Equity-accounted investees (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Disclosure Of Equity-accounted investees [Abstract]

Disclosure of associates [text block]

As of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, in accordance with criteria established in Note 3.19, investment in associates recognized according to the equity method of accounting and joint ventures are as follows:

Associates	Equity-accounted investees				Share in profit (loss) of associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method						Share in other comprehensive income of associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method, net of tax				Share in total other comprehensive income of associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method
	12/31/2017		12/31/2016		12/31/2017		12/31/2016		12/31/2015		12/31/2017		12/31/2016		12/31/2017		12/31/2016		12/31/2015
	ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$
Sales de Magnesio Ltda.		-		-		-		-		819		-		-		-		-		819
Abu Dhabi Fertilizer Industries WWL		15,936		13,343		1,483		1,482		1,455		-		-		1,483		1,482		1,910
Doktor Tarsa Tarim Sanayi AS		21,788		16,712		6,427		4,026		2,505		-		590		6,427		4,616		2,505
Ajay North America		14,432		13,457		3,677		2,794		3,600		-		-		3,677		2,794		3,600
Ajay Europe SARL		8,144		7,373		1,049		1,132		1,732		26		(7)		1,075		1,126		1,711
Charlee SQM Thailand Co. Ltd,		2,301		1,763		393		244		122		-		-		393		244		210
SQM Eastmed Turkey.		-		-		(25)		-		(4)		-		-		(25)		-		(4)
Total		82,601		72,648		13,004		9,678		10,229		26		583		13,030		10,262		10,751

Disclosure of interests in associates [text block]

Associate	Description of the nature of the relationship	Domicile	Country of incorporation	Share of ownership in associates		Dividends received
						12/31/2017	12/31/2016
						ThUS$	ThUS$
Abu Dhabi Fertilizer Industries WWL	Distribution and commercialization of specialty plant nutrients in the Middle East.	PO Box 71871, Abu Dhabi	United Arab Emirates	37	%	-	-
Doktor Tarsa Tarim Sanayi AS	Distribution and commercialization of specialty plant nutrients in Turkey.	Organize Sanayi Bolgesi, Ikinci Kisim, 22 cadde TR07100 Antalya	Turkey	50	%	-	-
Ajay North America	Production and distribution of iodine derivatives.	1400 Industry RD Power Springs GA 30129	United States	49	%	1,123	2,605
Ajay Europe SARL	Production and commercialization of iodine derivatives.	Z.I. du Grand Verger BP 227 53602 Evron Cedex	France	50	%	968	1,338
SQM Eastmed Turkey	Production and commercialization of specialty products.	Organize Sanayi Bolgesi, Ikinci Kisim, 22 cadde TR07100 Antalya	Turkey	50	%	-	-
Charlee SQM Thailand Co. Ltd.	Distribution and commercialization of specialty plant nutrients.	31 Soi 138 (Meesuk) LLapdrawrd, Bangkapi, 10240 Bangkok	Thailand	40	%	-	-
Kore Potash Ltd.	Prospecting, exploration and mining development.	L 3 88 William St Perth, was 6000	Australia	18,02	%	-	-

The companies described in the table below are related parties of the following associates:

(1) Doktor Tarsa Tarim Sanayi AS

(2) Terra Tarsa B.V.

	Description of the nature of the relationship	Domicile	Country of incorporation	Share of ownership in associates		Dividends received
Terra Tarsa B.V. (1)	Distribution and trading of specialty plant nutrients.	Herikerbergweg 238, Luna Arena, 1101CM Amsterdam PO Box 23393, 1100DW Amsterdam Zuidoost	Holland	50	%	-	-
Plantacote N.V. (1)	Sale of CRF and production and sales of WSNPK	Houtdok-Noordkaai 25a, 2030 Antwerpen, Belgium	Belgium	100	%	-	-
Doktolab Tarim Arastima San. Tic As (1)	Laboratory services	27. Cd. No:2, 07190 Aosb 2. Kisim/Dösemealti, Antalya, Turkey	Turkey	100	%	-	-
Terra Tarsa Ukraine LLC (2)	Distribution and trading of specialty plant nutrients.	74800 Ukraine, Kakhovka, 4 Yuzhnaya Str.	Ukraine	100	%	-	-
Terra Tarsa Don LLC (2	Distribution and sale of specialty fertilizers	Zorge Street, house 17, 344090, Rostov-on-Don	Russian Federation	100	%	-	-

Disclosure of Detailed Informatin on Summarized Financial Information of Associates Explanatory [Text Block]

11.2 Assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses of associates

12/31/2017
									Revenue		Gain (loss) from continuing operations		Other comprehensive income		Comprehensive income
	Assets				Liabilities
	Current		Non-current		Current		Non-current
	ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$
Abu Dhabi Fertilizer Industries WWL		44,801		2,032		3,764		-		35,131		4,008		-		4,008
Doktor Tarsa Tarim Sanayi AS		81,057		10,731		36,960		11,251		75,269		12,854		-		12,854
Ajay North America		19,426		12,498		2,470		-		36,185		7,505		-		7,505
Ajay Europe SARL		23,555		1,266		8,534		-		32,310		2,098		52		2,150
Charlee SQM Thailand Co. Ltd.		8,585		712		3,292		255		13,618		981		-		981
SQM Eastmed Turkey		3,981		2,671		4,487		2,260		2,389		(49)		-		(49)
Total		181,405		29,910		59,507		13,766		194,902		27,397		52		27,449

12/31/2016
									Revenue		Gain (loss) from continuing operations		Other comprehensive income		Comprehensive income
	Assets				Liabilities
	Current		Non-current		Current		Non-current
	ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$
Abu Dhabi Fertilizer Industries WWL		37,801		2,104		3,843		-		41,442		4,005		-		4,005
Doktor Tarsa Tarim Sanayi AS		68,449		5,984		39,729		1,281		83,905		8,052		1,180		9,232
Ajay North America		18,844		11,633		3,015		-		35,715		5,702		-		5,702
Ajay Europe SARL		20,675		1,361		7,290		-		33,319		2,265		(13)		2,252
Charlee SQM Thailand Co. Ltd.		6,264		591		2,448		-		12,065		609		-		609
SQM Eastmed Turkey		727		2,265		719		2,362		833		(200)		-		(200)
Total		152,760		23,938		57,044		3,643		207,279		20,433		1,167		21,600

12/31/2015
									Revenue		Gain (loss) from continuing operations		Other comprehensive income		Comprehensive income
	Assets				Liabilities
	Current		Non-current		Current		Non-current
	ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$
Sales de Magnesio Ltda.		4,141		825		1,881		16		11,982		1,638		-		1,638
Abu Dhabi Fertilizer Industries WWL		33,770		2,529		4,499		-		46,609		3,932		1,230		5,162
Doktor Tarsa Tarim Sanayi AS		103,099		7,555		80,588		-		64,374		5,009		-		5,009
Ajay North America		18,651		10,619		2,917		-		43,453		7,347		-		7,347
Ajay Europe SARL		18,979		1,661		6,239		-		40,484		3,464		(42)		3,422
SQM Eastmed Turkey		976		380		27		1,189		-		(8)		-		(8)
Charlee SQM Thailand Co. Ltd.		7,418		566		4,687		-		12,524		304		222		526
Total		187,034		24,135		100,838		1,205		219,426		21,686		1,410		23,096