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Identification and Activities of the Company and Subsidiaries (Details) | Dec. 31, 2017 Employees | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 Employees | Dec. 31, 2016
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Disclosure Of Information About Employees Explanatory [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of employees | 4,921 | 115 | 4,751 | 105
Executives [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Information About Employees Explanatory [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of employees | 120 |  | 103 |
Professionals [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Information About Employees Explanatory [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of employees | 1,085 |  | 1,038 |
Technicians and operators [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Information About Employees Explanatory [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of employees | 3,425 |  | 3,338 |
Foreign employees [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Information About Employees Explanatory [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of employees | 291 |  | 272 |
SQM S.A [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Information About Employees Explanatory [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of employees | 453 |  | 420 |
SQM S.A [Member] | Executives [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Information About Employees Explanatory [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of employees | 43 |  | 31 |
SQM S.A [Member] | Professionals [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Information About Employees Explanatory [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of employees | 143 |  | 119 |
SQM S.A [Member] | Technicians and operators [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Information About Employees Explanatory [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of employees | 248 |  | 262 |
SQM S.A [Member] | Foreign employees [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Information About Employees Explanatory [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of employees | 19 |  | 8 |
Other Subsidiaries [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Information About Employees Explanatory [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of employees | 4,468 |  | 4,331 |
Other Subsidiaries [Member] | Executives [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Information About Employees Explanatory [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of employees | 77 |  | 72 |
Other Subsidiaries [Member] | Professionals [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Information About Employees Explanatory [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of employees | 942 |  | 919 |
Other Subsidiaries [Member] | Technicians and operators [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Information About Employees Explanatory [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of employees | 3,177 |  | 3,076 |
Other Subsidiaries [Member] | Foreign employees [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Information About Employees Explanatory [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of employees | 272 |  | 264 |

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