Reportable segments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Disclosure of entity's operating segments [Abstract]

Disclosure Of Entitys Reportable Segments Explanatory [Text Block]

Note 25 Reportable segments

25.1

Reportable segments

(a)

General information:

The amount of each item presented in each operating segment is equal to that reported to the highest authority that makes decisions regarding the operation, in order to decide on the allocation of resources to the defined segments and to assess its performance.

These operating segments mentioned are consistent with the way the Company is managed and how results will be reported by the Company. These segments reflect separate operating results that are regularly reviewed by the executive responsible for operational decisions in order to make decisions about the resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance (See Note 25.2).

The performance of each segment is measured based on net income and revenues. Inter-segment sales are made using terms and conditions at current market rates.

(b)

Factors used to identify segments on which a report should be presented:

The segments covered in the report are strategic business units that offer different products and services. These are managed separately because each business requires different technology and marketing strategies.

(c)

Description of the types of products and services from which each reportable segment obtains its income from ordinary activities

The operating segments, which obtain income from ordinary activities, generate expenses and have its operating results reviewed on a regular basis by the highest authority who makes decisions regarding operations, relate to the following groups of products:

Specialty plant nutrients

Iodine and its derivatives

Lithium and its derivatives

Industrial chemicals

Potassium

Other products and services

(d)

Description of income sources for all the other segments

Information regarding assets, liabilities, profits and expenses that cannot be assigned to the segments indicated above, due to the nature of production processes, is included under the "Unallocated amounts” category of the disclosed information.

(e)

Basis of accounting for transactions between reportable segments

Inter-segment sales are made under the same conditions as sales to third parties and are measured consistently as presented in the statement of income.

(f)

Description of the nature of the differences between measurements of results of reportable segments and the result of the entity before the expense or income tax expense of incomes and discontinued operations

The information reported in the segments is extracted from the Company’s consolidated financial statements and therefore there is no need to prepare reconciliations between the data mentioned above and those reported in the respective segments, according to what is stated in paragraph 28 of IFRS 8, "Operating Segments".

For the allocation of inventory valuation costs, we identify the direct expenses (can be directly allocated to products) and the common expenses (belong to coproduction processes, for example common leaching expenses for production of Iodine and Nitrates), Direct costs are directly allocated to the product and the common costs are distributed according to percentages that consider different variables in their determination, such as margins, rotation of inventories, revenue, production and etc

The allocation of other common costs that are not included in the inventory valuation process, but go straight to the cost of sales, use similar criteria: the costs associated with a product or sales in particular are assigned to that particular product or sales, and the common costs associated with different products or business lines are allocated according to the sales.

(g)

Description of the nature of the differences between measurements of assets of reportable segments and the Company´s assets

Assets are not shown classified by segments, as this information is not readily available, Some of these assets are not separable by the type of activity by which they are affected since this information is not used by management in decision-making with respect to resources to be allocated to each defined segment. All assets are disclosed in the "unallocated amounts" category.

(h)

Description of the nature of the differences between measurements of liabilities of reportable segments and the Company’s liabilities

Liabilities are not shown classified by segments, as this information is not readily available, Some of these liabilities are not separable by the type of activity by which they are affected, since this information is not used by management in decision-making regarding resources to be allocated to each defined segment. All liabilities are disclosed in the "unallocated amounts" category.

25.2

Reportable segment disclosures:

Operating segments for the year ended December ‎ 31, 2019	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 as of ‎ December 31, ‎ 2019
	ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$
Revenue		723,920			371,020			505,714			94,875			212,151			35,975			1,943,655			1,943,655			-			1,943,655
Revenues from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Revenues		723,920			371,020			505,714			94,875			212,151			35,975			1,943,655			1,943,655			-			1,943,655
Costs of sales		(573,808	)		(230,468	)		(306,250	)		(63,590	)		(176,199	)		(33,288	)		(1,383,603	)		(1,383,603	)		-			(1,383,603	)
Administrative expenses		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(117,180	)		(117,180	)
Interest expense		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(76,939	)		(76,939	)
Depreciation and amortization expense		(68,007	)		(43,533	)		(45,443	)		(6,885	)		(37,862	)		(534	)		(202,264	)		(202,264	)		-			(202,264	)
The entity’s interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			9,786			9,786
Income tax expense, continuing operations		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(110,019	)		(110,019	)
Income (loss) before taxes		150,112			140,552			199,464			31,285			35,952			2,687			560,052			560,052			(169,430	)		390,622
Net profit		150,112			140,552			199,464			31,285			35,952			2,687			560,052			560,052			(279,449	)		280,603
Assets		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			4,684,151			4,684,151
Equity-accounted investees		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			109,435			109,435
Incorporation of non-current assets other than financial instruments, deferred tax assets, net defined benefit assets and rights arising from insurance contracts		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			124,569			124,569
Increase of non-current assets		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Liabilities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			2,549,679			2,549,679
Impairment loss recognized in profit or loss		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(1,057	)		(1,057	)
Reversal of impairment losses recognized in profit or loss for the period		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			426,971			426,971
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(485,471	)		(485,471	)
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			105,896			105,896

