Reportable segments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Disclosure of entity's operating segments [Abstract]

Disclosure of entity's operating segments [text block]

Operating segment items as of December 31, 2020	Specialty plant nutrients			Iodine and its derivatives			Lithium and its derivatives			Industrial chemicals			Potassium			Other products and services			Reportable segments			Operating segments			Unallocated amounts			Total as of December 31, 2020
	ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$
Revenue		701,688			334,657			383,373			160,608			209,294			27,571			1,817,191			1,817,191			-			1,817,191
Revenues from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Revenues from external customers and transactions with other operating segments of the same entity		701,688			334,657			383,373			160,608			209,294			27,571			1,817,191			1,817,191			-			1,817,191
Costs of sales		(537,801	)		(168,499	)		(297,048	)		(119,092	)		(187,019	)		(24,862	)		(1,334,321	)		(1,334,321	)		-			(1,334,321	)
Administrative expenses		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(107,017	)		(107,017	)
Finance expense		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(82,199	)		(82,199	)
Depreciation and amortization expense		(55,335	)		(40,687	)		(56,092	)		(14,136	)		(34,570	)		(3,092	)		(203,912	)		(203,912	)		-			(203,912	)
The entity’s interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			8,940			8,940
Income (loss) before taxes		163,887			166,158			86,325			41,516			22,275			2,709			482,870			482,870			(244,332	)		238,538
Income tax expense		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(70,179	)		(70,179	)
Net income (loss)		163,887			166,158			86,325			41,516			22,275			2,709			482,870			482,870			(314,511	)		168,359
Assets																				-						4,818,463			4,818,463
Equity-accounted investees		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			85,993			85,993
Incorporation of non-current assets other than financial instruments, deferred tax assets, net defined benefit assets and rights arising from insurance contracts		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			358,009			358,009
Liabilities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			2,655,885			2,655,885
Impairment loss recognized in profit or loss																				-						4,684			4,684
Reversal of impairment losses recognized in profit or loss for the period		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(11,644	)		(11,644	)
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			182,234			182,234
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(167,091	)		(167,091	)
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(94,132	)		(94,132	)

Operating segment items as of December 31, 2019	Specialty plant nutrients			Iodine and its derivatives			Lithium and its derivatives			Industrial chemicals			Potassium			Other products and services			Reportable segments			Operating segments			Unallocated amounts			Total as of December 31, 2019
	ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$
Revenue		723,920			371,020			505,714			94,875			212,151			35,975			1,943,655			1,943,655			-			1,943,655
Revenues from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Revenues from external customers and transactions with other operating segments of the same entity		723,920			371,020			505,714			94,875			212,151			35,975			1,943,655			1,943,655			-			1,943,655
Costs of sales		(573,808	)		(230,468	)		(306,250	)		(63,590	)		(176,199	)		(33,288	)		(1,383,603	)		(1,383,603	)		-			(1,383,603	)
Administrative expenses		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(117,180	)		(117,180	)
Finance expense		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(76,939	)		(76,939	)
Depreciation and amortization expense		(67,700	)		(43,336	)		(45,238	)		(6,854	)		(37,691	)		(532	)		(201,351	)		(201,351	)		-			(201,351	)
The entity’s interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			9,786			9,786
Income tax expense, continuing operations		150,112			140,552			199,464			31,285			35,952			2,687			560,052			560,052			(169,430	)		390,622
Income tax expense		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(110,019	)		(110,019	)
Net income (loss)		150,112			140,552			199,464			31,285			35,952			2,687			560,052			560,052			(279,449	)		280,603
Assets		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			4,684,151			4,684,151
Equity-accounted investees		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			109,435			109,435
Incorporation of non-current assets other than financial instruments, deferred tax assets, net defined benefit assets and rights arising from insurance contracts		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			110,021			110,021
Liabilities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			2,549,679			2,549,679
Impairment loss recognized in profit or loss		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(1,057	)		(1,057	)
Reversal of impairment losses recognized in profit or loss for the period		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(1,102	)		(1,102	)
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			426,971			426,971
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(485,471	)		(485,471	)
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			105,896			105,896

