has not significantly changed and the update does not significantly change the effect of finance and operating leases on the statement of operations. The new guidance is effective for the first interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. At adoption, this update will be applied using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently assessing the impact of adoption of this standard on our consolidated financial statements. In August 2016, the FASB issued guidance on eight specific cash flow issues. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is evaluating the provisions of this guidance and the potential impact, if any, on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosure. In October 2016, the FASB issued guidance that requires the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory to be recognized when the transfer occurs instead of when the asset is sold to an outside party. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The guidance is required to be adopted retrospectively by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the adoption period. The Company is evaluating the provisions of this guidance and the potential impact, if any, on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosure.
Goodwill	Goodwill A reconciliation of the change in the carrying value of goodwill is as follows: Fulghum NEWP Total (in thousands) Balance at December 31, 2016 $ 18,253 $ 10,323 $ 28,576 Impairment (13,125 ) — (13,125 ) Balance at March 31, 2017 $ 5,128 $ 10,323 $ 15,451 In February 2017, Fulghum was notified by a customer of its intent to exercise its purchase option on two of Fulghum’s mills. Fulghum expects the loss of these mills to negatively impact operating income and cash flow in the second half of 2017 and going forward. The customer’s decision was considered a triggering event to perform a goodwill impairment test for Fulghum U.S. as of March 31, 2017. The analysis of goodwill indicated an impairment to goodwill of $13.1 million, which was recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The estimate of fair value requires significant judgment. We based our fair value estimates on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable but that are unpredictable and inherently uncertain, including but not limited to estimates of future growth rates, future production levels, product pricing, raw material and operating costs, and other assumptions about the overall economic and market conditions for our business units. There can be no assurance that our estimates and assumptions made for purposes of our goodwill testing as of the time of testing will prove to be accurate predictions of the future. If our assumptions regarding business plans, market conditions or anticipated growth rates or other changes in prior assumptions or estimates are not correct or if our market capitalization declines, we may be required to record goodwill and/or intangible asset impairment charges in future periods, whether in connection with our next annual impairment testing or earlier, if an indicator of an impairment is present before our next annual evaluation.

Discontinued Operations (Tables

Discontinued Operations (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Discontinued Operations And Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Summary of Results of Discontinued Operations	The following table summarizes the results of discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016. For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 RNP Energy Technologies Total (in thousands) Revenues $ 54,347 $ — $ 54,347 Cost of sales 34,696 — 34,696 Gross profit 19,651 — 19,651 Operating income 14,242 163 14,405 Other expenses, net (5,549 ) (50 ) (5,599 ) Income before income taxes 8,693 113 8,806 Income tax expense 3,191 41 3,232 Net income 5,502 72 5,574 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 3,222 — 3,222 Net income attributable to Rentech common shareholders $ 2,280 $ 72 $ 2,352 Net income attributable to Rentech common shareholders $ 2,280 $ 72 $ 2,352 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 3,222 — 3,222 Income from discontinued operations, net of tax $ 5,502 $ 72 $ 5,574

Fair Value (Tables)

Fair Value (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Disclosure	The following table presents the financial instruments that were accounted for at fair value by level as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016. Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 (in thousands) Liabilities Earn-out consideration - March 31, 2017 $ — $ — $ 110 Earn-out consideration - December 31, 2016 — — 234
Fair Value and Carrying Value of Borrowings and Interest Rate Swaps	The following table presents the fair value and carrying value of the Company’s borrowings as of March 31, 2017. Fair Value Carrying Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Value (in thousands) Liabilities Fulghum debt $ — $ 34,465 $ — $ 37,559 NEWP debt — 13,952 — 14,143 GSO Credit Agreement — 52,250 — 50,266 The following table presents the fair value and carrying value of the Company’s borrowings as of December 31, 2016. Fair Value Carrying Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Value (in thousands) Liabilities Fulghum debt $ — $ 38,424 $ — $ 37,473 NEWP debt — 14,042 — 13,973 GSO Credit Agreement — 52,250 — 50,024
Reconciliation of the Change in the Carrying Value of Earn-out Consideration	A reconciliation of the change in the carrying value of the earn-out consideration during the three months ended March 31, 2017 is as follows: Atikokan (in thousands) Balance at December 31, 2016 $ 234 Less: Unrealized gain (125 ) Add: Unrealized loss on foreign currency translation 1 Balance at March 31, 2017 $ 110 A reconciliation of the change in the carrying value of the earn-out consideration during the three months ended March 31, 2016 is as follows: Atikokan (in thousands) Balance at December 31, 2015 $ 871 Less: Unrealized loss on foreign currency translation 62 Balance at March 31, 2016 $ 933

Derivative Instruments (Tables)

Derivative Instruments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Net Gain (Loss) on Interest Rate Swaps and Currency Swap	Net gain (loss) on interest rate swaps: For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 2016 (in thousands) Realized loss $ — $ — Unrealized gain (loss) 53 (36 ) Total net gain (loss) on interest rate swaps $ 53 $ (36 ) The fair value of the currency swaps at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 represents the unrealized loss. Net gain (loss) on currency swaps: For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 2016 (in thousands) Realized loss $ — $ — Unrealized gain 208 348 Total net gain on currency swaps $ 208 $ 348
Interest Rate Swaps and Currency Swaps, Recorded in Other Current Liabilities	The interest rate swaps are recorded in other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. As of March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 (in thousands) Interest rate swaps recorded in current liabilities: Gross amounts recognized $ (275 ) $ (328 ) Gross amounts offset in consolidated balance sheets — — Net amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheets $ (275 ) $ (328 ) The currency swaps are recorded in other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. As of March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 (in thousands) Currency swaps recorded in current liabilities: Gross amounts recognized $ (657 ) $ (865 ) Gross amounts offset in consolidated balance sheets — — Net amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheets $ (657 ) $ (865 )
Schedule of Financial Instruments at Fair Value	The following table presents the financial instruments that were accounted for at fair value by level as of March 31, 2017: Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 (in thousands) Liabilities Interest rate swaps — 275 — Currency swaps — 657 — The following table presents the financial instruments that were accounted for at fair value by level as of December 31, 2016: Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 (in thousands) Liabilities Interest rate swaps — 328 — Currency swaps — 865 —

Inventories (Tables)

Inventories (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Inventories	Inventories consisted of the following: As of March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 (in thousands) Finished goods $ 20,320 $ 22,047 Raw materials 6,616 6,084 Total inventory $ 26,936 $ 28,131

Property, Plant and Equipment (

Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment	Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following: As of March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 (in thousands) Land and land improvements $ 4,509 $ 4,508 Buildings and building improvements 13,061 13,059 Machinery and equipment 109,651 120,578 Furniture, fixtures and office equipment 462 445 Computer equipment and computer software 3,121 3,105 Vehicles 8,225 8,529 Leasehold improvements 1,958 2,575 140,987 152,799 Less: Accumulated depreciation (34,370 ) (35,234 ) Total property, plant and equipment, net $ 106,617 $ 117,565
Construction in Progress	Construction in progress consisted of the following: As of March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 (in thousands) Fulghum Fibres $ 647 $ 746 NEWP 348 130 Other 29 29 Total construction in progress $ 1,024 $ 905

Goodwill (Tables)

Goodwill (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
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: Fulghum NEWP Total (in thousands) Balance at December 31, 2016 $ 18,253 $ 10,323 $ 28,576 Impairment (13,125 ) — (13,125 ) Balance at March 31, 2017 $ 5,128 $ 10,323 $ 15,451

Debt (Tables)

Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Total Debt	As of March 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with its debt covenants. Total debt consisted of the following: As of March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 (in thousands) QS Construction Facility $ 13,472 $ 13,500 Fulghum debt 36,883 36,756 GSO Credit Agreement 52,250 52,250 NEWP debt 14,124 13,944 Total debt $ 116,729 $ 116,450 Less: Debt issuance costs (1,212 ) (1,357 ) Plus: Unamortized net discount (77 ) (123 ) Less: Current portion (13,117 ) (11,082 ) Less: Current portion unamortized net premium (164 ) (186 ) Plus: Current portion debt issuance costs 31 31 Long-term debt $ 102,190 $ 103,733

Segment Information (Tables)