Operating segments for the year ended December ‎ 31, 2018	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 as of ‎ December 31, ‎ 2018
	ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$
Revenue		781,751			324,972			734,801			108,267			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		781,751			324,972			734,801			108,267			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	)		(47,675	)		(1,485,631	)		(1,485,631	)		-			(1,485,631	)
Administrative expenses		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(118,126	)		(118,126	)
Interest expense		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			(57,807	)		(57,807	)
Depreciation and amortization expense		(79,061	)		(42,438	)		(42,283	)		(8,454	)		(47,940	)		(651	)		(220,827	)		(220,827	)		-			(220,827	)
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	)
Income (loss) before taxes		168,484			107,508			417,926			35,303			50,088			863			780,172			780,172			(159,134	)		621,038
Net income (loss)profit		168,484			107,508			417,926			35,303			50,088			863			780,172			780,172			(338,109	)		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		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			2,130,292			2,130,292
Impairment loss recognized in profit or loss		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			2,967			2,967
Reversal of impairment losses recognized in profit or loss for the period		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			524,839			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 segments for the year ended December ‎ 31, 2017	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 as of ‎ December ‎ 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		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	)
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)profit		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	)

25.3

Statement of comprehensive income classified by reportable segments based on groups of products

Items in the statement of comprehensive ‎ income as of December 31, 2019	Specialty ‎ plant ‎ nutrients			Iodine and its ‎ derivatives			Lithium and ‎ its ‎ derivatives			Industrial ‎ chemicals			Potassium			Other ‎ products and ‎ services			Corporate ‎ Unit			Total ‎ segments and ‎ Corporate unit
	ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$
Revenue		723,920			371,020			505,714			94,875			212,151			35,975			-			1,943,655
Cost of sales		(573,808	)		(230,468	)		(306,250	)		(63,590	)		(176,199	)		(33,288	)		-			(1,383,603	)
Gross profit		150,112			140,552			199,464			31,285			35,952			2,687			-			560,052
Other income by function		-			-			-			-			-			-			18,218			18,218
Administrative expenses		-			-			-			-			-			-			(117,180	)		(117,180	)
Other expenses by function		-			-			-			-			-			-			(25,995	)		(25,995	)
Impairment of gains and review of impairment losses (impairment losses) determined in accordance with IFRS 9		-			-			-			-			-			-			(1,057	)		(1,057	)
Other gains (losses)		-			-			-			-			-			-			(383	)		(383	)
Financial income		-			-			-			-			-			-			26,289			26,289
Financial costs		-			-			-			-			-			-			(76,939	)		(76,939	)
interest in the profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for by the equity method		-			-			-			-			-			-			9,786			9,786
Exchange differences		-			-			-			-			-			-			(2,169	)		(2,169	)
Profit (loss) before taxes		150,112			140,552			199,464			31,285			35,952			2,687			(169,430	)		390,622
Income tax expense		-			-			-			-			-			-			(110,019	)		(110,019	)
Net profit (loss)		150,112			140,552			199,464			31,285			35,952			2,687			(279,449	)		280,603

Items in the statement of comprehensive ‎ income as of December 31, 2018	Specialty ‎ plant ‎ nutrients			Iodine and its ‎ derivatives			Lithium and ‎ its ‎ derivatives			Industrial ‎ chemicals			Potassium			Other ‎ products and ‎ services			Corporate ‎ Unit			Total ‎ segments and ‎ Corporate unit
	ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$
Revenue		781,751			324,972			734,801			108,267			267,474			48,538			-			2,265,803
Cost of sales		(613,267	)		(217,464	)		(316,875	)		(72,964	)		(217,386	)		(47,675	)		-			(1,485,631	)
Gross profit		168,484			107,508			417,926			35,303			50,088			863			-			780,172
Other incomes by function		-			-			-			-			-			-			32,048			32,048
Administrative expenses		-			-			-			-			-			-			(118,126	)		(118,126	)
Other expenses by function		-			-			-			-			-			-			(36,907	)		(36,907	)
Impairment of gains and review of impairment losses (impairment losses) determined in accordance with IFRS 9		-			-			-			-			-			-			2,967			2,967
Other gains (losses)		-			-			-			-			-			-			6,404			6,404
Financial income		-			-			-			-			-			-			22,533			22,533
Financial costs		-			-			-			-			-			-			(57,807	)		(57,807	)
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		168,484			107,508			417,926			35,303			50,088			863			(159,134	)		621,038
Income tax expense		-			-			-			-			-			-			(178,975	)		(178,975	)
Net profit (loss)		168,484			107,508			417,926			35,303			50,088			863			(338,109	)		442,063

