Reportable segments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Disclosure of entity's operating segments [Abstract]

Disclosure of entity's operating segments [text block]

12/31/2017
Operating segment items	Specialty plant nutrients		Iodine and its derivatives		Lithium and its derivatives		Industrial chemicals		Potassium		Other products and services		Reportable segments		Operating segments		Elimination of inter-segments amounts		Unallocated amounts		Total 12/31/2017
	ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$
Revenue		697,251		252,123		644,573		135,578		379,326		48,472		2,157,323		2,157,323		-		-		2,157,323
Revenues from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity		392,693		287,469		551,382		157,158		269,298		201,250		1,859,250		1,859,250		(1,859,250)		-		-
Revenues from external customers and transactions with other operating segments of the same entity		1,089,944		539,592		1,195,955		292,736		648,624		249,722		4,016,573		4,016,573		(1,859,250)		-		2,157,323
Costs of sales		(555,356)		(199,808)		(189,242)		(91,753)		(313,690)		(44,973)		(1,394,822)		(1,394,822)		-		-		(1,394,822)
Administrative expenses		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		5,686		(106,857)		(101,171)
Interest expense		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		83,689		(133,813)		(50,124)
Depreciation and amortization expense		(91,201)		(35,711)		(34,138)		(14,867)		(54,779)		(7,730)		(238,426)		(238,426)		-		(89)		(238,515)
The entity’s interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		27		14,425		14,452
Income tax expense, continuing operations		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		(1,072)		(165,101)		(166,173)
Other items other than significant cash		141,895		52,315		455,331		43,825		65,636		3,499		762,501		762,501		(802,288)		634,377		594,590
Income (loss) before taxes
		141,895		52,315		455,331		43,825		65,636		3,499		762,501		762,501		(803,360)		469,276		428,417
Net income (loss) from continuing operations
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations		141,895		52,315		455,331		43,825		65,636		3,499		762,501		762,501		(803,360)		469,276		428,417
Net income (loss)
		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		(5,880,934)		10,177,170		4,296,236
Assets		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		(3,376,995)		3,503,420		126,425
Equity-accounted investees		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		117,159		117,159
Increase of non-current assets		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-				-		-
Liabilities		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		(2,286,817)		4,335,585		2,048,768
Impairment loss recognized in profit or loss		(15,025)		335		1,112		(3,546)		(240)		(219)		(17,583)		(17,583)		-		(14,316)		(31,889)
Reversal of impairment losses recognized in profit or loss for the period		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-

12/31/2016
Operating segment items	Specialty plant nutrients		Iodine and its derivatives		Lithium and its derivatives		Industrial chemicals		Potassium		Other products and services		Reportable segments		Operating segments		Unallocated amounts		Elimination of inter-segments amounts		Total 12/31/2016
	ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$
Revenue		623,853		231,144		514,627		104,137		403,323		62,238		1,939,322		1,939,322		-		-		1,939,322
Revenues from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity		91,087		301,917		372,838		356,334		333,823		198,836		1,654,835		1,654,835		-		(1,654,835)		-
Revenues from external customers and transactions with other operating segments of the same entity		714,940		533,061		887,465		460,471		737,146		261,074		3,594,157		3,594,157		-		(1,654,835)		1,939,322
Costs of sales		(478,074)		(191,298)		(175,616)		(67,378)		(359,477)		(56,442)		(1,328,285)		(1,328,285)		-		-		(1,328,285)
Administrative expenses		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		(94,647)		6,211		(88,436)
Interest expense		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		(149,051)		91,553		(57,498)
Depreciation and amortization expense		(89,864)		(35,958)		(33,010)		(12,666)		(67,571)		(10,612)		(249,681)		(249,681)		(111)		-		(249,792)
The entity’s interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		13,047		-		13,047
Income tax expense, continuing operations		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		(132,965)		-		(132,965)
Other items other than significant cash		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-
Income (loss) before taxes		145,779		39,846		339,011		36,759		43,846		5,796		611,037		611,037		317,894		(514,042)		414,889
Net income (loss) from continuing operations		145,779		39,846		339,011		36,759		43,846		5,796		611,037		611,037		184,929		(514,042)		281,924
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations
Net income (loss)		145,779		39,846		339,011		36,759		43,846		5,796		611,037		611,037		184,929		(514,042)		281,924
Assets		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		10,605,056		(6,387,076)		4,217,980
Equity-accounted investees		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		2,783,001		(2,669,861)		133,140
Increase of non-current assets		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		(107,268)				(107,268)
Liabilities		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		5,321,161		(3,410,453)		1,910,708
Impairment loss recognized in profit or loss		-		-		(251)		-		-		(698)		(949)		(949)		(39,595)		-		(40,544)
Reversal of impairment losses recognized in profit or loss for the period		133		325				233		2,216		-		2,907		2,907		-		-		2,907

