XML 173 R150.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Employee benefits (Details 7) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
--- | --- | ---
Actuarial assumption of discount rates [member] |  |
Employee benefits [Line Items] |  |
Increase (decrease) in defined benefit obligation due to reasonably possible increase in actuarial assumption | $ 2,436 | $ (1,576)
Increase (decrease) in defined benefit obligation due to reasonably possible decrease in actuarial assumption | (1,991) | 1,773
Actuarial assumption of employee turnover rate [Member] |  |
Employee benefits [Line Items] |  |
Increase (decrease) in defined benefit obligation due to reasonably possible increase in actuarial assumption | 281 | (207)
Increase (decrease) in defined benefit obligation due to reasonably possible decrease in actuarial assumption | $ (252) | $ 231

X
- Definition The increase (decrease) in a defined benefit obligation that would have been caused by a decrease in a significant actuarial assumption that was reasonably possible at the end of the reporting period. [Refer: Actuarial assumptions [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 145 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=19&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_145_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_IncreaseDecreaseInDefinedBenefitObligationDueToReasonablyPossibleDecreaseInActuarialAssumption
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The increase (decrease) in a defined benefit obligation that would have been caused by an increase in a significant actuarial assumption that was reasonably possible at the end of the reporting period. [Refer: Actuarial assumptions [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 145 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=19&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_145_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_IncreaseDecreaseInDefinedBenefitObligationDueToReasonablyPossibleIncreaseInActuarialAssumption
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sqm_EmployeeBenefitsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | sqm_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ActuarialAssumptionsAxis=ifrs-full_ActuarialAssumptionOfDiscountRatesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ActuarialAssumptionsAxis=sqm_ActuarialAssumptionOfEmployeeTurnoverRateMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |