Reportable segments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Disclosure of entity's operating segments [Abstract]

Disclosure of entity's operating segments [text block]

Operating segment items	Specialty plant nutrients			Iodine and its derivatives			Lithium and its derivatives			Industrial chemicals			Potassium			Other products and services			Reportable segments			Operating segments			Unallocated amounts			Total 12/31/2018
	ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$

Revenue		781,750			324,972			734,801			108,268			267,474			48,538			2,265,803			2,265,803						2,265,803
Revenues from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-

Revenues from external customers and transactions with other operating segments of the same entity		781,750			324,972			734,801			108,268			267,474			48,538			2,265,803			2,265,803						2,265,803

Costs of sales		(613,267	)		(217,464	)		(316,875	)		(72,964	)		(217,386	)		(45,568	)		(1,483,524	)		(1,483,524	)					(1,483,524	)
Administrative expenses		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(118,126	)		(118,126	)
Interest expense		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(59,914	)		(59,914	)
Depreciation and amortization expense		(73,073	)		(45,280	)		(44,837	)		(16,041	)		(41,891	)		(377	)		(221,499	)		(221,499	)					(221,499	)
The entity’s interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			6,351			6,351
Income tax expense, continuing operations		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(178,975	)		(178,975	)
Other items other than significant cash
Income (loss) before taxes		168,483			107,508			417,926			35,304			50,088			2,970			782,279			782,279			(161,241	)		621,038

Net income (loss) from continuing operations		168,483			107,508			417,926			35,304			50,088			2,970			782,279			782,279			(340,216	)		442,063
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations
Net income (loss)		168,483			107,508			417,926			35,304			50,088			2,970			782,279			782,279			(340,216	)		442,063

Assets		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			4,268,094			4,268,094
Equity-accounted investees		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			111,549			111,549
Incorporation of non-current assets other than financial instruments, deferred tax assets, net defined benefit assets and rights arising from insurance contracts																										(15,028	)		(15,028	)
Increase of non-current assets		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Liabilities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			2,130,291			2,130,291
Impairment loss recognized in profit or loss		(2,227	)		(1,171	)		(243	)		(79	)		(3,006	)		(553	)		(7,279	)		(7,279	)		2,985			(4,294	)
Reversal of impairment losses recognized in profit or loss for the period		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			524,1839			524,839
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(187,004	)		(187,004	)
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(387,313	)		(387,313	)

Operating segment items	Specialty plant nutrients			Iodine and its derivatives			Lithium and its derivatives			Industrial chemicals			Potassium			Other products and services			Reportable segments			Operating segments			Unallocated amounts			Total 12/31/2018
	ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$

Revenue		781,750			324,972			734,801			108,268			267,474			48,538			2,265,803			2,265,803						2,265,803
Revenues from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-

Revenues from external customers and transactions with other operating segments of the same entity		781,750			324,972			734,801			108,268			267,474			48,538			2,265,803			2,265,803						2,265,803

Costs of sales		(613,267	)		(217,464	)		(316,875	)		(72,964	)		(217,386	)		(45,568	)		(1,483,524	)		(1,483,524	)					(1,483,524	)
Administrative expenses		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(118,126	)		(118,126	)
Interest expense		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(59,914	)		(59,914	)
Depreciation and amortization expense		(73,073	)		(45,280	)		(44,837	)		(16,041	)		(41,891	)		(377	)		(221,499	)		(221,499	)					(221,499	)
The entity’s interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			6,351			6,351
Income tax expense, continuing operations		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(178,975	)		(178,975	)
Other items other than significant cash
Income (loss) before taxes		168,483			107,508			417,926			35,304			50,088			2,970			782,279			782,279			(161,241	)		621,038

Net income (loss) from continuing operations		168,483			107,508			417,926			35,304			50,088			2,970			782,279			782,279			(340,216	)		442,063
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations
Net income (loss)		168,483			107,508			417,926			35,304			50,088			2,970			782,279			782,279			(340,216	)		442,063

Assets		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			4,268,094			4,268,094
Equity-accounted investees		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			111,549			111,549
Incorporation of non-current assets other than financial instruments, deferred tax assets, net defined benefit assets and rights arising from insurance contracts																										(15,028	)		(15,028	)
Increase of non-current assets		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Liabilities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			2,130,291			2,130,291
Impairment loss recognized in profit or loss		(2,227	)		(1,171	)		(243	)		(79	)		(3,006	)		(553	)		(7,279	)		(7,279	)		2,985			(4,294	)
Reversal of impairment losses recognized in profit or loss for the period		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			524,1839			524,839
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(187,004	)		(187,004	)
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(387,313	)		(387,313	)

Operating segment items	Specialty plant nutrients			Iodine and its derivatives			Lithium and its derivatives			Industrial chemicals			Potassium			Other products and services			Reportable segments			Operating segments			Unallocated amounts			Total 12/31/2017
	ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$

Revenue		697,251			252,123			644,573			135,578			379,326			48,472			2,157,323			2,157,323			-			2,157,323
Revenues from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Revenues from external customers and transactions with other operating segments of the same entity		697,251			252,123			644,573			135,578			379,326			48,472			2,157,323			2,157,323			-			2,157,323
Costs of sales		(555,356	)		(199,808	)		(189,242	)		(91,753	)		(313,690	)		(44,973	)		(1,394,822	)		(1,394,822	)		-			(1,394,822	)
Administrative expenses		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(101,171	)		(101,171	)
Interest expense		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(50,124	)		(50,124	)
Depreciation and amortization expense		(73,702	)		(44,252	)		(18,036	)		(16,050	)		(88,130	)		(356	)		(240,526	)		(240,526	)		-			(240,526	)
The entity’s interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			14,452			14,452
Income tax expense, continuing operations		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(166,173	)		(166,173	)
Other items other than significant cash
Income (loss) before taxes		141,895			52,315			455,331			43,825			65,636			3,499			762,501			762,501			(167,911	)		594,590

Net income (loss) from continuing operations		141,895			52,315			455,331			43,825			65,636			3,499			762,501			762,501			(334,084	)		428,417
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations
Net income (loss)		141,895			52,315			455,331			43,825			65,636			3,499			762,501			762,501			(334,084	)		428,417

Assets		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			4,296,236			4,296,236
Equity-accounted investees		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			152,630			152,630
Incorporation of non-current assets other than financial instruments, deferred tax assets, net defined benefit assets and rights arising from insurance contracts																										-			-
Increase of non-current assets		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Liabilities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			2,048,768			2,048,768
Impairment loss recognized in profit or loss		(15,025	)		335			1,112			(3,546	)		(240	)		(219	)		(17,583	)		(17,583	)		(14,316	)		(31,899	)
Reversal of impairment losses recognized in profit or loss for the period		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			758,272			758,272
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(248,067	)		(248,067	)
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(411,920	)		(411,920	)

	12/31/2018
Items in the statement of comprehensive income	Specialty plant nutrients ThUS$			Iodine and its derivatives ThUS$			Lithium and its derivatives ThUS$			Industrial chemicals ThUS$			Potassium ThUS$			Other products and services ThUS$			Corporate Unit ThUS$			Total segments and Corporate unit ThUS$
Revenue		781,750			324,972			734,801			108,268			267,474			48,538			-			2,265,803
Cost of sales		(613,267	)		(217,464	)		(316,875	)		(72,964	)		(217,386	)		(45,568	)		-			(1,483,524	)

Gross profit		168,483			107,508			417,926			35,304			50,088			2,970			-			782,279
Other incomes by function		-			-			-			-			-			-			32,048			32,048
Administrative expenses		-			-			-			-			-			-			(118,126	)		(118,126	)
Other expenses by function		-			-			-			-			-			-			(36,907	)		(36,907	)
Deterioro de valor de ganancias y revisión de pérdidas por deterioro de valor (pérdidas por deterioro de valor) determinado de acuerdo con la NIIF 9		-			-			-			-			-			-			2,967			2,967
Other gains (losses)		-			-			-			-			-			-			6,404			6,404
Financial income		-			-			-			-			-			-			22,533			22,533
Financial costs		-			-			-			-			-			-			(59,914	)		(59,914	)
interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method		-			-			-			-			-			-			6,351			6,351
Exchange differences		-			-			-			-			-			-			(16,597	)		(16,597	)
Profit (loss) before taxes		168,483			107,508			417,926			35,304			50,088			2,970			(161,241	)		621,038
Income tax expense		-			-			-			-			-			-			(178,975	)		(178,975	)
Profit (loss) from continuing operations		168,483			107,508			417,926			35,304			50,088			2,970			(340,216	)		442,063
Profit (loss) from discontinued operations		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Profit (loss)		168,483			107,508			417,926			35,304			50,088			2,970			(340,216	)		442,063
Profit (loss), attributable to
Profit (loss) attributable to the controller´s owners		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			439,830
Profit (loss) attributable to the non-controllers		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			2,233
Profit (loss)		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			442,063

