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Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of operating companies under parent company	2
Contributions by employer for employee savings plans	$ 4	$ 4	$ 3
Research, development, and testing expenses related to new products and processes.	51	45	46
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries for which U.S. taxes have not been provided	177	138	92
Deferred income taxes on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries for which U.S. taxes have not been provided	$ 0	$ 0
Maximum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents maturity, days	90

X

- Definition

The original maturity of an instrument classified as cash or a cash equivalent.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	neu_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount of the contributions made during the period for defined contribution plans.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	neu_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount as of the balance sheet date of the estimated future tax effects attributable to earnings for the period which are considered to be indefinitely reinvested outside the country of domicile.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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X

- Definition

Number of operating companies under parent company.

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No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:positiveIntegerItemType
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X

- Definition

The aggregate costs incurred (1) in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, or a new process or technique; or (2) to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process whether intended for sale or the entity's use, during the reporting period charged to research and development projects, including the costs of developing computer software up to the point in time of achieving technological feasibility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	neu_
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- Details

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X

- Definition

The amount of earnings for the period which are considered to be indefinitely reinvested outside the country of domicile, and as such, United States taxes have not been provided on such earnings.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	neu_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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