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Earnings per share (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017
Disclosure Of Earnings Per Share Explanatory [Abstract] |
Earnings Per Share Explanatory [Text Block] | As expressed, earnings per share are detailed as follows:
Basic earnings per share |  | 12/31/2017 ThUS$ |  | 12/31/2016 ThUS$ |  | 12/31/2015 ThUS$ |
Earnings (losses) attributable to owners of the parent |  |  | 427,697 |  |  | 278,290 |  |  | 236,889 |
|  | 12/31/2017 Units |  | 12/31/2016 Units |  | 12/31/2015 Units |
Number of common shares in circulation |  |  | 263,196,524 |  |  | 263,196,524 |  |  | 263,196,524 |
|  | 12/31/2017 |  | 12/31/2016 |  | 12/31/2015 |
Basic earnings per share (US$ per share) |  |  | 1.6250 |  |  | 1.05732 |  |  | 0.84 |

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