Segment Reporting

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting

11. SEGMENT REPORTING

The Company has three reportable segments: Surfactants, Polymers and Specialty Products.  Net sales by segment for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, were as follows:

(In thousands)	Three Months Ended March 31
	2016		2015
Segment Net Sales
Surfactants	$	309,960	$	330,551
Polymers		113,898		109,364
Specialty Products		22,039		20,536
Total	$	445,897	$	460,451

Segment operating income and reconciliations of segment operating income to consolidated income before income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, are summarized below:

(In thousands)	Three Months Ended March 31
	2016			2015
Segment Operating Income
Surfactants	$	37,245		$	33,764
Polymers		22,197			14,785
Specialty Products		2,333			2,244
Segment operating income		61,775			50,793
Unallocated corporate expenses (1)		(17,168	)		(15,615	)
Consolidated operating income		44,607			35,178
Interest expense, net		(3,614	)		(4,054	)
Loss from equity in joint ventures		—			(1,240	)
Other, net		(525	)		652
Consolidated income before income taxes	$	40,468		$	30,536

⁽¹⁾ Unallocated corporate expenses primarily comprise corporate administrative expenses (e.g., corporate finance, legal, human resources, information systems, deferred compensation and environmental remediation) that are not included in segment operating income and not used to evaluate segment performance.