| RESTRUCTURING, IMPAIRMENT AND PLANT CLOSING COSTS (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Jun. 30, 2011 | Mar. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009 | Dec. 31, 2012
 Polyurethanes | Sep. 30, 2012
 Polyurethanes | Mar. 31, 2012
 Polyurethanes | Dec. 31, 2012
 Polyurethanes | Dec. 31, 2009
 Polyurethanes | Dec. 31, 2012
 Advanced Materials | Dec. 31, 2011
 Advanced Materials | Dec. 31, 2010
 Advanced Materials | Dec. 31, 2009
 Advanced Materials | Dec. 31, 2012
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2011
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2010
 Textile Effects
 item | Dec. 31, 2009
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2011
 Pigments | Dec. 31, 2010
 Pigments | Dec. 31, 2012
 Pigments | Dec. 31, 2009
 Pigments | Dec. 31, 2011
 Performance Products | Dec. 31, 2010
 Performance Products | Dec. 31, 2010
 Corporate and other | Dec. 31, 2012
 Corporate and other | Dec. 31, 2011
 Corporate and other | Dec. 31, 2009
 Corporate and other | Dec. 31, 2012
 Discontinued Operations | Dec. 31, 2011
 Discontinued Operations | Dec. 31, 2010
 Discontinued Operations | Dec. 31, 2009
 Discontinued Operations | Dec. 31, 2012
 Workforce reductions | Dec. 31, 2011
 Workforce reductions | Dec. 31, 2010
 Workforce reductions | Dec. 31, 2009
 Workforce reductions | Dec. 31, 2012
 Workforce reductions
 Polyurethanes | Dec. 31, 2012
 Workforce reductions
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2011
 Workforce reductions
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2010
 Workforce reductions
 Performance Products | Dec. 31, 2012
 Workforce reductions
 Corporate and other | Dec. 31, 2011
 Workforce reductions
 Corporate and other | Dec. 31, 2010
 Workforce reductions
 Corporate and other | Dec. 31, 2010
 Decommissioning | Dec. 31, 2009
 Decommissioning | Dec. 31, 2012
 Decommissioning
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2012
 Pension curtailment gain
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2011
 Pension curtailment gain
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2011
 Simplification of the commercial organization and optimization of our distribution network
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2012
 Global transformational change program
 Advanced Materials | Dec. 31, 2012
 Australian styrenics business
 Discontinued Operations | Dec. 31, 2011
 Australian styrenics business
 Discontinued Operations | Dec. 31, 2010
 Australian styrenics business
 Discontinued Operations | Dec. 31, 2012
 Basel, Switzerland
 Advanced Materials | Dec. 31, 2010
 Basel, Switzerland
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2012
 Basel, Switzerland
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2011
 Basel, Switzerland
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2012
 Basel, Switzerland
 Closure of facility
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2011
 Basel, Switzerland
 Closure of facility
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2012
 Langweid, Germany and Basel, Switzerland
 Workforce reductions
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2011
 Langweid, Germany and Basel, Switzerland
 Workforce reductions
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2011
 Langweid, Germany
 Workforce reductions
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2010
 Langweid, Germany
 Workforce reductions
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2011
 North Carolina consolidation
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2011
 North Carolina consolidation
 Workforce reductions | Dec. 31, 2011
 Switzerland Consolidation
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2012
 Switzerland Consolidation
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2012
 Grimsby, U.K. plant
 Pigments | Dec. 31, 2011
 Grimsby, U.K. plant
 Pigments | Dec. 31, 2010
 Grimsby, U.K. plant
 Pigments | Dec. 31, 2011
 Umbogintwini, South Africa plant
 Workforce reductions
 Pigments | Dec. 31, 2011
 Huelva, Spain and Scarlino, Italy plants
 Workforce reductions
 Pigments | Dec. 31, 2012
 Scarlino, Italy plant
 Pigments | Dec. 31, 2010
 Scarlino, Italy plant
 Pigments | Dec. 31, 2012
 Textile Effects Acquisition
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2011
 Textile Effects Acquisition
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2010
 Textile Effects Acquisition
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2010
 2005 initiatives and prior | Dec. 31, 2011
 2006 initiatives and prior | Dec. 31, 2011
 2006 initiatives and prior
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2011
 2006 initiatives and prior
 Pigments | Dec. 31, 2012
 2007 initiatives and prior | Dec. 31, 2011
 2007 initiatives and prior | Dec. 31, 2012
 2007 initiatives and prior
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2011
 2008 initiatives | Dec. 31, 2010
 2008 initiatives | Dec. 31, 2010
 2008 initiatives
 Polyurethanes | Dec. 31, 2011
 2008 initiatives
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2010
