Investments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Investments [Abstract]

Schedule Of Investments In Unconsolidated Joint Ventures, Nonmarketable Securities And Marketable Equity Securities

	December 31,
	2011		2010
Joint ventures	$	180,437	$	160,839
Nonmarketable securities		1,187		2,059
Marketable equity securities		16,803		17,792
Total	$	198,427	$	180,690

Schedule Of Ownership Positions In Significant Unconsolidated Investments

		December 31,
		2011			2010			2009
*	Nippon Aluminum Alkyls – a joint venture with Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. that produces aluminum alkyls		50	%		50	%		50	%
*	Magnifin Magnesiaprodukte GmbH & Co. KG – a joint venture with Radex Heraklith Industriebeteiligung AG that produces specialty magnesium hydroxide products		50	%		50	%		50	%
*	Nippon Ketjen Company Limited – a joint venture with Sumitomo Metal Mining Company Limited that produces refinery catalysts		50	%		50	%		50	%
*	Eurecat S.A. – a joint venture with IFP Investissements for refinery catalysts regeneration services		50	%		50	%		50	%
*	Fábrica Carioca de Catalisadores S.A. – a joint venture with Petrobras Quimica S.A. –PETROQUISA that produces catalysts and includes catalysts research and product development activities		50	%		50	%		50	%
*	Stannica, LLC – a joint venture with Arkema Group LLC that produces tin stabilizers		50	%		50	%		N/A

Schedule Of Assets, Liabilities And Results Of Operations For Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

	December 31,
	2011		2010
Summary of Balance Sheet Information:
Current assets	$	307,358	$	301,769
Noncurrent assets		174,431		170,622
Total assets	$	481,789	$	472,391
Current liabilities	$	112,589	$	135,622
Noncurrent liabilities		42,850		43,591
Total liabilities	$	155,439	$	179,213

	Year Ended December 31,
	2011		2010		2009
Summary of Statements of Income Information:
Net sales	$	672,859	$	557,372	$	441,141
Gross profit	$	189,691	$	161,273	$	124,641
Income before income taxes	$	132,399	$	100,853	$	74,462
Net income	$	88,414	$	69,974	$	49,575