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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) MMBTU in Millions | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) MMBTU Customer Subsidiary | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Customer | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Customer | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 298,894,000 | $ 225,743,000 | $ 176,143,000 | $ 85,215,000
Single customer comprised more than 10 percent of the Company's consolidated net sales | Customer | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Percentage of LIFO Inventory | 69.00% | 66.00% |  |
Cost of maintenance and repairs | $ 51,926,000 | $ 51,530,000 | $ 52,549,000 |
Total research and development expenses | $ 33,169,000 | $ 34,856,000 | $ 30,315,000 |
Capitalized Environmental expenditures depreciation period | 10 years |  |  |
Indefinite-life intangible assets | $ 0 |  |  |
Number of foreign subsidiaries | Subsidiary | 2 |  |  |
Natural Gas [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Volume in derivative contract | MMBTU | 0.8 |  |  |
Purchased Contract Price | $ 2,521,000 |  |  |
Non-compete Agreements [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life | 5 years |  |  |
Trademarks [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life | 11 years |  |  |
Supply contracts [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life | 4 years |  |  |
Know-how [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life | 8 years |  |  |
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] | Patents [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life | 10 years |  |  |
Minimum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life | 10 years |  |  |
Minimum [Member] | Manufacturing 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] | Patents [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life | 15 years |  |  |
Maximum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life | 13 years |  |  |
Maximum [Member] | Manufacturing 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 |  |  |
Money Market Funds [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 15,100,000 |  |  |
Demand Deposits [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 131,900,000 |  |  |
Non-U.S. Subsidiaries [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 151,900,000 |  |  |
Nanjing Stepan Jinling Chemical Limited Liability Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage | 80.00% |  |  |

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