Segment Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
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 March 31, 2017 2016 (in thousands) Revenues Fulghum Fibres $ 19,935 $ 27,436 Wood Pellets: Industrial 8,147 9,861 Wood Pellets: NEWP 4,139 2,640 Total revenues $ 32,221 $ 39,937 Gross profit (loss) Fulghum Fibres $ 2,285 $ 4,666 Wood Pellets: Industrial (3,387 ) (4,969 ) Wood Pellets: NEWP 357 434 Total gross profit (loss) $ (745 ) $ 131 Selling, general and administrative expenses Fulghum Fibres $ 1,457 $ 1,201 Wood Pellets: Industrial 2,504 1,308 Wood Pellets: NEWP 500 561 Total segment selling, general and administrative expenses $ 4,461 $ 3,070 Depreciation and amortization Fulghum Fibres $ 293 $ 541 Wood Pellets: Industrial 12 47 Wood Pellets: NEWP 241 295 Total segment depreciation and amortization recorded in operating expenses 546 883 Fulghum Fibres 1,968 1,886 Wood Pellets: Industrial 933 2,994 Wood Pellets: NEWP 482 168 Total depreciation and amortization recorded in cost of sales 3,383 5,048 Total segment depreciation and amortization $ 3,929 $ 5,931 Other operating expenses Fulghum Fibres $ 20,887 (1) $ — Wood Pellets: Industrial — — Wood Pellets: NEWP 10 12 Total segment other operating expenses $ 20,897 $ 12 Operating income (loss) Fulghum Fibres $ (20,352 ) (1) $ 2,923 Wood Pellets: Industrial (5,903 ) (6,324 ) Wood Pellets: NEWP (395 ) (434 ) Total segment operating loss $ (26,650 ) $ (3,835 ) Interest expense Fulghum Fibres $ 497 $ 571 Wood Pellets: Industrial 451 438 Wood Pellets: NEWP 136 141 Total segment interest expense $ 1,084 $ 1,150 Net income (loss) Fulghum Fibres $ (20,862 ) $ 1,653 Wood Pellets: Industrial (6,354 ) (6,738 ) Wood Pellets: NEWP (500 ) (555 ) Total segment net loss $ (27,716 ) $ (5,640 ) Reconciliation of segment net loss to consolidated net loss: Segment net loss $ (27,716 ) $ (5,640 ) Corporate and unallocated expenses recorded as selling, general and administrative expenses (4,222 ) (6,045 ) Corporate and unallocated depreciation and amortization expense (78 ) (125 ) Corporate and unallocated income (expenses) recorded as other income (expense) 2 4 Corporate and unallocated interest expense (1,313 ) (2,423 ) Corporate income tax benefit (expense) (140 ) 3,201 Equity in loss of CVR(2) (918 ) — Income from discontinued operations, net of tax(3) 96 5,574 Consolidated net loss $ (34,289 ) $ (5,454 ) (1) Includes goodwill impairment of $13.1 million and asset impairments of $7.8 million. (2) For the three months ended March 31, 2017, equity in loss of investee includes $0.9 million, which includes the Company’s proportionate share of loss from its investment in CVR and amortization of the basis differences. (3) For the three months ended March 31, 2016, income from discontinued operations, net of tax includes a loss of $0.8 million related to the sale of Rentech Nitrogen Holdings, LLC (“Pasadena Holdings”) and a loss of $0.4 million related to the sale of the property that housed the Company’s product demonstration unit (“PDU”). As of March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 (in thousands) Total assets Fulghum Fibres $ 130,898 $ 155,646 Wood Pellets: Industrial 15,535 19,060 Wood Pellets: NEWP 60,867 61,674 Total segment assets $ 207,300 $ 236,380 Reconciliation of segment total assets to consolidated total assets: Segment total assets $ 207,300 $ 236,380 Corporate and other 67,159 76,337 Consolidated total assets $ 274,459 $ 312,717 As of March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 (in thousands) Total goodwill Fulghum Fibres $ 5,128 $ 18,253 Wood Pellets: NEWP 10,323 10,323 Total goodwill $ 15,451 $ 28,576 For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 2016 (in thousands) Capital expenditures Fulghum Fibres $ 1,312 $ 2,291 Wood Pellets: Industrial 837 2,877 Wood Pellets: NEWP 192 232 Corporate and other 16 399 Total capital expenditures - continuing operations $ 2,357 $ 5,799 Discontinued operations — 11,075 Total capital expenditures $ 2,357 $ 16,874
Summary of Revenues by Geographic Area	The Company’s revenues by geographic area, based on where the customer takes title to the product, were as follows: For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 2016 (in thousands) United States $ 16,743 $ 16,328 Canada 8,147 9,861 Other 7,331 13,748 Total revenues $ 32,221 $ 39,937
Summary of Assets by Geographic Area	The following table sets forth assets by geographic area: As of March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 (in thousands) United States $ 220,893 $ 254,255 Canada 15,535 19,060 Other 38,031 39,402 Total assets $ 274,459 $ 312,717

Net Income (Loss) Per Common 31

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share Allocated to Rentech (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 2016 (in thousands, except for per share data) Numerator: Loss from continuing operations $ (34,385 ) $ (11,028 ) Less: Preferred stock dividends — (1,320 ) Less: (Income) loss from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests 11 (184 ) Less: Income from continuing operations allocated to participating securities — — Loss from continuing operations allocated to common shareholders $ (34,374 ) $ (12,532 ) Numerator: Income from discontinued operations $ 96 $ 5,574 Less: Income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests — (3,222 ) Less: Income from discontinued operations allocated to participating securities (3 ) (63 ) Income from discontinued operations allocated to common shareholders $ 93 $ 2,289 Numerator: Net loss attributable to Rentech common shareholders $ (34,278 ) $ (10,180 ) Less: Income allocated to participating securities — — Net loss allocated to common shareholders $ (34,278 ) $ (10,180 ) Denominator: Weighted average common shares outstanding 23,202 23,036 Effect of dilutive securities: Preferred stock — — Warrants — — Common stock options — — Restricted stock — — Diluted shares outstanding 23,202 23,036 Basic: Continuing operations $ (1.48 ) $ (0.54 ) Discontinued operations $ 0.00 $ 0.10 Net loss per common share $ (1.48 ) $ (0.44 ) Diluted: Continuing operations $ (1.48 ) $ (0.54 ) Discontinued operations $ 0.00 $ 0.10 Net loss per common share $ (1.48 ) $ (0.44 )

Basis of Presentation - Additio

Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail)	May 05, 2017USD ($)Mill	Feb. 28, 2017Mill	May 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017USD ($)T	May 31, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Accumulated deficit				$ (396,974,000)		$ (362,696,000)
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Wood Pellets NEWP [Member]
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Debt instrument covenant, minimum debt service coverage ratio			140.00%
Debt instrument covenant, senior debt coverage ratio			300.00%
Debt instrument covenant, fixed charge coverage ratio			120.00%
Wood Pellets Industrial [Member]
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Expected production capacity of wood pellets per year | T				45,000
Fulghum [Member]
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Number of wood chipping mill purchase | Mill		2
Fulghum [Member] | GSO Credit Agreement [Member]
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Debt instrument, covenant description				These covenants include maintaining (i) a minimum cash flow coverage ratio of at least 1.1 to 1.0, measured on a consolidated basis for Fulghum and its domestic subsidiaries and collectively for selected projects and (ii) a minimum tangible net worth of no less than $11.28 million plus 50% of the net income of Fulghum from and after December 31, 2010. As of March 31, 2017, Fulghum was in compliance with its financial covenants.
Debt instrument, covenant compliance				In the event that Fulghum does not comply with these covenants, the debt agreements do not permit it to make cash distributions to Rentech. In the event that NEWP or Fulghum is not permitted to make cash distributions to Rentech, these restrictions would limit Rentech’s ability to access and use cash from its operating subsidiaries to fund its corporate activities and operations.
Minimum cash flow coverage ratio				110.00%
Minimum tangible net worth				$ 11,280,000
Percentage of net income required in addition to net worth requirement				50.00%
Fulghum [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Number of stores | Mill	2
Minimum [Member] | GSO Credit Agreement [Member]
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Minimum cash on hand required under credit agreement				$ 5,000,000
Minimum [Member] | Fulghum [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Net proceeds in connection with sale of mills	$ 5,000,000
Maximum [Member] | Fulghum [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Net proceeds in connection with sale of mills	$ 5,500,000
Scenario Forecast [Member] | Wood Pellets NEWP [Member]
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Renewal of revolving credit facilities to address seasonal working capital					$ 6,000,000

Recent Accounting Pronounceme33

Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Cash paid for shares withheld to satisfy employee taxes	$ 1,400	$ 15,000
Cash paid for shares withheld to satisfy employee taxes reclassified from operating activity to financing activity		$ 15,000

Investment in CVR - Additional

Investment in CVR - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity investment	$ 52,429		$ 53,335
Fair value of equity method investment	33,400
Loss from investment	(700)
Additional expense	$ 200
CVR Partners L.P [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Common units owned	113,282,973	7,200,000
Fair value of shares received from merger	$ 33,400	$ 60,100
Share price	$ 4.65	$ 8.36
Percentage of ownership of a limited partnership	6.00%
Loss from investment	$ (900)
CVR Partners L.P [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership of a limited partnership	3.00%
CVR Partners L.P [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership of a limited partnership	5.00%

Discontinued Operations - Addit

Discontinued Operations - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 14, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	[1]		$ 96	$ 5,574
PDU [Member]
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sale of business				(400)
Pasadena [Member]
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sale of business		$ (800)		(800)
Energy Technologies [Member]
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax			$ 100	$ 72
[1]	For the three months ended March 31, 2016, income from discontinued operations, net of tax includes a loss of $0.8 million related to the sale of Rentech Nitrogen Holdings, LLC (“Pasadena Holdings”) and a loss of $0.4 million related to the sale of the property that housed the Company’s product demonstration unit (“PDU”).

