| 
           VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (Details) (USD $) 
        In Millions, unless otherwise specified  | 
        12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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           Dec. 31, 2012
 
          item 
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           Dec. 31, 2011 
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           Dec. 31, 2012
 
          HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES 
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           Dec. 31, 2011
 
          HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES 
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           Mar. 31, 2011
 
          HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES 
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           Dec. 31, 2012
 
          Consolidated VIE's
 
          item 
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           Dec. 31, 2011
 
          Consolidated VIE's 
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           Dec. 31, 2012
 
          Rubicon LLC, Pacific Iron Products, Arabian Amines and Sasol Huntsman GmbH and Co. KG 
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           Dec. 31, 2011
 
          Rubicon LLC, Pacific Iron Products, Arabian Amines and Sasol Huntsman GmbH and Co. KG 
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           Dec. 31, 2012
 
          Sasol Huntsman GmbH and Co. KG 
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           Dec. 31, 2011
 
          Sasol Huntsman GmbH and Co. KG 
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           Dec. 31, 2010
 
          Sasol Huntsman GmbH and Co. KG 
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           Mar. 31, 2011
 
          Sasol Huntsman GmbH and Co. KG 
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           Apr. 30, 2011
 
          Arabian Amines Company 
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      |||||||
| Identification of variable interest entities through investments and transactions | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of joint ventures | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Assets and liabilities of VIE | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Current assets | $ 4,119 | $ 3,946 | $ 4,192 | $ 3,761 | $ 163 | $ 140 | $ 61 | |||||||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 3,745 | [1] | 3,622 | [1] | 3,656 | [1] | 3,510 | [1] | 378 | 403 | 378 | 403 | 155 | |||||||
| Other noncurrent assets | 366 | [1] | 482 | [1] | 366 | [1] | 482 | [1] | 28 | 21 | 61 | 61 | ||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 229 | 195 | 229 | 163 | 45 | 45 | ||||||||||||||
| Intangible assets | 68 | [1] | 91 | [1] | 70 | [1] | 93 | [1] | 19 | 23 | 19 | 23 | 16 | |||||||
| Goodwill | 117 | 114 | 117 | 114 | 16 | 15 | 17 | |||||||||||||
| Total assets | 8,884 | 8,657 | 8,870 | 8,330 | 682 | 687 | 249 | |||||||||||||
| Current liabilities | 2,181 | 1,826 | 2,313 | 1,961 | 348 | 145 | 23 | |||||||||||||
| Long-term debt | 3,414 | [1] | 3,730 | [1] | 3,414 | [1] | 3,730 | [1] | 77 | 264 | 82 | 269 | 93 | |||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 228 | 309 | 170 | 106 | 8 | 9 | 8 | |||||||||||||
| Other noncurrent liabilities | 1,161 | [1] | 1,012 | [1] | 1,157 | [1] | 1,003 | [1] | 101 | 111 | 102 | 110 | 7 | |||||||
| Total liabilities | 6,988 | 6,881 | 7,653 | 7,239 | 540 | 533 | 131 | |||||||||||||
| Amount receivable after settlement of a dispute | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Damages incurred due to the delayed initial acceptance of the plant | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Reimbursement of capital expenditures for work left unfinished by the third party contractors | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total goodwill amount deductible for the tax purposes | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Change in amount of goodwill due to a change in foreign currency exchange rate | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Average useful life of all other intangible assets | 18 years | |||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | 116 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Earnings | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Pro forma revenues | 11,259 | 9,337 | ||||||||||||||||||
| One time non cash gain | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| One-time noncash income tax expense recognized | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of the noncontrolling interest | $ 61 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest (as a percent) | 100.00% | 100.00% | 50.00% | |||||||||||||||||
| Number of parents for which tax consequence adjustment is applicable | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Huntsman share of joint venture (as a percent) | 50.00% | |||||||||||||||||||
          
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Represents the partnership interest (as a percent) in a joint venture. No definition available. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Fair value portion of equity (net assets) in a variable interest entity (VIE) not attributable, directly or indirectly, to the parent entity. No definition available. 
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- Definition 
          Represents the number of joint ventures for which the company is the primary beneficiary. No definition available. 
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- Definition 
          Represents the number of parents for which tax consequence adjustment is applicable. No definition available. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Represents the amount awarded, to be received by, or to be remitted to the entity in settlement of damages incurred due to the delayed initial acceptance of the plant. No definition available. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Represents the amount awarded, to be received by, or to be remitted to the entity in settlement of capital expenditures for work left unfinished by the third party contractors. No definition available. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Represents a one-time noncash income tax expense recognized upon consolidation of a variable interest entity. No definition available. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are expected to be realized in cash, sold, or consumed within one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer). Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          The amount of goodwill arising from a business combination that is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          In a business combination in which the amount of net identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed exceeds the aggregate consideration transferred or to be transferred (as defined), this element represents the amount of gain recognized by the entity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          This element represents the amount of earnings or loss of the acquiree since the acquisition date included in the consolidated income statement for the reporting period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          This element represents the amount of revenue of the acquiree since the acquisition date included in the consolidated income statement for the reporting period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Amount after allocation of valuation allowances of noncurrent deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards. Noncurrent assets are expected to be realized or consumed after one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences, net of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards net of valuation allowances expected to be realized or consumed after one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. No definition available. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, which is the cumulative amount paid and (if applicable) the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, adjusted for any amortization recognized prior to the adoption of any changes in generally accepted accounting principles (as applicable) and for any impairment charges, in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired in one or more business combination transactions. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Change in the carrying value of goodwill. The change could be the result of new goodwill acquired, goodwill impairment, if any, goodwill written off related to the sale of a business or other adjustments to goodwill. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Sum of the carrying amounts of all intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all liabilities that are recognized. Liabilities are probable future sacrifices of economic benefits arising from present obligations of an entity to transfer assets or provide services to other entities in the future. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Total obligations incurred as part of normal operations that are expected to be paid during the following twelve months or within one business cycle, if longer. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          This element represents the gross amount awarded, to be received by, or to be remitted to the entity in settlement of litigation occurring during the period. No definition available. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer (current maturities). Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage. No definition available. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of noncurrent assets not separately disclosed in the balance sheet. Noncurrent assets are expected to be realized or consumed after one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of noncurrent obligations not separately disclosed in the balance sheet. Noncurrent liabilities are expected to be paid after one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Amount, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization, of long-lived physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Details 
          
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- Details 
          
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