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SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation (Policies)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Basis of Presentation [Abstract]  
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared by Eastman Chemical Company ("Eastman" or the "Company") in accordance and consistent with the accounting policies stated in the Company's 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of that report, with the exception of the items noted below. The December 31, 2017 financial position data included herein was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements included in the 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP").

In the opinion of management, the unaudited consolidated financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary for fair statement of the interim financial information in conformity with GAAP. These statements contain some amounts that are based upon management estimates and judgments. Future actual results could differ from such current estimates. The unaudited consolidated financial statements include assets, liabilities, sales revenue, and expenses of all majority-owned subsidiaries and joint ventures in which a controlling interest is maintained. Eastman accounts for other joint ventures and investments where it exercises significant influence on the equity basis. Intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation.

Certain prior period data has been reclassified in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes to conform to current period presentation. As of January 1, 2018:
Eastman's primary measure of operating performance for all periods presented is earnings before interest and taxes ("EBIT") on a consolidated and segment basis. Previously, the Company's primary measure of performance was operating earnings.
As discussed below, the new accounting standard for the presentation of net periodic benefit costs requires the Company to present non-service cost components of net periodic benefit costs (interest cost, expected return on plan assets, curtailment gains or losses, amortization of prior service costs or credits, and mark-to-market gains or losses) separately from service cost. These non-service cost components were reclassified from "Cost of sales", "Selling, general and administrative expenses", and "Research and development expenses" line items and are now included in a new line item, "Other components of post-employment (benefit) cost, net" on the Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Earnings, Comprehensive Income and Retained Earnings for all periods presented. This reclassification does not change prior period EBIT, earnings before income taxes, or net earnings and, accordingly, management does not consider this change to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements and related disclosures.