 2008 initiatives
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2011
 2008 initiatives
 Pigments | Dec. 31, 2010
 2008 initiatives
 Pigments | Dec. 31, 2012
 2009 initiatives | Dec. 31, 2011
 2009 initiatives | Dec. 31, 2010
 2009 initiatives | Dec. 31, 2012
 2009 initiatives
 Advanced Materials | Dec. 31, 2011
 2009 initiatives
 Advanced Materials | Dec. 31, 2010
 2009 initiatives
 Advanced Materials | Dec. 31, 2010
 2009 initiatives
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2012
 2009 initiatives
 Pigments | Dec. 31, 2011
 2009 initiatives
 Pigments | Dec. 31, 2010
 2009 initiatives
 Pigments | Dec. 31, 2010
 2009 initiatives
 Corporate and other | Dec. 31, 2012
 2010 initiatives | Dec. 31, 2011
 2010 initiatives | Dec. 31, 2010
 2010 initiatives | Dec. 31, 2012
 2010 initiatives
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2011
 2010 initiatives
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2010
 2010 initiatives
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2012
 2010 initiatives
 Performance Products | Dec. 31, 2010
 2010 initiatives
 Performance Products | Dec. 31, 2012
 2010 initiatives
 Corporate and other | Dec. 31, 2011
 2010 initiatives
 Corporate and other | Dec. 31, 2010
 2010 initiatives
 Corporate and other | Dec. 31, 2010
 2010 initiatives
 Workforce reductions
 Advanced Materials | Dec. 31, 2012
 2011 initiatives | Dec. 31, 2011
 2011 initiatives | Dec. 31, 2012
 2011 initiatives
 Advanced Materials | Dec. 31, 2011
 2011 initiatives
 Advanced Materials | Dec. 31, 2012
 2011 initiatives
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2011
 2011 initiatives
 Textile Effects | Dec. 31, 2011
 2011 initiatives
 Pigments | Dec. 31, 2012
 2012 initiatives | Dec. 31, 2012
 2012 initiatives
 Polyurethanes | Dec. 31, 2012
 2012 initiatives
 Advanced Materials | Dec. 31, 2012
 2012 initiatives
 Corporate and other | |
| Accrued restructuring costs by type of cost and initiative | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Annualized fixed costs | $ 75 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring charges | 1 | 32 | 5 | 38 | 20 | 4 | 22 | 10 | 38 | 1 | 62 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 28 | 15 | 4 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 15 | 23 | 13 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 89 | 3 | 21 | 12 | 65 | 3 | 69 | 38 | 30 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charges related to closure of St. Eons France facility | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charges related to global transfer pricing initiative | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reversal of reserves no longer required | (16) | (5) | (7) | (1) | (3) | (16) | (4) | (1) | (2) | (1) | (15) | (5) | (6) | (16) | (4) | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-cash charges | 15 | 60 | 2 | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring payments | (3) | (2) | (1) | (3) | (3) | (2) | (7) | (1) | (1) | (5) | (1) | (1) | (6) | (12) | (16) | (1) | (1) | (3) | (2) | (5) | (11) | (8) | (3) | (4) | (21) | (3) | (1) | (15) | (2) | (1) | (1) | (6) | (2) | (37) | (14) | (14) | (7) | (23) | (5) | (2) | (18) | (12) | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | 40 | 47 | 5 | (4) | 155 | 9 | 7 | 92 | 167 | 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Estimated additional future charges for current restructuring projects | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Estimated additional charges within one year | 100 | 3 | 17 | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Estimated additional charges | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring charges related to redesign | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Noncash charge related to pension settlement loss | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pension curtailment gain | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring charges related to the simplification of the commercial organization and optimization of our distribution network | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected additional charges related to closure and workforce reductions | 80 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring reserve | 105 | 92 | 105 | 92 | 49 | 75 | 27 | 27 | 2 | 27 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 42 | 69 | 25 | 17 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 34 | 90 | 73 | 36 | 60 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 19 | 15 | 31 | 47 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 16 | 34 | 63 | 53 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Impairment of long-lived assets at our Basel, Switzerland manufacturing facility | 53 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring reserve related to the streamlining of business | $ 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of new strategic business units resulting from streamlining of business | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||