Inventories (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Breakdown of Inventories

The following table provides a breakdown of inventories at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2018		2017
Finished goods(a)	$	503,970	$	404,239
Raw materials and work in process(b)	165,874		132,891
Stores, supplies and other	57,537		55,651
Total(c)	$	727,381	$	592,781

(a) Increase primarily due to the build-up of inventory in our Lithium and Catalysts segments resulting from higher forecasted sales.

(b) Increase primarily due to higher forecasted production levels in the fourth quarter from our Catalysts segment. Included $68.9 million and $59.6 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, of work in process related to lithium brine.

(c) As of December 31, 2017, $24.7 million of Inventories were classified as Assets held for sale in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. See Note 2, “Divestitures,” for additional information.