Business and Geographic Segments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Holding Percentage of Subsidiaries

		% controlled at
Business segment	Entity	December 31, 2021
Chemicals	Kronos	80%
Component products	CompX	87%
Real estate management and development	BMI and LandWell	63% - 77%

Segment Operating Performance

	Years ended December 31,
	2019		2020		2021
	(In millions)
Net sales:
Chemicals	$	1,731.2	$	1,638.8	$	1,939.4
Component products		124.2		114.5		140.8
Real estate management and development		42.1		96.4		216.2
Total net sales	$	1,897.5	$	1,849.7	$	2,296.4
Cost of sales:
Chemicals	$	1,346.8	$	1,291.0	$	1,494.5
Component products		85.3		81.7		98.1
Real estate management and development		30.8		64.9		123.6
Total cost of sales	$	1,462.9	$	1,437.6	$	1,716.2
Gross margin:
Chemicals	$	384.4	$	347.8	$	444.9
Component products		38.9		32.8		42.7
Real estate management and development		11.3		31.5		92.6
Total gross margin	$	434.6	$	412.1	$	580.2
Operating income:
Chemicals	$	160.1	$	126.5	$	200.8
Component products		17.8		11.8		20.5
Real estate management and development		14.8		47.8		97.3
Total operating income		192.7		186.1		318.6
General corporate items:
Securities earnings		11.2		4.7		4.0
Insurance recoveries		7.7		1.6		.1
Gain on land sales		4.4		.5		16.0
Gain on sale of business		3.0		—		—
Other components of net periodic pension and   OPEB expense		(16.5)		(20.1)		(17.0)
Litigation settlement expense, net		(19.3)		—		—
Changes in market value of Valhi common stock held by   subsidiaries		(.2)		(1.7)		3.3
General expenses, net		(37.5)		(34.3)		(34.7)
Interest expense		(40.8)		(36.2)		(32.5)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	104.7	$	100.6	$	257.8

	Years ended December 31,
	2019		2020		2021
	(In millions)
Depreciation and amortization:
Chemicals	$	50.2	$	61.9	$	52.8
Component products		3.7		3.8		3.8
Real estate management and development		2.9		2.8		2.7
Total	$	56.8	$	68.5	$	59.3
Capital expenditures:
Chemicals	$	55.1	$	62.8	$	58.6
Component products		3.2		1.7		4.1
Real estate management and development		1.6		1.0		1.4
Total	$	59.9	$	65.5	$	64.1

Total Assets Held by Business Segments

	December 31,
	2019		2020		2021
	(In millions)
Total assets:
Operating segments:
Chemicals	$	2,331.8	$	2,400.7	$	2,373.1
Component products		132.5		138.0		146.4
Real estate management and development		191.6		171.3		259.3
Corporate and eliminations		138.5		179.3		226.4
Total	$	2,794.4	$	2,889.3	$	3,005.2

Net Sales by Point of Origin and Point of Destination

	Years ended December 31,
	2019		2020		2021
	(In millions)
Net sales - point of origin:
United States	$	1,164.8	$	1,189.8	$	1,409.1
Germany		883.6		836.0		971.7
Canada		328.7		319.5		371.9
Belgium		270.7		249.5		295.7
Norway		192.2		211.8		257.2
Eliminations		(942.5)		(956.9)		(1,009.2)
Total	$	1,897.5	$	1,849.7	$	2,296.4
Net sales - point of destination:
North America	$	740.1	$	778.2	$	999.7
Europe		824.2		783.8		945.7
Asia and other		333.2		287.7		351.0
Total	$	1,897.5	$	1,849.7	$	2,296.4

Net Property and Equipment by Segment

	December 31,
	2019		2020		2021
	(In millions)
Net property and equipment:
United States	$	72.0	$	67.8	$	63.6
Germany		233.6		237.5		214.8
Canada		73.1		88.6		91.1
Belgium		96.4		108.4		107.7
Norway		87.9		88.1		86.4
Total	$	563.0	$	590.4	$	563.6