Operating segment items as of December 31, 2018	Specialty plant nutrients			Iodine and its derivatives			Lithium and its derivatives			Industrial chemicals			Potassium			Other products and services			Reportable segments			Operating segments			Unallocated amounts			Total as of December 31, 2018
	ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$
Revenue		781,751			324,972			734,801			108,267			267,474			48,538			2,265,803			2,265,803			-			2,265,803
Revenues from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Revenues from external customers and transactions with other operating segments of the same entity		781,751			324,972			734,801			108,267			267,474			48,538			2,265,803			2,265,803			-			2,265,803
Costs of sales		(613,267	)		(217,464	)		(316,875	)		(72,964	)		(217,386	)		(47,675	)		(1,485,631	)		(1,485,631	)		-			(1,485,631	)
Administrative expenses		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(118,126	)		(118,126	)
Finance expense		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(57,807	)		(57,807	)
Depreciation and amortization expense		(79,061	)		(42,438	)		(42,283	)		(8,454	)		(47,940	)		(651	)		(220,827	)		(220,827	)		-			(220,827	)
The entity’s interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			6,351			6,351
Income tax expense, continuing operations		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(178,975	)		(178,975	)
Income tax expense		168,484			107,508			417,926			35,303			50,088			863			780,172			780,172			(159,134	)		621,038
Net income (loss)		168,484			107,508			417,926			35,303			50,088			863			780,172			780,172			(338,109	)		442,063
Assets		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			4,268,094			4,268,094
Equity-accounted investees		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			111,549			111,549
Incorporation of non-current assets other than financial instruments, deferred tax assets, net defined benefit assets and rights arising from insurance contracts		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(15,028	)		(15,028	)
Liabilities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			2,130,292			2,130,292
Impairment loss recognized in profit or loss		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			2,967			2,967
Reversal of impairment losses recognized in profit or loss for the period		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			524,839			524,839
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(187,004	)		(187,004	)
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(387,313	)		(387,313	)

Items in the statement of comprehensive income as of December 31, 2020	Specialty plant nutrients			Iodine and its derivatives			Lithium and its derivatives			Industrial chemicals			Potassium			Other products and services			Corporate Unit			Total segments and Corporate unit
	ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$
Revenue		701,688			334,657			383,373			160,608			209,294			27,571			-			1,817,191
Costs of sales		(537,801	)		(168,499	)		(297,048	)		(119,092	)		(187,019	)		(24,862	)		-			(1,334,321	)
Gross profit		163,887			166,158			86,325			41,516			22,275			2,709			-			482,870
Other incomes by function		-			-			-			-			-			-			26,893			26,893
Administrative expenses		-			-			-			-			-			-			(107,017	)		(107,017	)
Other expenses by function		-			-			-			-			-			-			(99,612	)		(99,612	)
Impairment of gains and review of impairment losses (impairment losses) determined in accordance with IFRS 9		-			-			-			-			-			-			4,684			4,684
Other gains (losses)		-			-			-			-			-			-			(5,313	)		(5,313	)
Financial income		-			-			-			-			-			-			13,715			13,715
Financial costs		-			-			-			-			-			-			(82,199	)		(82,199	)
interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method		-			-			-			-			-			-			8,940			8,940
Exchange differences		-			-			-			-			-			-			(4,423	)		(4,423	)
Profit (loss) before taxes		163,887			166,158			86,325			41,516			22,275			2,709			(244,332	)		238,538
Income tax expense		-			-			-			-			-			-			(70,179	)		(70,179	)
Profit (loss) from continuing operations		163,887			166,158			86,325			41,516			22,275			2,709			(314,511	)		168,359
Profit (loss) from discontinued operations		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Profit (loss)		163,887			166,158			86,325			41,516			22,275			2,709			(314,511	)		168,359
Profit, attributable to
Profit (loss) attributable to the controller´s owners		-			-			-			-			-			-			164,518			164,518
Profit (loss) attributable to the non-controllers		-			-			-			-			-			-			3,841			3,841
Profit		-			-			-			-			-			-			168,359			168,359

Items in the statement of comprehensive income as of December 31, 2019	Specialty plant nutrients			Iodine and its derivatives			Lithium and its derivatives			Industrial chemicals			Potassium			Other products and services			Corporate Unit			Total segments and Corporate unit
	ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$
Revenue		723,920			371,020			505,714			94,875			212,151			35,975			-			1,943,655
Cost of sales		(573,808	)		(230,468	)		(306,250	)		(63,590	)		(176,199	)		(33,288	)		-			(1,383,603	)
Gross profit		150,112			140,552			199,464			31,285			35,952			2,687			-			560,052
Other incomes by function		-			-			-			-			-			-			18,218			18,218
Administrative expenses		-			-			-			-			-			-			(117,180	)		(117,180	)
Other expenses by function		-			-			-			-			-			-			(25,995	)		(25,995	)
Impairment of gains and review of impairment losses (impairment losses) determined in accordance with IFRS 9		-			-			-			-			-			-			(1,057	)		(1,057	)
Other gains (losses)		-			-			-			-			-			-			(383	)		(383	)
Financial income		-			-			-			-			-			-			26,289			26,289
Financial costs		-			-			-			-			-			-			(76,939	)		(76,939	)
interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method		-			-			-			-			-			-			9,786			9,786
Exchange differences		-			-			-			-			-			-			(2,169	)		(2,169	)
Profit (loss) before taxes		150,112			140,552			199,464			31,285			35,952			2,687			(169,430	)		390,622
Income tax expense		-			-			-			-			-			-			(110,019	)		(110,019	)
Profit (loss) from continuing operations		150,112			140,552			199,464			31,285			35,952			2,687			(279,449	)		280,603
Profit (loss) from discontinued operations		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Profit (loss)		150,112			140,552			199,464			31,285			35,952			2,687			(279,449	)		280,603
Profit (loss), attributable to
Profit (loss) attributable to the controller´s owners		-			-			-			-			-			-			278,115			278,115
Profit (loss) attributable to the non-controllers		-			-			-			-			-			-			2,488			2,488
Profit (loss)		-			-			-			-			-			-			280,603			280,603

Items in the statement of comprehensive income as of December 31, 2018	Specialty plant nutrients			Iodine and its derivatives			Lithium and its derivatives			Industrial chemicals			Potassium			Other products and services			Corporate Unit			Total segments and Corporate unit
	ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$
Revenue		781,751			324,972			734,801			108,267			267,474			48,538			-			2,265,803
Cost of sales		(613,267	)		(217,464	)		(316,875	)		(72,964	)		(217,386	)		(47,675	)		-			(1,485,631	)
Gross profit		168,484			107,508			417,926			35,303			50,088			863			-			780,172
Other incomes by function		-			-			-			-			-			-			32,048			32,048
Administrative expenses		-			-			-			-			-			-			(118,126	)		(118,126	)
Other expenses by function		-			-			-			-			-			-			(36,907	)		(36,907	)
Impairment of gains and review of impairment losses (impairment losses) determined in accordance with IFRS 9		-			-			-			-			-			-			2,967			2,967
Other gains (losses)		-			-			-			-			-			-			6,404			6,404
Financial income		-			-			-			-			-			-			22,533			22,533
Financial costs		-			-			-			-			-			-			(57,807	)		(57,807	)
interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method		-			-			-			-			-			-			6,351			6,351
Exchange differences		-			-			-			-			-			-			(16,597	)		(16,597	)
Profit (loss) before taxes		168,484			107,508			417,926			35,303			50,088			863			(159,134	)		621,038
Income tax expense		-			-			-			-			-			-			(178,975	)		(178,975	)
Profit (loss) from continuing operations		168,484			107,508			417,926			35,303			50,088			863			(338,109	)		442,063
Profit (loss) from discontinued operations		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Profit (loss)		168,484			107,508			417,926			35,303			50,088			863			(338,109	)		442,063
Profit (loss), attributable to
Profit (loss) attributable to the controller´s owners		-			-			-			-			-			-			439,830			439,830
Profit (loss) attributable to the non-controllers		-			-			-			-			-			-			2,233			2,233
Profit (loss)		-			-			-			-			-			-			442,063			442,063

Disclosure of geographical areas [text block]

Items as of December 31, 2020	Chile		Latin America and the Caribbean		Europe		North America		Asia and others		Total
	ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$
Revenue		153,745		159,990		380,126		427,572		695,758		1,817,191
Investment accounted for under the equity method		-		-		41,273		14,468		30,252		85,993
Intangible assets other than goodwill		95,934		565		825		2,274		78,809		178,407
Goodwill		23,065		-		18,901		-		-		41,966
Property, plant and equipment, net		1,667,824		642		12,592		3,494		52,767		1,737,319
Right-of-use assets		23,461		2,298		2,428		1,776		61		30,024
Other non-current assets		19,377		17		7		2,641		-		22,042
Non-current assets		1,829,661		3,522		76,026		24,653		161,889		2,095,751

Items as of December 31, 2019	Chile		Latin America and the Caribbean		Europe		North America			Asia and others		Total
	ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$			ThUS$		ThUS$
Revenue		211,857		161,928		393,764		451,272			724,834		1,943,655
Investment accounted for under the equity method		-		-		42,243		14,669			52,523		109,435
Intangible assets other than goodwill		106,910		420		1,397		2,683			76,948		188,358
Goodwill		23,205		-		11,521		-			-		34,726
Property, plant and equipment, net		1,526,919		513		3,424		6,250			32,800		1,569,906
Right-of-use assets		29,427		2,734		2,817		2,083			103		37,164
Other non-current assets		20,321		28		4		(624	)		-		19,729
Non-current assets		1,706,782		3,695		61,406		25,061			162,374		1,959,318

Items as of December 31, 2018	Chile			Latin America and the Caribbean		Europe		North America			Asia and others		Total
	ThUS$			ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$			ThUS$		ThUS$
Revenue		189,349			180,189		479,664		471,515			945,086		2,265,803
Investment accounted for under the equity method		(6,588	)		-		61,256		16,115			40,766		111,549
Intangible assets other than goodwill		110,544			1,215		238		152			77,201		189,350
Goodwill		22,535			86		11,521		724			-		34,866
Property, plant and equipment, net		1,445,349			347		4,451		3,098			1,578		1,454,823
Other non-current assets		17,111			23		-		(892	)		11,297		27,539
Non-current assets		1,588,951			1,671		77,466		19,197			130,842		1,818,127