The cash flows from (used in) investing activities, which are the acquisition and disposal of long-term assets and other investments not included in cash equivalents.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 7
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=7&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_10&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 7
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 50
-Subparagraph d
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=7&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_50_d&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_CashFlowsFromUsedInInvestingActivities
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash flows from (used in) operating activities, which are the principal revenue-producing activities of the entity and other activities that are not investing or financing activities. [Refer: Revenue]

+ References

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_CashFlowsFromUsedInOperatingActivities
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The profit (loss) before tax expense or income. [Refer: Profit (loss)]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 8
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph b
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=8&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_28_b&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 8
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 23
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=8&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_23&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 103
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_103&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 102
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_102&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 5
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 33
-Subparagraph b
-Clause i
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=5&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_33_b_i&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ProfitLossBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The entity's share of the profit (loss) of associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method. [Refer: Associates [member]; Investments accounted for using equity method; Joint ventures [member]; Profit (loss)]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 8
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 23
-Subparagraph g
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=8&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_23_g&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 8
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph e
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=8&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_28_e&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Note Effective on first application of IFRS 9
-Name IFRS
-Number 4
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 39M
-Subparagraph b
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=4&date=2018-03-02&anchor=para_39M_b&doctype=Standard&book=b
-URIDate 2018-03-16

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 82
-Subparagraph c
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_82_c&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ShareOfProfitLossOfAssociatesAndJointVenturesAccountedForUsingEquityMethod
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sqm_AssetsHeldForSaleLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	sqm_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sqm_CashDetailFromSaleOfInvestmentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	sqm_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase (decrease) in cash generated by sale of investments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sqm_NetIncreaseInCashGeneratedBySalesOfInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	sqm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_NonadjustingEventsAfterReportingPeriodAxis=ifrs-full_ClassificationOfAssetsAsHeldForSaleMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_CategoriesOfRelatedPartiesAxis=sqm_MineraExarSaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_CategoriesOfRelatedPartiesAxis=sqm_CharleeSqmThailandCoLtdMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Assets held for sale (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Assets held for sale (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets held for sale [Line Items]
Share in the profits (losses) of associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method	$ 6,351	$ 14,452	$ 13,047
Income before tax	621,038	594,590	414,889
Cash detail from Sale of Investments
Net cash generated from operating activities	524,839	758,272	633,662
Net cash generated from investment activities	(187,004)	$ (248,067)	$ 162,386
Classification of assets as held for sale [member]
Assets held for sale [Line Items]
Share in the profits (losses) of associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method	110
Income before tax	110
Cash detail from Sale of Investments
Net cash generated from operating activities	13,232
Net cash generated from investment activities	68,988
Net increase in cash generated by sales of investments	82,220
Minera Exar S.A. [Member] \| Classification of assets as held for sale [member]
Assets held for sale [Line Items]
Share in the profits (losses) of associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method	(206)
Income before tax	(206)
Cash detail from Sale of Investments
Net cash generated from operating activities	13,232
Net cash generated from investment activities	68,000
Net increase in cash generated by sales of investments	81,232
Charlee SQM Thailand Co. Ltd. [Member] \| Classification of assets as held for sale [member]
Assets held for sale [Line Items]
Share in the profits (losses) of associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method	316
Income before tax	316
Cash detail from Sale of Investments
Net cash generated from operating activities	0
Net cash generated from investment activities	988
Net increase in cash generated by sales of investments	$ 988