Represents the length of time the collaborative agreement is in effect subject to terms specified within the agreement.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the amount of collaborative arrangements and noncollaborative arrangement entrance fees and milestone payments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the amount of license issue royalty payable by the entity as per the agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the amount of royalty payments agreed to be paid upon achieving each benchmark, under the collaborative agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the amount of licenses fees and royalties paid by the entity as per the collaboration agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the amount of milestone payments that will be made by the entity as per the collaboration agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Represents the amount of milestone payments incurred by the entity as per the collaboration agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Represents the amount of milestone payments incurred by the entity for the collaboration agreement before amendment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Represents the amount of milestone payments incurred by the entity for the amended collaboration agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Represents the amount of non-refundable annual royalty payable by the entity as per the agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the amount that will be paid by the entity as per the amended collaboration agreement for transfer of additional serotypes and related technology.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	sva_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Represents of number of doses of vaccines obtained from Chinese government.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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- Definition

Entrance fee recorded during the period as research and development expense.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Milestone fee recorded during the period as research and development expense.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Amount of payment made for use of product in research and development expense.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Represents the royalty payments on net sales, expressed as a percentage, under collaborative agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for royalties. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Current Liabilities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509677

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 8
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
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-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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- Definition

The cash outflow for purchases of and capital improvements on property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3213-108585

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- Definition

Amount of expense related to royalty payments under a contractual arrangement such as payment for mineral and drilling rights and use of technology or intellectual property.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

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Collaboration Agreements (Details Textual) € in Thousands, $ in Thousands				1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 03, 2014	Dec. 14, 2011 USD ($)	Mar. 12, 2009 USD ($)	Aug. 18, 2009 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Accrued Royalties, Current					$ 8
Milestone Fee Recorded Research And Development Expenses					568	€ 500
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets					84
Technology Transfer Agreement [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Noncollaborative Arrangement Milestone Payments Incurred							$ 300					$ 300
Tianjing Can Sino Biotechnology Inc [Member] \| Technology Transfer Agreement [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Noncollaborative Arrangement Payment for Transfer of Additional Serotypes and Related Technology		$ 300
Collaborative Arrangements and Noncollaborative Arrangement Milestone Payments Incurred					1,200
Collaborative Arrangements and Noncollaborative Arrangement Milestone Payments Incurred for Agreement before Amendment					1,000
Collaborative Arrangements and Noncollaborative Arrangement Milestone Payments Incurred for Amended Agreement								$ 200
Tianjing Can Sino Biotechnology Inc [Member] \| Technology Transfer Agreement [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Noncollaborative Arrangement Milestone Payments			$ 3,000
Royalty Payment on Net Sales			10.00%
Tianjing Can Sino Biotechnology Inc [Member] \| Technology Transfer Agreement [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Royalty Payment on Net Sales			6.00%
National Institute of Health [Member] \| Patent License Agreement [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Noncollaborative Arrangement License Issue Royalty				$ 80
Collaborative Arrangements and Noncollaborative Arrangement License Royalty Payments Upon Achievement of Each Benchmark					330
Royalty Expense							$ 9	8
National Institute of Health [Member] \| Patent License Agreement [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Royalty Payment on Net Sales				4.00%
National Institute of Health [Member] \| Patent License Agreement [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Royalty Payment on Net Sales				1.50%
Collaborative Arrangements and Noncollaborative Arrangement Non Refundable Annual Royalty				$ 8
Medimmune LLC [Member] \| H5N1 Licenses [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Noncollaborative Arrangement Milestone Payments Incurred					$ 9,900
Collaborative Arrangements and Noncollaborative Arrangement Licenses Fees and Royalties Paid											$ 3,400
Doses Of Vaccines Obtained From Government										3,000,000
Accrued Royalties, Current										$ 1,036
Institute For Translational Vaccinology [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Noncollaborative Arrangement Milestone Payments								1,500
Collaborative Arrangements and Noncollaborative Arrangement Entrance Fees and Milestone Payments								2,406
Entrance Fee Recorded As Research And Development Expense								665	€ 500
Collaborative Arrangement Term of Agreement	50 years
Institute For Translational Vaccinology [Member] \| Sabin Inactivated Polio Vaccine [Member]
Payment Made Recorded As Research And Development Expense								$ 125	€ 94