Reportable segments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Disclosure of entity's operating segments [Abstract]

Disclosure of entity's operating segments [text block]

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	)

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

Disclosure of geographical areas [text block]

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