Discontinued Operations - Summa

Discontinued Operations - Summary of Results of Discontinued Operations (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenues			$ 54,347
Cost of sales			34,696
Gross profit			19,651
Operating income			14,405
Other expenses, net			(5,599)
Income before income taxes			8,806
Income tax expense		$ 100	3,232
Net income	[1]	96	5,574
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests			3,222
Net income attributable to Rentech common shareholders			2,352
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	[1]	96	5,574
RNP, excl. Pasadena [Member]
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenues			54,347
Cost of sales			34,696
Gross profit			19,651
Operating income			14,242
Other expenses, net			(5,549)
Income before income taxes			8,693
Income tax expense			3,191
Net income			5,502
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests			3,222
Net income attributable to Rentech common shareholders			2,280
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax			5,502
Energy Technologies [Member]
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Operating income			163
Other expenses, net			(50)
Income before income taxes			113
Income tax expense			41
Net income		100	72
Net income attributable to Rentech common shareholders			72
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		$ 100	$ 72
[1]	For the three months ended March 31, 2016, income from discontinued operations, net of tax includes a loss of $0.8 million related to the sale of Rentech Nitrogen Holdings, LLC (“Pasadena Holdings”) and a loss of $0.4 million related to the sale of the property that housed the Company’s product demonstration unit (“PDU”).

Fair Value - Fair Value Disclos

Fair Value - Fair Value Disclosure (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Earn-out consideration	$ 110	$ 234

Fair Value - Fair Value and Car

Fair Value - Fair Value and Carrying Value of Borrowings and Interest Rate Swaps (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Fulghum [Member]
Liabilities
Debt instrument fair value	$ 34,465	$ 38,424
Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Wood Pellets NEWP [Member]
Liabilities
Debt instrument fair value	13,952	14,042
Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | GSO Credit Agreement [Member]
Liabilities
Credit Agreement / Revolving Loan	52,250	52,250
Carrying Value Measurement [Member] | Fulghum [Member]
Liabilities
Debt instrument fair value	37,559	37,473
Carrying Value Measurement [Member] | Wood Pellets NEWP [Member]
Liabilities
Debt instrument fair value	14,143	13,973
Carrying Value Measurement [Member] | GSO Credit Agreement [Member]
Liabilities
Credit Agreement / Revolving Loan	$ 50,266	$ 50,024

Fair Value - Additional Informa

Fair Value - Additional Information (Detail) - Atikokan Facility [Member] $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017USD ($)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Earn-out consideration, Carrying Value	$ 0.1
Number of years to determine fair value of earn-out consideration	10 years
Increase or decrease in EBITDA	$ 1
Increase or decrease in earn-out consideration	0.1
Loan provided to sellers	$ 0.9

Fair Value - Reconciliation of

Fair Value - Reconciliation of the Change in the Carrying Value of Earn-out Consideration (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Fair Value, Instruments Classified in Shareholders' Equity Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$ 234
Ending Balance	110
Atikokan Facility [Member]
Fair Value, Instruments Classified in Shareholders' Equity Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	234	$ 871
Less: Unrealized gain	(125)
Add\Less: Unrealized loss on foreign currency translation	1	62
Ending Balance	$ 110	$ 933

Derivative Instruments - Additi

Derivative Instruments - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017USD ($)Swap	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional amount | $	$ 11.1	$ 11.1
Fulghum [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Number of derivative contracts | Swap	1
Fulghum [Member] | Long-term Loans [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative fixed interest rate	6.83%
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative fixed interest rate	7.95%
Industrial Revenue Bond [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative fixed interest rate	5.29%
Industrial Revenue Bond [Member] | Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Number of derivative contracts | Swap	3
Other Industrial Revenue Bond [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative fixed interest rate	5.05%
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives | $	$ 0.3	$ 0.3
Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative maturity date	2016-07

Derivative Instruments - Net Ga

Derivative Instruments - Net Gain (Loss) on Interest Rate Swaps (Detail) - Interest Rate Swaps [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Derivative [Line Items]
Unrealized gain (loss)	$ 300		$ 300
Wood Pellets NEWP [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Unrealized gain (loss)	53	$ (36)
Total net gain (loss) on swaps	$ 53	$ (36)

Derivative Instruments - Net 43

Derivative Instruments - Net Gain (Loss) on Currency Swaps (Detail) - Currency Swaps [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Derivative [Line Items]
Unrealized gain (loss)	$ 208	$ 348
Total net gain (loss) on swaps	$ 208	$ 348

