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Financial instruments - Additional Information (Detail) |  |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended |  |
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Dec. 31, 2012 Kronos Worldwide, Inc. [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Kronos International, Inc. [Member] USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2011 Kronos International, Inc. [Member] EUR (€) | Dec. 31, 2012 Senior Secured Notes [Member] Kronos Worldwide, Inc. [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Senior Secured Notes [Member] Kronos Worldwide, Inc. [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Amalgamated Sugar Company LLC [Member] USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2012 Chemicals [Member] Forward Contracts [Member] USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2011 Chemicals [Member] Forward Contracts [Member] USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2011 Chemicals [Member] Canadian Dollars [Member] Forward Contracts [Member] USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2011 Chemicals [Member] Canadian Dollars [Member] Minimum [Member] Forward Contracts [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Chemicals [Member] Canadian Dollars [Member] Maximum [Member] Forward Contracts [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Chemicals [Member] Norwegian Krone [Member] Forward Contracts [Member] USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2012 Chemicals [Member] Norwegian Krone [Member] Minimum [Member] Forward Contracts [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Chemicals [Member] Norwegian Krone [Member] Maximum [Member] Forward Contracts [Member]
Financial Instrument At Fair Value [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notional amount currency forward contract |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 48,000,000 |  |  | $ 20,000,000 |  |
Exchange floor rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.9969 | 1.0283 |  | 6.02 | 6.13
Maturity rate of derivative |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,000,000 |  |  | 5,000,000 |  |
Estimated fair value of currency forward contracts |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Currency transaction gain |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,800,000 | (800,000) |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated fair value of these currency forward contracts |  |  |  |  |  |  | 800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate of note | 6.50% |  |  | 6.50% | 6.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated market price of the notes |  | 1,017.5 | 1,004.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Principal amount of debt instrument |  | 1,000 | 1,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Redemption price of investment |  |  |  |  |  | $ 250,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 12 -Section 13 -Sentence Column B + Details
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- Definition Aggregate impact of foreign currency derivatives on earnings for the period. Includes impact of foreign currency cash flow hedge ineffectiveness and the ineffectiveness of fair value hedging derivatives and full change in fair value of the foreign currency derivatives not designated as hedging instruments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 25 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6886632&loc=d3e76258-113986 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4D -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624177-113959 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 45 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4C -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624171-113959 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4A -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5618551-113959 + Details
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- Definition This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents notes payable as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 20, 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 2, 4 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20,22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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