Segment Reporting (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Operating Segment

Segment operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, are summarized below:

(In thousands)	Surfactants		Polymers		Specialty Products		Segment Totals
For the three months ended March 31, 2013
Net sales	$	339,973	$	95,998	$	20,575	$	456,546
Operating income		29,652		10,764		2,832		43,248
For the three months ended March 31, 2012
Net sales	$	347,156	$	96,749	$	21,364	$	465,269
Operating income		32,992		11,751		3,895		48,638

Reconciliation of segment information to consolidated financial statements

Below are reconciliations of segment operating income to consolidated income before income taxes:

	Three Months Ended March 31
(In thousands)	2013			2012
Operating income segment totals	$	43,248		$	48,638
Unallocated corporate expenses (a)		(14,954	)		(13,238	)
Total operating income		28,294			35,400
Interest expense, net		(2,179	)		(2,604	)
Loss from equity in joint ventures		(1,413	)		(1,141	)
Other, net		571			1,065
Consolidated income before income taxes	$	25,273		$	32,720

^(a)  Unallocated corporate expenses primarily comprise corporate administrative expenses (e.g., corporate finance, legal, human resources, information systems and deferred compensation) that are not included in segment operating income and not used to evaluate segment performance.