Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 85,215	$ 133,347
Receivables, less allowances of $10,011 in 2014 and $5,945 in 2013	270,436	265,721
Inventories (Note 5)	183,233	172,368
Deferred income taxes (Note 9)	15,364	12,637
Other current assets	21,308	24,477
Total current assets	575,556	608,550
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Land	12,446	13,008
Buildings and improvements	171,559	162,199
Machinery and equipment	1,119,400	1,085,763
Construction in progress	82,446	55,529
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	1,385,851	1,316,499
Less: accumulated depreciation	(861,656)	(822,457)
Property, plant and equipment, net	524,195	494,042
Goodwill, net (Note 4)	11,502	11,726
Other intangible assets, net (Note 4)	20,803	23,669
Long-term investments (Note 2)	20,217	18,305
Other non-current assets	9,741	10,910
Total Assets	1,162,014	1,167,202
Current Liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt (Note 6)	27,034	35,377
Accounts payable	156,983	157,277
Accrued liabilities (Note 14)	65,496	76,339
Total current liabilities	249,513	268,993
Deferred income taxes (Note 9)	15,804	20,616
Long-term debt, less current maturities (Note 6)	246,897	235,246
Other non-current liabilities (Note 15)	112,856	88,606
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 16)
Equity (Note 10):
Common stock, $1 par value; authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued 25,640,090 shares in 2014 and 25,563,909 shares in 2013	25,640	25,564
Additional paid-in capital	139,573	135,693
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (Note 19)	(83,945)	(29,528)
Retained earnings	520,540	478,826
Less: Common treasury stock, at cost, 3,384,443 shares in 2014 and 3,231,289 shares in 2013	(66,262)	(58,269)
Total Stepan Company stockholders’ equity	535,546	552,286
Noncontrolling interests	1,398	1,455
Total equity	536,944	553,741
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 1,162,014	$ 1,167,202