XML 68 R54.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.20.4

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) MMBTU in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) MMBTU Customer Subsidiary | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) Customer | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) Customer
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 349,938,000 | $ 315,383,000 |
Single customer comprised more than 10 percent of the Company's consolidated net sales | Customer | 0 | 0 | 0
Cost of maintenance and repairs | $ 69,234,000 | $ 58,464,000 | $ 57,010,000
Total research and development expenses | $ 35,999,000 | $ 34,139,000 | $ 33,519,000
Capitalized Environmental expenditures depreciation period | 10 years |  |
Indefinite-life intangible assets | $ 0 |  |
Number of foreign subsidiaries | Subsidiary | 3 |  |
Natural Gas [Member] |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |
Volume in derivative contract | MMBTU | 0.9 |  |
Purchased Contract Price | $ 2,046,000 |  |
Supply Contracts [Member] |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life | 4 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] |  |  |
Concentration risk Payment terms extended | 30 days |  |
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] | Non-compete Agreements [Member] |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life | 3 years |  |
Minimum [Member] | Trademarks [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 | 5 years |  |
Minimum [Member] | Know-how [Member] |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life | 5 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] |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |
Concentration risk Payment terms extended | 60 days |  |
Maximum [Member] | Patents [Member] |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life | 15 years |  |
Maximum [Member] | Non-compete Agreements [Member] |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life | 5 years |  |
Maximum [Member] | Trademarks [Member] |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life | 11 years |  |
Maximum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member] |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life | 20 years |  |
Maximum [Member] | Know-how [Member] |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life | 20 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 | $ 123,700,000 |  |
Demand Deposit [Member] |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 76,100,000 |  |
Non-U.S. Subsidiaries [Member] |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 150,100,000 |  |
Nanjing Stepan Jinling Chemical Limited Liability Company [Member] |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policy [Line Items] |  |  |
Ownership percentage | 80.00% |  |

X
- Definition Capitalized environmental expenditures depreciation period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scl_CapitalizedEnvironmentalExpendituresDepreciationPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | scl_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Concentration risk number of major customers. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scl_ConcentrationRiskNumberOfMajorCustomers
Namespace Prefix: | scl_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Concentration risk Payment terms. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scl_ConcentrationRiskPaymentTerms
Namespace Prefix: | scl_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Notional amount of utility contracts. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scl_NotionalAmountOfUtilityContracts
Namespace Prefix: | scl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of foreign subsidiaries. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scl_NumberOfForeignSubsidiaries
Namespace Prefix: | scl_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Summary of significant accounting policy. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scl_SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPolicyLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | scl_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tax benefit recognized threshold limit percentage. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scl_TaxBenefitRecognizedThresholdLimitPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | scl_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Volume derivative contract. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scl_VolumeDerivativeContract
Namespace Prefix: | scl_
Data Type: | num:energyItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121586364&loc=d3e3044-108585 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121566466&loc=d3e6676-107765 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The aggregate costs of keeping the property in good condition but that do not appreciably prolong the life or increase the value of the property. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120395209&loc=SL114868664-224227 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CostOfPropertyRepairsAndMaintenance
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance and having a projected indefinite period of benefit. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process; or (2) to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing 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, and costs allocated in accounting for a business combination to in-process projects deemed to have no alternative future use. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 985 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6501960&loc=d3e128462-111756 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 730 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6420194&loc=d3e21568-108373 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis=srt_NaturalGasReservesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=scl_SupplyContractsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_BuildingMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_BuildingImprovementsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_PatentsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_TrademarksMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=scl_KnowHowMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_FurnitureAndFixturesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_VehiclesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=scl_ComputersEquipmentAndSoftwareMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis=us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis=us-gaap_DemandDepositsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis=scl_NonUSSubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_OwnershipAxis=scl_NanjingStepanJinlingChemicalLimitedLiabilityCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |