Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 76,875		$ 84,099
Receivables, less allowances of $5,533 in 2012 and $5,214 in 2011.	255,858		260,784
Inventories (Note 5)	162,013		111,175
Deferred income taxes (Note 9)	9,876		8,769
Other current assets	18,456		14,915
Total current assets	523,078		479,742
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Land	11,942		11,794
Buildings and improvements	151,831		143,910
Machinery and equipment	969,603		889,721
Construction in progress	66,979		74,472
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	1,200,355		1,119,897
Less: accumulated depreciation	778,333		735,914
Property, plant and equipment, net	422,022		383,983
Goodwill, net (Note 4)	7,199		7,000
Other intangible assets, net (Note 4)	8,778		11,181
Long-term investments (Note 2)	14,093		12,464
Other non-current assets	10,308		6,748
Total assets	985,478		901,118
Current Liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt (Note 6)	32,838		34,487
Accounts payable	141,668		137,764
Accrued liabilities (Note 14)	72,661		60,975
Total current liabilities	247,167		233,226
Deferred income taxes (Note 9)	9,200		8,644
Long-term debt, less current maturities (Note 6)	149,564		164,967
Other non-current liabilities (Note 15)	98,667		88,816
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 16)
Equity (Note 10):
5-1/2 percent convertible preferred stock, cumulative, voting, without par value; authorized 2,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 61,935 shares in 2012 and 518,293 shares in 2011	1,548		12,957
Common stock, $1 par value; authorized 30,000,000 shares; issued 25,141,610 shares in 2012 and 23,418,624 shares in 2011 (a)	25,142	[1]	11,709	[1]
Additional paid-in capital	125,003		94,932
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (Note 1)	(38,250)		(41,485)
Retained earnings	420,472		366,293
Less: Common treasury stock, at cost, 3,175,638 shares in 2012 and 2,925,960 shares in 2011(a)	(54,930)	[1]	(43,195)	[1]
Total Stepan Company stockholders' equity	478,985		401,211
Noncontrolling interests	1,895		4,254
Total equity	480,880		405,465
Total liabilities and equity	$ 985,478		$ 901,118

[1] Share amounts reflect the two-for-one common stock split that was effective December 14, 2012.