CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF (LOSS) INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 178,786	$ 164,026	$ 159,669
Cost of sales (excluding amortization, shown separately below)	46,271	32,655	59,977
Gross profit	132,515	131,371	99,692
Research and development expenses	13,873	13,779	14,767
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	65,770	61,847	61,892
Amortization of intangibles	45,946	41,910	40,327
Impairment of long lived assets	2,600	0	10,795
Goodwill impairment	0	0	62,373
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	(3,018)	(26,948)	(53,608)
Operating income (loss)	7,344	40,783	(36,854)
Other income (expense)	429	611	(173)
(Loss) gain on foreign currency exchange	(1,722)	13,344	(3,274)
Interest expense, net	(34,451)	(35,755)	(58,239)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(28,400)	18,983	(98,540)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	1,840	(4,579)	13,020
Net (loss) income including non-controlling interests	(30,240)	23,562	(111,560)
Less: Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests	180	(91)	0
Net (loss) income attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc	$ (30,060)	$ 23,471	$ (111,560)
(Loss) income per common share attributable to AgroFresh stockholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.60)	$ 0.47	$ (2.26)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.60)	$ 0.47	$ (2.26)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	49,883,739	49,808,600	49,462,205
Diluted (in shares)	49,883,739	50,191,303	49,462,205