Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 54,770	$ 76,875
Receivables, net	281,480	255,858
Inventories (Note 6)	177,379	162,013
Deferred income taxes	9,738	9,876
Other current assets	19,662	18,456
Total current assets	543,029	523,078
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Cost	1,210,078	1,200,355
Less: accumulated depreciation	786,488	778,333
Property, plant and equipment, net	423,590	422,022
Goodwill, net	7,137	7,199
Other intangible assets, net	8,183	8,778
Long-term investments (Note 3)	15,425	14,093
Other non-current assets	9,762	10,308
Total assets	1,007,126	985,478
Current Liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt (Note 12)	44,044	32,838
Accounts payable	150,727	141,668
Accrued liabilities	57,413	72,661
Total current liabilities	252,184	247,167
Deferred income taxes	7,300	9,200
Long-term debt, less current maturities (Note 12)	149,872	149,564
Other non-current liabilities	102,881	98,667
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 7)
Equity:
5-1/2 % convertible preferred stock, cumulative, voting, without par value; authorized 2,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 61,935 shares in 2013 and 2012	1,548	1,548
Common stock,$1 par value; authorized 30,000,000 shares; Issued 25,277,548 shares in 2013 and 25,141,610 shares in 2012	25,278	25,142
Additional paid-in capital	127,959	125,003
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (Note 10)	(41,817)	(38,250)
Retained earnings	435,964	420,472
Less: Common treasury stock, at cost, 3,188,039 shares in 2013 and 3,175,638 shares in 2012	(55,903)	(54,930)
Total Stepan Company stockholders' equity	493,029	478,985
Noncontrolling interests (Note 2)	1,860	1,895
Total equity	494,889	480,880
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,007,126	$ 985,478