Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 28, 2019
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include those related to allowance for doubtful accounts, valuation of inventories, impairment of long-lived assets, potential write-down related to investments in and advances to affiliates and notes receivable from affiliates, income taxes, lease liabilities and right of use (“ROU”) assets and accrued pension liability. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Supplemental Cash Flow Information	Supplemental Cash Flow Information Non-cash investing and financing activities for the nine months ended September 28, 2019, included leased assets obtained in exchange for new operating and finance lease liabilities of $62 million and $31 million, respectively. Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities was $101 million, all included in net cash from operating activities. Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of finance lease liabilities was $2 million. Seaboard reports the amortization of ROU assets and the change in operating lease liabilities in other liabilities, exclusive of debt in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets The change in the carrying amount of goodwill of $2 million from year-end to September 28, 2019 was related to foreign currency exchange differences within the Commodity Trading and Milling (“CT&M”) segment. As of September 28, 2019, intangible assets were $62 million, net of accumulated amortization of $13 million.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards	Recently Issued Accounting Standard Adopted On January 1, 2019, Seaboard adopted guidance which requires the recognition of ROU assets and lease liabilities for most leases. As a result of this adoption, Seaboard recorded operating lease ROU assets of $460 million, adjusted for the deferred rent liability balance at year-end, and lease liabilities of $498 million. The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income and the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows. The accounting for finance leases, formerly called capital leases, remained substantially unchanged. Seaboard adopted the new guidance using the effective date method and, therefore, prior period financials were not revised. Seaboard elected the package of practical expedients available upon transition, which permitted Seaboard to not reassess prior conclusions related to contracts containing leases, lease classification and initial direct costs. See Note 4 for additional details on the impact of adopting this new accounting standard. Recently Issued Accounting Standard Not Yet Adopted In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued guidance on the measurement of financial instrument credit losses that requires, among other things, the use of a new current expected credit loss ("CECL") model in order to determine the allowance for doubtful accounts with respect to accounts receivable and notes receivable. The CECL model requires estimation of lifetime expected credit loss based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable supportable forecasts. The new guidance replaces the existing incurred loss model and will be effective for Seaboard on January 1, 2020. The adoption of this standard will be through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the effective date. Seaboard is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on the consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2019

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include those related to allowance for doubtful accounts, valuation of inventories, impairment of long-lived assets, potential write-down related to investments in and advances to affiliates and notes receivable from affiliates, income taxes, lease liabilities and right of use (“ROU”) assets and accrued pension liability. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

Non-cash investing and financing activities for the nine months ended September 28, 2019, included leased assets obtained in exchange for new operating and finance lease liabilities of $62 million and $31 million, respectively. Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities was $101 million, all included in net cash from operating activities. Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of finance lease liabilities was $2 million. Seaboard reports the amortization of ROU assets and the change in operating lease liabilities in other liabilities, exclusive of debt in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The change in the carrying amount of goodwill of $2 million from year-end to September 28, 2019 was related to foreign currency exchange differences within the Commodity Trading and Milling (“CT&M”) segment. As of September 28, 2019, intangible assets were $62 million, net of accumulated amortization of $13 million.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Recently Issued Accounting Standard Adopted

On January 1, 2019, Seaboard adopted guidance which requires the recognition of ROU assets and lease liabilities for most leases. As a result of this adoption, Seaboard recorded operating lease ROU assets of $460 million, adjusted for the deferred rent liability balance at year-end, and lease liabilities of $498 million. The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income and the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows. The accounting for finance leases, formerly called capital leases, remained substantially unchanged. Seaboard adopted the new guidance using the effective date method and, therefore, prior period financials were not revised. Seaboard elected the package of practical expedients available upon transition, which permitted Seaboard to not reassess prior conclusions related to contracts containing leases, lease classification and initial direct costs. See Note 4 for additional details on the impact of adopting this new accounting standard.

Recently Issued Accounting Standard Not Yet Adopted

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued guidance on the measurement of financial instrument credit losses that requires, among other things, the use of a new current expected credit loss ("CECL") model in order to determine the allowance for doubtful accounts with respect to accounts receivable and notes receivable. The CECL model requires estimation of lifetime expected credit loss based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable supportable forecasts. The new guidance replaces the existing incurred loss model and will be effective for Seaboard on January 1, 2020. The adoption of this standard will be through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the effective date. Seaboard is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on the consolidated financial statements.