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Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Detail)				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Amalgamated Sugar Company LLC USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Chemicals Forward Contracts USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Chemicals Canadian Dollar Forward Contracts USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Chemicals Norwegian Kroner Forward Contracts United States Dollar USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Chemicals Norwegian Kroner Forward Contracts Euro EUR (€)	Jun. 30, 2013 Chemicals Minimum Canadian Dollar Forward Contracts	Jun. 30, 2013 Chemicals Minimum Norwegian Kroner Forward Contracts United States Dollar	Jun. 30, 2013 Chemicals Minimum Norwegian Kroner Forward Contracts Euro EUR (€)	Jun. 30, 2013 Chemicals Maximum Canadian Dollar Forward Contracts	Jun. 30, 2013 Chemicals Maximum Norwegian Kroner Forward Contracts United States Dollar	Jun. 30, 2013 Chemicals Maximum Norwegian Kroner Forward Contracts Euro EUR (€)	Jun. 30, 2013 Kronos International, Inc. USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Kronos International, Inc. USD ($)
Financial Instrument At Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount currency forward contract					$ 54,000,000	$ 35,000,000	€ 22,000,000
Exchange floor rate								1.02	5.84	7.50	1.06	6.14	8.07
Maturity rate of derivative					3,000,000	5,000,000				2,000,000			5,000,000
Estimated fair value of currency forward contracts	(2,000,000)	1,800,000		2,000,000
Accounts and other receivables				300,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities				2,300,000
Currency transaction loss				2,000,000
Estimated market price of the notes														1,004.4	1,017.5
Principal amount of debt instrument														1,000	1,000
Redemption price of investment			$ 250,000,000