	12/31/2017
Items in the statement of comprehensive income	Specialty plant nutrients ThUS$			Iodine and its derivatives ThUS$			Lithium and its derivatives ThUS$			Industrial chemicals ThUS$			Potassium ThUS$			Other products and services ThUS$			Corporate Unit ThUS$			Total segments and Corporate unit ThUS$
Revenue		697,251			252,123			644,573			135,578			379,326			48,472			-			2,157,323
Cost of sales		(555,356	)		(199,808	)		(189,242	)		(91,753	)		(313,690	)		(44,973	)		-			(1,394,822	)
Gross profit		141,895			52,315			455,331			43,825			65,636			3,499			-			762,501
Other incomes by function		-			-			-			-			-			-			17,827			17,827
Administrative expenses		-			-			-			-			-			-			(101,171	)		(101,171	)
Other expenses by function		-			-			-			-			-			-			(53,600	)		(53,600	)
Other gains (losses)		-			-			-			-			-			-			543			543
Financial income		-			-			-			-			-			-			13,499			13,499
Financial costs		-			-			-			-			-			-			(50,124	)		(50,124	)
Deterioro de valor de ganancias y revisión de pérdidas por deterioro de valor (pérdidas por deterioro de valor) determinado de acuerdo con la NIIF 9		-			-			-			-			-			-			(8,038	)		(8,038	)
interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method		-			-			-			-			-			-			14,452			14,452
Exchange differences		-			-			-			-			-			-			(1,299	)		(1,299	)
Profit (loss) before taxes		141,895			52,315			455,331			43,825			65,636			3,499			(167,911	)		594,590
Income tax expense		-			-			-			-			-			-			(166,173	)		(166,173	)
Profit (loss) from continuing operations		141,895			52,315			455,331			43,825			65,636			3,499			(334,084	)		428,417
Profit (loss) from discontinued operations		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Profit (loss)		141,895			52,315			455,331			43,825			65,636			3,499			(334,084	)		428,417
Profit (loss), attributable to		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Profit (loss) attributable to the controller´s owners		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			427,697
Profit (loss) attributable to the non-controllers		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			720
Profit (loss)		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			428,417

	12/31/2017
Items in the statement of comprehensive income	Specialty plant nutrients ThUS$			Iodine and its derivatives ThUS$			Lithium and its derivatives ThUS$			Industrial chemicals ThUS$			Potassium ThUS$			Other products and services ThUS$			Corporate Unit ThUS$			Total segments and Corporate unit ThUS$
Revenue		697,251			252,123			644,573			135,578			379,326			48,472			-			2,157,323
Cost of sales		(555,356	)		(199,808	)		(189,242	)		(91,753	)		(313,690	)		(44,973	)		-			(1,394,822	)
Gross profit		141,895			52,315			455,331			43,825			65,636			3,499			-			762,501
Other incomes by function		-			-			-			-			-			-			17,827			17,827
Administrative expenses		-			-			-			-			-			-			(101,171	)		(101,171	)
Other expenses by function		-			-			-			-			-			-			(53,600	)		(53,600	)
Other gains (losses)		-			-			-			-			-			-			543			543
Financial income		-			-			-			-			-			-			13,499			13,499
Financial costs		-			-			-			-			-			-			(50,124	)		(50,124	)
Deterioro de valor de ganancias y revisión de pérdidas por deterioro de valor (pérdidas por deterioro de valor) determinado de acuerdo con la NIIF 9		-			-			-			-			-			-			(8,038	)		(8,038	)
interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method		-			-			-			-			-			-			14,452			14,452
Exchange differences		-			-			-			-			-			-			(1,299	)		(1,299	)
Profit (loss) before taxes		141,895			52,315			455,331			43,825			65,636			3,499			(167,911	)		594,590
Income tax expense		-			-			-			-			-			-			(166,173	)		(166,173	)
Profit (loss) from continuing operations		141,895			52,315			455,331			43,825			65,636			3,499			(334,084	)		428,417
Profit (loss) from discontinued operations		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Profit (loss)		141,895			52,315			455,331			43,825			65,636			3,499			(334,084	)		428,417
Profit (loss), attributable to		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Profit (loss) attributable to the controller´s owners		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			427,697
Profit (loss) attributable to the non-controllers		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			720
Profit (loss)		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			428,417

	12/31/2016
Items in the statement of comprehensive income	Specialty plant nutrients ThUS$			Iodine and its derivatives ThUS$			Lithium and its derivatives ThUS$			Industrial chemicals ThUS$			Potassium ThUS$			Other products and services ThUS$			Corporate Unit ThUS$			Total segments and Corporate unit ThUS$
Revenue		623,853			231,144			514,627			104,137			403,323			62,238			-			1,939,322
Cost of sales		(478,074	)		(191,298	)		(175,616	)		(67,378	)		(359,477	)		(56,442	)		-			(1,328,285	)
Gross profit		145,779			39,846			339,011			36,759			43,846			5,796			-			611,037
Other incomes by function		-			-			-			-			-			-			15,202			15,202
Administrative expenses		-			-			-			-			-			-			(88,436	)		(88,436	)
Other expenses by function		-			-			-			-			-			-			(82,533	)		(82,533	)
Other gains (losses)		-			-			-			-			-			-			679			679
Financial income		-			-			-			-			-			-			10,129			10,129
Financial costs		-			-			-			-			-			-			(57,498	)		(57,498	)
Deterioro de valor de ganancias y revisión de pérdidas por deterioro de valor (pérdidas por deterioro de valor) determinado de acuerdo con la NIIF 9		-			-			-			-			-			-			7,198			7,198
interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method		-			-			-			-			-			-			13,047			13,047
Exchange differences		-			-			-			-			-			-			460			460
Profit (loss) before taxes		145,779			39,846			339,011			36,759			43,846			5,796			(196,148	)		414,889
Income tax expense		-			-			-			-			-			-			(132,965	)		(132,965	)
Profit (loss) from continuing operations		145,779			39,846			339,011			36,759			43,846			5,796			(329,113	)		281,924
Profit (loss) from discontinued operations		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Profit (loss)		145,779			39,846			339,011			36,759			43,846			5,796			(329,113	)		281,924
Profit (loss), attributable to
Profit (loss) attributable to the controller´s owners		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			278,290
Profit (loss) attributable to the non-controllers		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			3,634
Profit (loss)		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			281,924

Disclosure of geographical areas [text block]

26.6

Segments by geographical areas as of December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016

	12/31/2018
Items	Chile ThUS$			Latin America and the Caribbean ThUS$		Europe ThUS$		North America ThUS$			Asia and others ThUS$		Total ThUS$
Revenue		189,349			180,189		479,664		471,515			945,086		2,265,803
Investment accounted for under the equity method		(6,588	)		-		61,256		16,115			40,766		111,549
Intangible assets other than goodwill		110,544			-		386		152			77,201		188,283
Goodwill		22,535			86		11,373		724			-		34,718
Property, plant and equipment, net		1,445,349			347		4,451		3,098			1,578		1,454,823
Investment property		-			-		-		-			-		-
Other non-current assets		17,111			23		-		(892	)		11,298		27,540
Non-current assets that are not financial instruments		1,588,951			456		77,466		19,197			130,843		1,816,913

	12/31/2017
Items	Chile ThUS$			Latin America and the Caribbean ThUS$		Europe ThUS$		North America ThUS$		Asia and others ThUS$		Total ThUS$
Revenue		140,764			228,759		1,048,556		441,377		297,867		2,157,323
Investment accounted for under the equity method		(5,513	)		33,065		33,318		15,193		76,567		152,630
Intangible assets other than goodwill		113,152			-		453		182		-		113,787
Goodwill		23,731			6,290		11,374		724		2,058		44,177
Property, plant and equipment, net		1,421,141			313		3,857		2,469		1,574		1,429,354
Investment property		-			-		-		-		-		-
Other non-current assets		19,234			28		-		-		-		19,262
Non-current assets that are not financial instruments		1,571,745			39,696		49,002		18,568		80,199		1,759,210

	12/31/2016
Items	Chile ThUS$		Latin America and the Caribbean ThUS$		Europe ThUS$		North America ThUS$		Asia and others ThUS$		Total ThUS$
Revenue		162,477		240,607		411,807		416,380		708,051		1,939,323
Investment accounted for under the equity method		-		5,000		25,009		13,456		69,675		113,140
Intangible assets other than goodwill		109,227		-		-		211		1		109,439
Goodwill		23,731		86		11,373		724		2,058		37,972
Property, plant and equipment, net		1,526,992		234		3,521		2,536		1,483		1,534,766
Investment property		-		-		-		-		-		-
Other non-current assets		24,551		139		-		-		-		24,690
Non-current assets that are not financial instruments		1,684,501		5,459		39,903		16,927		73,217		1,820,007