Items in the statement of comprehensive ‎ income as of December 31, 2017	Specialty ‎ plant ‎ nutrients			Iodine and its ‎ derivatives			Lithium and ‎ its ‎ derivatives			Industrial ‎ chemicals			Potassium			Other ‎ products and ‎ services			Corporate ‎ Unit			Total ‎ segments and ‎ Corporate unit
	ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			ThUS$			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	)
Impairment of gains and review of impairment losses (impairment losses) determined in accordance with IFRS 9		-			-			-			-			-			-			7,198			7,198
Other gains (losses)		-			-			-			-			-			-			679			679
Financial income		-			-			-			-			-			-			10,129			10,129
Financial costs		-			-			-			-			-			-			(57,498	)		(57,498	)
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
Net profit (loss) before taxes		145,779			39,846			339,011			36,759			43,846			5,796			(181,752	)		429,285
Income tax expense		-			-			-			-			-			-			(132,965	)		(132,965	)
Net profit (loss)		145,779			39,846			339,011			36,759			43,846			5,796			(314,717	)		296,320

25.4

Disclosures on geographical areas

As indicated in paragraph 33 of IFRS 8, the entity discloses geographical information on its revenue from operating activities with external customers and from non-current assets that are not financial instruments, deferred income tax assets, assets related to post-employment benefits or rights derived from insurance contracts.

25.5

Disclosures on main customers

With respect to the degree of dependency of the Company on its customers, in accordance with paragraph 34 of IFRS 8, the Company has no external customers who individually represent 10% or more of its revenue. Credit risk concentrations with respect to trade and other accounts receivable are limited due to the significant number of entities in the Company’s portfolio and its worldwide distribution. The Company’s policy requires guarantees (such as letters of credit, guarantee clauses and others) and/or to maintain insurance policies for certain accounts as deemed necessary by the Company’s Management.

Items as of December 31, 2019	Chile		Latin America ‎ and the ‎ Caribbean			Europe		North America			Asia and others		Total
	ThUS$		ThUS$			ThUS$		ThUS$			ThUS$		ThUS$
Revenue		211,857		161,928			393,764		451,272			724,834		1,943,655
Investment accounted for under the equity method		-		(5,175	)		42,243		14,669			57,698		109,435
Intangible assets other than goodwill		106,910		420			1,397		2,683			76,948		188,358
Goodwill		23,205		-			11,521		-			-		34,726
Property, plant and equipment, net		1,559,080		513			6,241		8,333			32,903		1,607,070
Other non-current assets		20,321		28			4		(624	)		-		19,729
Non-current assets		1,709,516		(4,214	)		61,406		25,061			167,549		1,959,318

Items as of December 31, 2018	Chile			Latin America ‎ and the ‎ Caribbean		Europe		North America			Asia and others		Total
	ThUS$			ThUS$		ThUS$		ThUS$			ThUS$		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			1,215		238		152			77,201		189,350
Goodwill		22,535			86		11,521		724			-		34,866
Property, plant and equipment, net		1,445,349			347		4,451		3,098			1,578		1,454,823
Other non-current assets		17,111			23		-		(892	)		11,297		27,539
Non-current assets		1,588,951			1,671		77,466		19,197			130,842		1,818,127

25.6

Property, plant and equipment classified by geographical areas

The company's main production facilities are located near their mines and extraction facilities in northern Chile. The following table presents the main production facilities as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018:

	Location		Products

-	Pedro de Valdivia	:	Production of iodine and nitrate salts
-	María Elena	:	Production of iodine and nitrate salts
-	Coya Sur	:	Production of nitrate salts
-	Nueva Victoria	:	Production of iodine and nitrate salts
-	Salar de Atacama	:	Potassium chloride, lithium chloride, boric acid and potassium sulfate
-	Salar del Carmen	:	Production of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide
-	Tocopilla	:	Port facilities