Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Summary of Geographic Disaggregation of Net Sales (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 444,990	$ 451,582	$ 473,003	$ 489,170	$ 466,659	$ 507,997	$ 519,866	$ 499,335	$ 1,858,745	[1]	$ 1,993,857	[1]	$ 1,925,007	[1]
North America [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									1,142,391		1,223,153		1,159,579
Europe [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									411,340		461,678		477,277
Latin America [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									215,709		216,287		195,253
Asia [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									89,305		92,739		92,898
Surfactants [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									1,272,723		1,385,932		1,297,555
Surfactants [Member] | North America [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									766,341		831,592		763,044
Surfactants [Member] | Europe [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									240,711		276,742		275,121
Surfactants [Member] | Latin America [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									212,405		212,824		190,802
Surfactants [Member] | Asia [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									53,266		64,774		68,588
Polymers [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									512,347		527,420		546,634
Polymers [Member] | North America [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									314,549		323,360		329,629
Polymers [Member] | Europe [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									158,455		172,632		188,244
Polymers [Member] | Latin America [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									3,304		3,463		4,451
Polymers [Member] | Asia [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									36,039		27,965		24,310
Specialty Products [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									73,675		80,505		80,818
Specialty Products [Member] | North America [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									61,501		68,201		66,906
Specialty Products [Member] | Europe [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									$ 12,174		$ 12,304		$ 13,912

[1] Net sales are attributed to countries based on the location of the Company facility making the sales.