Derivative Instruments - Summar

Derivative Instruments - Summary of Interest Rate Swaps and Currency Swaps, Recorded in Other Current Liabilities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Currency Swaps [Member]
Interest rate swaps and currency swaps recorded in current liabilities:
Gross amounts recognized	$ (657)	$ (865)
Net amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheets	(657)	(865)
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Interest rate swaps and currency swaps recorded in current liabilities:
Gross amounts recognized	(275)	(328)
Net amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheets	$ (275)	$ (328)

Derivative Instruments - Schedu

Derivative Instruments - Schedule of Financial Instruments at Fair Value (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Fair value of current liabilities	$ 275	$ 328
Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Fair value of current liabilities	275	328
Currency Swaps [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Fair value of current liabilities	$ 657	$ 865

Inventories - Inventories (Deta

Inventories - Inventories (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Finished goods	$ 20,320	$ 22,047
Raw materials	6,616	6,084
Total inventory	$ 26,936	$ 28,131

Inventories - Additional Inform

Inventories - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Inventory [Line Items]
Write-down of inventory	$ 2,429	$ 5,062
Wood Pellets Industrial [Member]
Inventory [Line Items]
Write-down of inventory	$ 1,500	$ 5,100

Property, Plant and Equipment -

Property, Plant and Equipment - Property, Plant and Equipment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	$ 140,987	$ 152,799
Less: Accumulated depreciation	(34,370)	(35,234)
Total property, plant and equipment, net	106,617	117,565
Land and land improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	4,509	4,508
Building and Building Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	13,061	13,059
Machinery and Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	109,651	120,578
Furniture, Fixtures and Office Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	462	445
Computer equipment and computer software [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	3,121	3,105
Vehicles [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	8,225	8,529
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	$ 1,958	$ 2,575

Property, Plant and Equipment49

Property, Plant and Equipment - Construction in Progress (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Construction in progress	$ 1,024	$ 905
Fulghum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Construction in progress	647	746
NEWP [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Construction in progress	348	130
Other Construction In Progress [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Construction in progress	$ 29	$ 29

Property, Plant and Equipment50

Property, Plant and Equipment - Additional Information (Detail)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2017Mill	Mar. 31, 2017USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Spare parts inventory		$ 2,429,000	$ 5,062,000
Asset impairment		7,759,000
Fulghum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Number of mills to exercise purchase options | Mill	2
Asset impairment		2,600,000
Processing agreements of mills written off amount		3,900,000
Spare parts inventory		1,300,000
Asset impairment		7,800,000
Construction In Progress [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Portion of capitalized interest costs included in construction in progress		$ 0		$ 0
Atikokan Facility [Member] | OPG Contract [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Contract term period	10 years

Goodwill - Reconciliation of Ch

Goodwill - Reconciliation of Change in Carrying Value of Goodwill (Detail) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017USD ($)
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$ 28,576
Impairment	(13,125)
Ending Balance	15,451
Fulghum [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	18,253
Impairment	(13,125)
Ending Balance	5,128
Wood Pellets NEWP [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	10,323
Ending Balance	$ 10,323

Goodwill - Additional Informati

Goodwill - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2017Mill
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment	$ 13,125
Fulghum [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Number of mills to exercise purchase options | Mill		2
Goodwill impairment	$ 13,125

Debt - Summary of Total Debt (D

Debt - Summary of Total Debt (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt outstanding	$ 116,729	$ 116,450
Less: Debt issuance costs	(1,212)	(1,357)
Plus: Unamortized net discount	(77)	(123)
Less: Current portion	(13,117)	(11,082)
Less: Current portion unamortized net premium	(164)	(186)
Plus: Current portion debt issuance costs	31	31
Long-term debt	102,190	103,733
Construction under QS Construction Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt outstanding	13,472	13,500
Fulghum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt outstanding	36,883	36,756
Wood Pellets NEWP [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt outstanding	14,124	13,944
GSO Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt outstanding	$ 52,250	$ 52,250

