XML 78 R55.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.1

Employee benefits (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018
Disclosure of detailed information about provision for employee benefits [Abstract] |
Disclosure of detailed information about provision for employee benefits [Text Block] |
Classes of benefits and expenses by employee |  | 12/31/2018 |  |  | 12/31/2017 |
|  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |
Current |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Profit sharing and bonuses |  |  | 20,085 |  |  |  | 22,421 |
Total |  |  | 20,085 |  |  |  | 22,421 |
Non-current |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Profit sharing and bonuses |  |  | 8,831 |  |  |  | 6,487 |
Severance indemnity payments |  |  | 28,233 |  |  |  | 27,445 |
Total |  |  | 37,064 |  |  |  | 33,932 |
The other long-term benefits relate to staff severance indemnities and are recorded at their actuarial value, a nd an executive compensation plan (see Note 18.6).
Staff severance indemnities at actuarial value |  | 12/31/2018 |  |  | 12/31/2017 |
|  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |
Staff severance indemnities, Chile |  |  | 27,562 |  |  |  | 25,893 |
Executive severance plan |  |  | 8,831 |  |  |  | 6,487 |
Severance for foreigners |  |  | 671 |  |  |  | 1,552 |
Total other non-current liabilities |  |  | 37,064 |  |  |  | 33,932 |
Disclosure of detailed information about post employment benefit obligations [Text Block] |
Reconciliation |  | 12/31/2018 |  |  | 12/31/2017 |  |  | 12/31/2016 |
|  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |
Changes in the benefit obligation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Benefit obligation at the beginning of the year |  |  | 8,755 |  |  |  | 8,185 |  |  |  | 7,949 |
Service cost |  |  | - |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  | 2 |
Interest cost |  |  | 319 |  |  |  | 359 |  |  |  | 387 |
Actuarial loss |  |  | 63 |  |  |  | 556 |  |  |  | 200 |
Benefits paid |  |  | (480 | ) |  |  | (347 | ) |  |  | (353 | )
Benefit obligation at the end of the year |  |  | 8,657 |  |  |  | 8,755 |  |  |  | 8,185 |
|  | 12/31/2018 |  |  | 12/31/2017 |  |  | 12/31/2016 |
|  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |
Changes in the plan assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of plan assets at the beginning of the year |  |  | 8,751 |  |  |  | 7,404 |  |  |  | 7,464 |
Actual return (loss) in plan assets |  |  | 133 |  |  |  | 1,694 |  |  |  | 293 |
Benefits paid |  |  | (480 | ) |  |  | (347 | ) |  |  | (353 | )
Fair value of plan assets at the end of the year |  |  | 8,404 |  |  |  | 8,751 |  |  |  | 7,404 |
Financing status |  |  | (253 | ) |  |  | (4 | ) |  |  | (781 | )
Items not yet recognized as net periodic pension cost components: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net actuarial loss at the beginning of the year |  |  | (2,614 | ) |  |  | (3,432 | ) |  |  | (3,165 | )
Amortization during the year |  |  | 160 |  |  |  | 219 |  |  |  | 184 |
Net estimated gain or loss occurred during the year |  |  | (568 | ) |  |  | 599 |  |  |  | (451 | )
Adjustment to recognize the minimum pension obligation |  |  | (3,022 | ) |  |  | (2,614 | ) |  |  | (3,432 | )
The net periodic pension expense was composed of the following components for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016:
Reconciliation |  | 12/31/2018 |  |  | 12/31/2017 |  |  | 12/31/2016 |
|  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |
Service cost or benefits received during the year |  |  | - |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  | 2 |
Interest cost in benefit obligation |  |  | 319 |  |  |  | 359 |  |  |  | 387 |
Actual return in plan assets |  |  | 133 |  |  |  | 1,694 |  |  |  | 293 |
Amortization of prior year losses |  |  | 160 |  |  |  | 219 |  |  |  | 184 |
Net gain during the year |  |  | (568 | ) |  |  | 599 |  |  |  | 610 |
Net periodic pension expense |  |  | (159 | ) |  |  | 41 |  |  |  | 29 |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [text block] | As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, severance indemnities calculated at the actuarial value are as follows:
|  | 12/31/2018 ThUS$ |  |  | 12/31/2017 ThUS$ |  |  | 12/31/2016 ThUS$ |
Opening balance |  |  | (27,445 | ) |  |  | (22,532 | ) |  |  | (21,995 | )
Current cost of service |  |  | (1,529 | ) |  |  | (934 | ) |  |  | (1,333 | )
Interest cost |  |  | (1,658 | ) |  |  | (1,488 | ) |  |  | (1,407 | )
Actuarial gain/loss |  |  | (1,617 | ) |  |  | (1,144 | ) |  |  | (2,253 | )
Exchange rate difference |  |  | 2,710 |  |  |  | (2,284 | ) |  |  | (1,215 | )
Benefits paid during the year |  |  | 1,306 |  |  |  | 937 |  |  |  | 5,671 |
Balance |  |  | (28,233 | ) |  |  | (27,445 | ) |  |  | (22,532 | )
Disclosure of detailed information about employee Actuarial assumption rate [Text Block] | The liability recorded for staff severance indemnity is valued at the actuarial value method, using the following actuarial assumptions:
|  | 12/31/2018 |  |  | 12/31/2017 |  |  | 12/31/2016 |  |  |  |
Mortality rate |  |  | RV - 2014 |  |  |  | RV - 2014 |  |  |  | RV - 2009 |  |  |  |  |
Actual annual interest rate |  |  | 4.642 | % |  |  | 5.114 | % |  |  | 4.522 | % |  |  |  |
Voluntary retirement rate: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Men |  |  | 6.49 | % |  |  | 6.49 | % |  |  | 7.16 | % |  |  | annual |
Women |  |  | 6.49 | % |  |  | 6.49 | % |  |  | 7.16 | % |  |  | annual |
Salary increase |  |  | 3.00 | % |  |  | 3.00 | % |  |  | 3.60 | % |  |  | annual |
Retirement age: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Men |  |  | 65 |  |  |  | 65 |  |  |  | 65 |  |  |  | years |
Women |  |  | 60 |  |  |  | 60 |  |  |  | 60 |  |  |  | years |
Disclosure Of Sensitivity Analysis For Actuarial Assumptions Explanatory [Text Block] | As of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company has conducted a sensitivity analysis of the main assumptions of the actuarial calculation, determining the following:
Sensitivity analysis 12/31/2018 |  | Effect + 100 basis points ThUS$ |  |  | Effect - 100 basis points ThUS$ |
Discount rate |  |  | (1,807 | ) |  |  | 2,033 |
Employee turnover rate |  |  | (237 | ) |  |  | 265 |
Sensitivity analysis 12/31/2017 |  | Effect + 100 basis points ThUS$ |  |  | Effect - 100 basis points ThUS$ |
Discount rate |  |  | (1,991 | ) |  |  | 2,436 |
Employee turnover rate |  |  | (252 | ) |  |  | 281 |
Sensitivity relates to an increase/decrease of 100 basis points.

X
- Definition The disclosure of a net defined benefit liability (asset). [Refer: Net defined benefit liability (asset)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 140 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=19&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_140_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetExplanatory
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sqm_DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutEmployeeActuarialAssumptionRateTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | sqm_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sqm_DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutPostEmploymentBenefitObligationsTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | sqm_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sqm_DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutProvisionForEmployeeBenefitsTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | sqm_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sqm_DisclosureOfSensitivityAnalysisForActuarialAssumptionsExplanatoryTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | sqm_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration