Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Detail)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Amalgamated Sugar Company LLC USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Forward Contracts USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Forward Contracts USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Forward Contracts Wells Fargo Bank Na Canadian Dollar USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Forward Contracts DnB Nor Bank ASA USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Forward Contracts DnB Nor Bank ASA EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2013 Forward Contracts Minimum Wells Fargo Bank Na Canadian Dollar	Dec. 31, 2013 Forward Contracts Minimum DnB Nor Bank ASA U S Dollar	Dec. 31, 2013 Forward Contracts Minimum DnB Nor Bank ASA Euros	Dec. 31, 2013 Forward Contracts Maximum Wells Fargo Bank Na Canadian Dollar	Dec. 31, 2013 Forward Contracts Maximum DnB Nor Bank ASA U S Dollar	Dec. 31, 2013 Forward Contracts Maximum DnB Nor Bank ASA Euros	Dec. 31, 2012 Kronos Worldwide, Inc. Term Loan Per Thousand Dollar Principal Amount USD ($)
Financial Instrument At Fair Value [Line Items]
Estimated fair value of currency forward contracts	$ (1,000,000)	$ 1,800,000		$ (1,000,000)	$ 1,800,000
Estimated fair value of currency forward contracts included accounts and other receivables				200,000	1,800,000
Estimated fair value of currency forward contracts included accounts payable and accrued liabilities				1,200,000
Estimated market price of the notes															1,017.5
Principal amount of debt instrument															1,000
Marketable securities	253,300,000	256,800,000	250,000,000
Notional amount currency forward contract						36,000,000	20,000,000	20,000,000
Exchange floor rate									1.02	6.12	8.04	1.06	6.25	8.41
Maturity rate of derivative						$ 3,000,000	$ 5,000,000	€ 5,000,000