12/31/2015

Operating segment items	Specialty plant nutrients		Iodine and its derivatives		Lithium and its derivatives		Industrial chemicals		Potassium		Other products and services		Reportable segments		Operating segments		Unallocated amounts		Elimination of inter-segments amounts		Total 12/31/2015
	ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$
Revenue		652,278		262,570		223,021		97,551		430,642		62,270		1,728,332		1,728,332		-		-		1,728,332
Revenues from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity		137,944		389,172		139,575		347,168		407,903		289,157		1,710,919		1,710,919		-		(1,710,919)		-
Revenues from external customers and transactions with other operating segments of the same entity		790,222		651,742		362,596		444,719		838,545		351,427		3,439,251		3,439,251		-		(1,710,919)		1,728,332
Costs of sales		(461,028)		(184,551)		(109,389)		(71,252)		(303,645)		(55,718)		(1,185,583)		(1,185,583)		-		-		(1,185,583)
Administrative expenses		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		(95,176)		8,346		(86,830)
Interest expense		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		(197,815)		127,962		(69,853)
Depreciation and amortization expense		(105,545)		(42,249)		(25,044)		(16,312)		(69,513)		(12,758)		(271,421)		(271,421)		(316)		-		(271,737)
The entity’s interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		10,326		-		10,326
Income tax expense, continuing operations		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		(83,766)		-		(83,766)
Other items other tan significant cash		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-
Income (loss) before taxes		191,250		78,019		113,632		26,300		126,997		6,552		542,750		542,750		131,291		(365,755)		308,286
Net income (loss) from continuing operations		191,250		78,019		113,632		26,300		126,997		6,552		542,750		542,750		47,525		(365,755)		224,520
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations
Net income (loss)		191,250		78,019		113,632		26,300		126,997		6,552		542,750		542,750		47,525		(365,755)		224,520
Assets		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		10,508,312		(5,864,550)		4,643,762
Equity-accounted investees		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		3,042,011		(2,962,709)		79,302
Increase of non-current assets		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		(203,806)				(203,806)
Liabilities		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		4,829,968		(2,586,562)		2,243,406
Impairment loss recognized in profit or loss		-		(200)		(317)		(3)		(3,049)		(373)		(3,942)		(3,942)		(39,801)		-		(43,743)

Statement of comprehensive income classified by reportable segments based on groups of products

12/31/2017
Items in the statement of comprehensive income	Specialty plant nutrients ThUS$	Iodine and its derivatives ThUS$		Lithium and its derivatives ThUS$		Industrial chemicals ThUS$		Potassium ThUS$		Other products and services ThUS$		Corporate Unit ThUS$		Total segments and Corporate unit ThUS$
Revenue	697,251		252,123		644,573		135,578		379,326		48,472		-		2,157,323
Cost of sales	(555,356)		(199,808)		(189,242)		(91,753)		(313,690)		(44,973)		-		(1,394,822)
Gross profit	141,895		52,315		455,331		43,825		65,636		3,499		-		762,501
Other incomes by function	-		-		-		-		-		-		17,827		17,827
Administrative expenses	-		-		-		-		-		-		(101,171)		(101,171)
Other expenses by function	-		-		-		-		-		-		(61,638)		(61,638)
Other gains (losses)	-		-		-		-		-		-		543		543
Financial income	-		-		-		-		-		-		13,499		13,499
Financial costs	-		-		-		-		-		-		(50,124)		(50,124)
interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method	-		-		-		-		-		-		14,452		14,452
Exchange differences	-		-		-		-		-		-		(1,299)		(1,299)
Profit (loss) before taxes	141,895		52,315		455,331		43,825		65,636		3,499		(167,911)		594,590
Income tax expense	-		-		-		-		-		-		(166,173)		(166,173)
Profit (loss) from continuing operations	141,895		52,315		455,331		43,825		65,636		3,499		(334,084)		428,417
Profit (loss) from discontinued operations	-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-
Profit (loss)	141,895		52,315		455,331		43,825		65,636		3,499		(334,084)		428,417
Profit (loss), attributable to
Profit (loss) attributable to the controller´s owners	-		-		-		-		-		-		-		427,697
Profit (loss) attributable to the non-controllers	-		-		-		-		-		-		-		720
Profit (loss)	-		-		-		-		-		-		-		428,417

