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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) MMBTU in Millions | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) MMBTU Customer Subsidiary | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Customer | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) Customer | Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 176,143,000 | $ 85,215,000 | $ 133,347,000 | $ 76,875,000
Single customer comprised more than 10 percent of the Company's consolidated net sales | Customer | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bad debt allowance | $ 1,106,000 | $ 4,625,000 | $ 719,000 |
Percentage of LIFO Inventory | 72.00% | 67.00% |  |
Cost of maintenance and repairs | $ 52,549,000 | $ 55,923,000 | 48,683,000 |
Total research and development expenses | $ 30,315,000 | 27,236,000 | $ 28,782,000 |
Capitalized Environmental expenditures depreciation period | 10 years |  |  |
Indefinite-life intangible assets | $ 0 |  |  |
Number of foreign subsidiaries | Subsidiary | 1 |  |  |
Natural Gas [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Volume in derivative contract | MMBTU | 1.1 |  |  |
Purchased Contract Price | $ 3,561,000 |  |  |
Building [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Lives used for calculating depreciation expense | 30 years |  |  |
Building Improvements [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Lives used for calculating depreciation expense | 15 years |  |  |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Percentage of Tax benefit recognized | 50.00% |  |  |
Minimum [Member] | Machinery and Equipment [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Lives used for calculating depreciation expense | 10 years |  |  |
Minimum [Member] | Furniture and Fixtures [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Lives used for calculating depreciation expense | 5 years |  |  |
Minimum [Member] | Vehicles [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Lives used for calculating depreciation expense | 3 years |  |  |
Minimum [Member] | Computers Equipment And Software [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Lives used for calculating depreciation expense | 3 years |  |  |
Maximum [Member] | Machinery and Equipment [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Lives used for calculating depreciation expense | 15 years |  |  |
Maximum [Member] | Furniture and Fixtures [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Lives used for calculating depreciation expense | 10 years |  |  |
Maximum [Member] | Vehicles [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Lives used for calculating depreciation expense | 5 years |  |  |
Maximum [Member] | Computers Equipment And Software [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Lives used for calculating depreciation expense | 10 years |  |  |
Polymers [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Bad debt allowance |  | $ 2,388,000 |  |
Money Market Funds [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 68,800,000 |  |  |
Demand Deposits [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 20,200,000 |  |  |
Non U S Subsidiaries [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 87,100,000 |  |  |
Stepan China [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage | 80.00% |  |  |

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