Commitments and Contingencies -

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail)	Feb. 20, 2017CAD	Aug. 31, 2015USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2013RailCar	Mar. 31, 2017USD ($)shipmentRail_Carloadst	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017CADRail_Carloadst
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Counter claim amount | $				$ 40,200,000
Loss contingency sought to recover value | $				$ 6,500,000
Canadian National Railway Company [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Loss contingency sought to recover value | CAD	CAD 2,391,858
Loss contingency, compensation amount | CAD	CAD 1,500,000
2013 Drax Contract [Member] | Wood Pellets Industrial [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Wood pallets required to sell from Wawa Facility to Drax				400,000			400,000
2013 Drax Contract Guarantee Obligation until May 1, 2018[Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Guaranteed obligations | CAD							CAD 20,000,000
2013 Drax Contract Guarantee Obligation, Thereafter [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Guaranteed obligations | CAD							11,000,000
2015 Drax Contract [Member] | Wood Pellets Industrial [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Quantity required to deliver under Drax				36,000
Agreed total penalty amount | $		$ 2,600,000				$ 2,600,000
2016 Drax Contract [Member] | Wood Pellets Industrial [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Quantity required to deliver under Drax				134,000
2017 Drax Contract [Member] | Wood Pellets Industrial [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Quantity required to deliver under Drax				336,000
January 2017 Drax Contract [Member] | Wood Pellets Industrial [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Quantity required to deliver under Drax				48,000
March 2017 Drax Contract [Member] | Wood Pellets Industrial [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Number of shipments cancel under Drax | shipment				2
Obligated quantity required to deliver under Drax				193,000
April 2017 Drax Contract [Member] | Wood Pellets Industrial [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Quantity required to deliver under Drax				12,000
OPG Contract [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Guaranteed obligations | CAD							1,000,000
Quantity required to deliver under Drax				45,000
Maximum quantity required to deliver under Atikokan Facility				90,000
Canadian National Contract [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Guaranteed obligations | CAD							CAD 1,500,000
Minimum rail carloads committed to transport thereafter | Rail_Carloads				3,600			3,600
Penalty for delivery shortfalls per rail car | CAD							CAD 1,000
Penalty to be paid | $				$ 600,000	$ 1,400,000	$ 3,300,000
Estimated liability of shortfall penalties recognized for 2017				one-fourth
TrinityRail Lease [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Number of rail cars committed to lease under lease agreement | RailCar			258
Estimated remaining liability due to lease termination | $				$ 1,300,000
Lease termination date				Mar. 31, 2017

Income Taxes - Additional Infor

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income tax (benefit) expense in continuing and discontinuing operations	$ (1,200)	$ 800
Income tax (benefit) expense in continuing operations	(1,224)	(2,402)
Income tax (benefit) expense in discontinuing operations	$ 100	$ 3,232
Effective tax rate	3.00%	18.00%
Federal statutory rate	35.00%	35.00%
Income tax benefit related to the reversal of uncertain tax positions	$ 1,400

Segment Information - Additiona

Segment Information - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017Segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of operating segments	3