	12/31/2016
Items in the statement of comprehensive income	Specialty plant nutrients ThUS$		Iodine and its derivatives ThUS$		Lithium and its derivatives ThUS$		Industrial chemicals ThUS$		Potassium ThUS$		Other products and services ThUS$		Corporate Unit ThUS$		Total segments and Corporate unit ThUS$
Revenue		623,853		231,144		514,627		104,137		403,323		62,238		-		1,939,322
Cost of sales		(478,074)		(191,298)		(175,616)		(67,378)		(359,477)		(56,442)				(1,328,285)
Gross profit		145,779		39,846		339,011		36,759		43,846		5,796		-		611,037
Other incomes by function		-		-		-		-		-		-		15,202		15,202
Administrative expenses		-		-		-		-		-		-		(88,436)		(88,436)
Other expenses by function		-		-		-		-		-		-		(89,731)		(89,731)
Other gains (losses)		-		-		-		-		-		-		679		679
Financial income		-		-		-		-		-		-		10,129		10,129
Financial costs		-		-		-		-		-		-		(57,498)		(57,498)
interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method		-		-		-		-		-		-		13,047		13,047
Exchange differences		-		-		-		-		-		-		460		460
Profit (loss) before taxes		145,779		39,846		339,011		36,759		43,846		5,796		(196,148)		414,889
Income tax expense		-		-		-		-		-		-		(132,965)		(132,965)
Profit (loss) from continuing operations		145,779		39,846		339,011		36,759		43,846		5,796		(329,113)		281,924
Profit (loss) from discontinued operations		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-
Profit (loss)		145,779		39,846		339,011		36,759		43,846		5,796		(329,113)		281,924
Profit (loss), attributable to
Profit (loss) attributable to the controller´s owners		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		278,290
Profit (loss) attributable to the non-controllers		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		3,634
Profit (loss)		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		281,924

	12/31/2015
Items in the statement of comprehensive income	Specialty plant nutrients ThUS$		Iodine and its derivatives ThUS$		Lithium and its derivatives ThUS$		Industrial chemicals ThUS$		Potassium ThUS$		Other products and services ThUS$		Corporate Unit ThUS$		Total segments and Corporate unit ThUS$
Revenue		652,278		262,570		223,021		97,551		430,642		62,270		-		1,728,332
Cost of sales		(461,028)		(184,551)		(109,389)		(71,252)		(303,645)		(55,718)		-		(1,185,583)
Gross profit		191,250		78,019		113,632		26,299		126,997		6,552		-		542,749
Other incomes by function		-		-		-		-		-		-		15,343		15,343
Administrative expenses		-		-		-		-		-		-		(86,830)		(86,830)
Other expenses by function		-		-		-		-		-		-		(106,415)		(106,415)
Other gains (losses)		-		-		-		-		-		-		3,760		3,760
Financial income		-		-		-		-		-		-		11,570		11,570
Financial costs		-		-		-		-		-		-		(69,853)		(69,853)
interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method		-		-		-		-		-		-		10,326		10,326
Exchange differences		-		-		-		-		-		-		(12,364)		(12,364)
Profit (loss) before taxes		191,250		78,019		113,632		26,299		126,997		6,552		(234,463)		308,286
Income tax expense		-		-		-		-		-		-		(83,766)		(83,766)
Profit (loss) from continuing operations		191,250		78,019		113,632		26,299		126,997		6,552		(318,229)		224,520
Profit (loss) from discontinued operations		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-
Profit (loss)		191,250		78,019		113,632		26,299		126,997		6,552		(318,229)		224,520
Profit (loss), attributable to
Profit (loss) attributable to the controller´s owners		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		220,356
Profit (loss) attributable to the non-controlling interests		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		4,164
Profit (loss)		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		224,520

