Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 314,570	$ 548,888
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	227,193	180,229
Provision for doubtful accounts	1,176	778
Amortization of debt issuance costs	1,018	1,504
Stock-based compensation expense	6,588	7,544
Loss from disposition of property, plant and equipment	6,541	2,590
Gains realized on previously held shares of Axiall common stock and from sales of securities	(53,720)	(3,795)
Gain on acquisition, net of loss on the fair value remeasurement of preexisting equity interest	0	(21,045)
Impairment of equity method investment	0	4,925
Deferred income taxes	105,910	7,585
Windfall tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements	(1,190)	(2,452)
Income from equity method investments, net of dividends	(61)	(1,016)
Other losses, net	833	3,584
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of business acquisitions
Accounts receivable	(92,311)	54,937
Inventories	(6,124)	105,899
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,631	(5,496)
Accounts payable	34,109	(30,511)
Accrued liabilities	73,157	(10,893)
Other, net	(75,160)	(1,955)
Net cash provided by operating activities	544,160	841,300
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired	(2,437,829)	15,782
Additions to cost method investment	(4,000)	0
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(467,330)	(329,236)
Proceeds from disposition of assets	213	17
Proceeds from disposition of equity method investment	0	27,865
Proceeds from sales and maturities of securities	662,938	16,056
Purchase of securities	(138,422)	(282,542)
Settlements of derivative instruments	(4,655)	(1,535)
Net cash used for investing activities	(2,389,085)	(553,593)
Cash flows from financing activities
Debt issuance costs	(35,207)	0
Dividends paid	(71,933)	(67,852)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(12,300)	(10,982)
Proceeds from debt issuance	1,428,512	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,650	984
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable	5,597	19,483
Proceeds from term loan and drawdown of revolver	600,000	0
Restricted cash associated with term loan	(154,000)	0
Repayment of notes payable	(10,602)	(32,954)
Repayment of revolver	(125,000)	0
Repurchase of common stock for treasury	(67,406)	(114,254)
Windfall tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements	1,190	2,452
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	1,560,501	(203,123)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	2,418	(3,260)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(282,006)	81,324
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	662,525	880,601
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 380,519	$ 961,925