Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 97,308	$ 85,215
Receivables, net	271,510	270,436
Inventories (Note 6)	172,168	183,233
Deferred income taxes	15,548	15,364
Other current assets	22,397	21,308
Total current assets	578,931	575,556
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Cost	1,379,839	1,385,851
Less: accumulated depreciation	(861,706)	(861,656)
Property, plant and equipment, net	518,133	524,195
Goodwill, net	11,390	11,502
Other intangible assets, net	20,092	20,803
Long-term investments (Note 3)	20,134	20,217
Other non-current assets	9,669	9,741
Total assets	1,158,349	1,162,014
Current Liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt (Note 12)	27,799	27,034
Accounts payable	142,101	156,983
Accrued liabilities	74,903	65,496
Total current liabilities	244,803	249,513
Deferred income taxes	15,754	15,804
Long-term debt, less current maturities (Note 12)	255,937	246,897
Other non-current liabilities	111,377	112,856
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 7)
Equity:
Common stock, $1 par value; authorized 30,000,000 shares; issued 25,666,380 shares in 2015 and 25,640,090 shares in 2014	25,666	25,640
Additional paid-in capital	140,471	139,573
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (Note 10)	(108,375)	(83,945)
Retained earnings	537,763	520,540
Less: Common treasury stock, at cost, 3,386,626 shares in 2015 and 3,238,321 shares in 2014	(66,446)	(66,262)
Total Stepan Company stockholders’ equity	529,079	535,546
Noncontrolling interests (Note 2)	1,399	1,398
Total equity	530,478	536,944
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,158,349	$ 1,162,014