Note 20 - Segment Information (Details) - Summary of Business by Segment - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Sep. 30, 2015
Jun. 30, 2015
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Revenues:                      
Revenues                 $ 299,611 $ 341,838 $ 444,919
Segment gross profit:                      
Segment gross margins $ 29,513 $ 8,675 $ 5,544 $ 13,314 $ 28,921 $ 20,872 $ 6,578 $ 9,602 57,046 65,973 100,165
Income before interest and taxes                 46,971 56,128 90,254
Interest and other income                 5,213 6,877 5,875
Interest and other expense                 (315) 4,340 1,222
Provision for income taxes                 (5,448) (14,145) (23,317)
Net income $ 29,647 $ 4,850 $ 3,793 $ 8,131 $ 30,128 $ 11,451 $ 5,347 $ 6,274 46,421 53,200 74,034
Operating Segments [Member] | Chemicals [Member]                      
Revenues:                      
Revenues                 125,848 146,146 161,501
Segment gross profit:                      
Segment gross margins                 35,452 46,062 54,708
Operating Segments [Member] | Biofuels [Member]                      
Revenues:                      
Revenues                 173,763 195,692 283,418
Segment gross profit:                      
Segment gross margins                 21,594 19,911 45,457
Operating Segments [Member] | Custom Chemicals [Member] | Chemicals [Member]                      
Revenues:                      
Revenues                 108,160 127,956 147,095
Operating Segments [Member] | Performance Chemicals [Member] | Chemicals [Member]                      
Revenues:                      
Revenues                 17,688 18,190 14,406
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]                      
Segment gross profit:                      
Corporate expenses                 $ 10,075 $ 9,845 $ 9,911