OPERATING SEGMENTS AND GEOGRAPHIC AREAS (Schedule of Operating Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers	$ 13,734		$ 13,637		$ 42,694		$ 42,869
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	1,834	[1]	1,798	[1]	8,220	[1]	5,466	[1]
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates	322		175		780		492
Electronic And Functional Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers	1,168		1,111		3,461		3,383
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	287	[1]	273	[1]	814	[1]	803	[1]
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates	36		27		81		81
Coatings and Infrastructure Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers	1,839		1,730		5,394		5,321
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	283	[1]	246	[1]	719	[1]	787	[1]
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates	32		29		83		96
Agricultural Sciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers	1,410		1,302		5,363		4,816
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	18	[1]	63	[1]	792	[1]	821	[1]
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates	3		3		6		3
Performance Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers	3,307		3,411		10,024		10,253
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	314	[1]	491	[1]	1,038	[1]	1,173	[1]
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates	(11)		(30)		(46)		(67)
Performance Plastics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number Of Countries With Customers Of Company	100				100
Sales to external customers	3,616		3,500		10,790		10,802
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	970	[1]	737	[1]	2,932	[1]	2,215	[1]
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates	134		28		279		101
Feedstocks and Energy [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers	2,328		2,521		7,427		8,113
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	187	[1]	200	[1]	620	[1]	532	[1]
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates	135		123		399		300
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers	66		62		235		181
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	(225)	[1]	(212)	[1]	1,305	[1]	(865)	[1]
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates	$ (7)		$ (5)		$ (22)		$ (22)

[1] The Company uses EBITDA (which Dow defines as earnings (i.e., "Net Income") before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) as its measure of profit/loss for segment reporting purposes. EBITDA by operating segment includes all operating items relating to the businesses, except depreciation and amortization; items that principally apply to the Company as a whole are assigned to Corporate. A reconciliation of EBITDA to "Income Before Income Taxes" is provided below.