Segment Information - Segment I

Segment Information - Segment Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017		Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues		$ 32,221		$ 39,937
Total gross profit (loss)		(745)		131
Total segment selling, general and administrative expenses		8,684		9,114
Total segment depreciation and amortization		624		1,008
Total segment operating income (loss)		(30,950)		(10,004)
Interest expense		(2,397)		(3,572)
Total segment net income (loss)		(34,385)		(11,028)
Total segment other income (expense)		(13)		(13)
Corporate income tax benefit (expense)		1,224		2,402
Equity in loss		906
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	[1]	96		5,574
Net loss		(34,289)		(5,454)
Total assets		274,459			$ 312,717
Total goodwill		15,451			28,576
Capital expenditures		2,357		5,799
Capital expenditures, discontinued operations				11,075
Total capital expenditures		2,357		16,874
CVR Partners L.P [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Equity in loss	[2]	(918)
Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues		32,221		39,937
Total segment selling, general and administrative expenses		4,461		3,070
Total segment depreciation and amortization recorded in operating expenses		546		883
Total depreciation and amortization recorded in cost of sales		3,383		5,048
Total segment depreciation and amortization		3,929		5,931
Total segment other operating expenses		20,897		12
Total segment operating income (loss)		(26,650)		(3,835)
Interest expense		1,084		1,150
Total segment net income (loss)		(27,716)		(5,640)
Total assets		207,300			236,380
Total goodwill		15,451			28,576
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment selling, general and administrative expenses		(4,222)		(6,045)
Total segment depreciation and amortization		(78)		(125)
Interest expense		(1,313)		(2,423)
Total segment other income (expense)		2		4
Corporate income tax benefit (expense)		(140)		3,201
Fulghum [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total goodwill		5,128			18,253
Fulghum [Member] | Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues		19,935		27,436
Total gross profit (loss)		2,285		4,666
Total segment selling, general and administrative expenses		1,457		1,201
Total segment depreciation and amortization recorded in operating expenses		293		541
Total depreciation and amortization recorded in cost of sales		1,968		1,886
Total segment other operating expenses	[3]	20,887
Total segment operating income (loss)		(20,352)	[3]	2,923
Interest expense		497		571
Total segment net income (loss)		(20,862)		1,653
Total assets		130,898			155,646
Total goodwill		5,128			18,253
Capital expenditures		1,312		2,291
Wood Pellets Industrial [Member] | Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues		8,147		9,861
Total gross profit (loss)		(3,387)		(4,969)
Total segment selling, general and administrative expenses		2,504		1,308
Total segment depreciation and amortization recorded in operating expenses		12		47
Total depreciation and amortization recorded in cost of sales		933		2,994
Total segment operating income (loss)		(5,903)		(6,324)
Interest expense		451		438
Total segment net income (loss)		(6,354)		(6,738)
Total assets		15,535			19,060
Capital expenditures		837		2,877
Wood Pellets NEWP [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total goodwill		10,323			10,323
Wood Pellets NEWP [Member] | Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues		4,139		2,640
Total gross profit (loss)		357		434
Total segment selling, general and administrative expenses		500		561
Total segment depreciation and amortization recorded in operating expenses		241		295
Total depreciation and amortization recorded in cost of sales		482		168
Total segment other operating expenses		10		12
Total segment operating income (loss)		(395)		(434)
Interest expense		136		141
Total segment net income (loss)		(500)		(555)
Total assets		60,867			61,674
Total goodwill		10,323			10,323
Capital expenditures		192		232
Corporate and Other[Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets		67,159			$ 76,337
Capital expenditures		$ 16		$ 399
[1]	For the three months ended March 31, 2016, income from discontinued operations, net of tax includes a loss of $0.8 million related to the sale of Rentech Nitrogen Holdings, LLC (“Pasadena Holdings”) and a loss of $0.4 million related to the sale of the property that housed the Company’s product demonstration unit (“PDU”).
[2]	For the three months ended March 31, 2017, equity in loss of investee includes $0.9 million, which includes the Company’s proportionate share of loss from its investment in CVR and amortization of the basis differences.
[3]	Includes goodwill impairment of $13.1 million and asset impairments of $7.8 million.

Segment Information - Segment58

Segment Information - Segment Information (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 14, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment		$ 13,125
Asset impairment		7,759
Equity in loss of investee		(700)
Fulghum [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment		13,100
Asset impairment		7,800
Pasadena [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sale of business	$ (800)		$ (800)
PDU [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sale of business			$ (400)
CVR Partners L.P [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Equity in loss of investee		$ (900)

Segment Information - Summary o

Segment Information - Summary of Revenues by Geographic Area (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 32,221	$ 39,937
United States [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	16,743	16,328
Canada [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	8,147	9,861
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 7,331	$ 13,748

Segment Information - Summary60

Segment Information - Summary of Assets by Geographic Area (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 274,459	$ 312,717
United States [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	220,893	254,255
Canada [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	15,535	19,060
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 38,031	$ 39,402

Net Income (Loss) Per Common 61

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share Allocated to Rentech - Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Numerator:
Loss from continuing operations		$ (34,385)	$ (11,028)
Less: Preferred stock dividends			(1,320)
Less: (Income) loss from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests		11	(184)
Loss from continuing operations allocated to common shareholders		(34,374)	(12,532)
Numerator:
Income from discontinued operations	[1]	96	5,574
Less: Income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests			(3,222)
Less: Income from discontinued operations allocated to participating securities		(3)	(63)
Income from discontinued operations allocated to common shareholders		93	2,289
Numerator:
Net loss attributable to Rentech common shareholders		(34,278)	(10,180)
Net loss allocated to common shareholders		$ (34,278)	$ (10,180)
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding		23,202	23,036
Effect of dilutive securities:
Diluted shares outstanding		23,202	23,036
Basic:
Continuing operations		$ (1.48)	$ (0.54)
Discontinued operations		0	0.10
Net loss per common share		(1.48)	(0.44)
Diluted:
Continuing operations		(1.48)	(0.54)
Discontinued operations		0	0.10
Net loss per common share		$ (1.48)	$ (0.44)
[1]	For the three months ended March 31, 2016, income from discontinued operations, net of tax includes a loss of $0.8 million related to the sale of Rentech Nitrogen Holdings, LLC (“Pasadena Holdings”) and a loss of $0.4 million related to the sale of the property that housed the Company’s product demonstration unit (“PDU”).

Net Income (Loss) Per Common 62

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share Allocated to Rentech - Additional Information (Detail) - shares shares in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Anti-dilutive common stock	1.9	6.3