Disclosure of segment revenue by types of products and services [Text Block]

Revenue from transactions with other Company’s operating segments

12/31/2017

Items in the statement of comprehensive income

Specialty plant nutrients

Iodine and its derivatives

Lithium and its derivatives

Industrial chemicals

Potassium

Other products and services

Total segments and Corporate unit

ThUS$

ThUS$

ThUS$

ThUS$

ThUS$

ThUS$

ThUS$

Revenue

697,251

252,123

644,573

135,578

379,326

48,472

2,157,323

12/31/2016

Items in the statement of comprehensive income

Specialty plant nutrients

Iodine and its derivatives

Lithium and its derivatives

Industrial chemicals

Potassium

Other products and services

Total segments and Corporate unit

ThUS$

ThUS$

ThUS$

ThUS$

ThUS$

ThUS$

ThUS$

Revenue

623,853

231,144

514,627

104,137

403,323

62,238

1,939,322

12/31/2015
Items in the statement of comprehensive income	Specialty plant nutrients ThUS$		Iodine and its derivatives ThUS$		Lithium and its derivatives ThUS$		Industrial chemicals ThUS$		Potassium ThUS$		Other products and services ThUS$		Total segments and Corporate unit ThUS$
Revenue		652,278		262,570		223,021		97,551		430,642		62,270		1,728,332

Disclosure of geographical areas [text block]

Segments by geographical areas as of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

	12/31/2017
Items	Chile ThUS$		Latin America and the Caribbean ThUS$		Europe ThUS$		North America ThUS$		Asia and others ThUS$		Total ThUS$
Revenue		140,764		228,759		553,396		441,377		793,027		2,157,323
Investment accounted for under the equity method		(5,513)		26,860		33,318		15,193		56,567		126,425
Intangible assets other than goodwill		105,313		-		453		182		-		105,948
Goodwill		23,731		6,290		11,374		724		2,058		44,177
Property, plant and equipment, net		1,430,569		313		3,857		2,469		1,574		1,438,782
Investment property		-		-		-		-		-		-
Other non-current assets		19,234		28		-		-		-		19,262
Non-current assets that are not financial instruments		1,573,334		33,491		49,002		18,568		60,199		1,734,594

	12/31/2016
Items	Chile ThUS$		Latin America and the Caribbean ThUS$		Europe ThUS$		North America ThUS$		Asia and others ThUS$		Total ThUS$
Revenue		162,477		240,607		411,807		416,380		708,051		1,939,323
Investment accounted for under the equity method		-		5,000		25,009		13,456		69,675		113,140
Intangible assets other than goodwill		109,227		-		-		211		1		109,439
Goodwill		23,731		86		11,373		724		2,058		37,972
Property, plant and equipment, net		1,526,992		234		3,521		2,536		1,483		1,534,766
Investment property		-		-		-		-		-		-
Other non-current assets		24,551		139		-		-		-		24,690
Non-current assets that are not financial instruments		1,684,501		5,459		39,903		16,927		73,217		1,820,007

	12/31/2015
Items	Chile ThUS$		Latin America and the Caribbean ThUS$		Europe ThUS$		North America ThUS$		Asia and others ThUS$		Total ThUS$
Revenue		188,592		258,262		351,353		439,645		490,480		1,728,332
Investment accounted for under the equity method		1,535		-		23,410		12,913		41,444		79,302
Intangible assets other than goodwill		110,199		-		-		228		1		110,428
Goodwill		26,929		86		11,373		-		-		38,388
Property, plant and equipment, net		1,677,194		260		2,183		2,486		1,453		1,683,576
Investment property		-		-		-		-		-		-
Other non-current assets		33,384		116		-		26		-		33,526
Non-current assets that are not financial instruments		1,849,241		462		36,966		15,653		42,898		1,945,220