| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC (UNAUDITED) (Details 2) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 
      
        | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2011 | 
      
        | Revenues: |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Trade sales, services and fees, net | $ 2,691 | $ 2,923 | $ 8,406 | $ 8,445 | 
      
        | Related party sales | 50 | 53 | 162 | 144 | 
      
        | Total revenues | 2,741 | 2,976 | 8,568 | 8,589 | 
      
        | Cost of goods sold | 2,204 | 2,486 | 6,954 | 7,138 | 
      
        | Gross profit | 537 | 490 | 1,614 | 1,451 | 
      
        | Selling, general and administrative | 220 | 217 | 673 | 691 | 
      
        | Research and development | 35 | 42 | 112 | 123 | 
      
        | Other operating (income) expense |  | (1) | 7 | 7 | 
      
        | Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs (credits) | 47 | 155 | 52 | 171 | 
      
        | Operating income | 235 | 77 | 770 | 459 | 
      
        | Interest (expense) income, net | (56) | (63) | (172) | (187) | 
      
        | Equity in income (loss) of investment in affiliates and subsidiaries | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 
      
        | Loss on early extinguishment of debt | (1) | (2) | (2) | (5) | 
      
        | Other income | 1 | (1) | 2 |  | 
      
        | Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes | 181 | 13 | 603 | 273 | 
      
        | Income tax expense | (61) | (55) | (186) | (111) | 
      
        | Income (loss) from continuing operations | 120 | (42) | 417 | 162 | 
      
        | Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax | (1) | 10 | (7) | (5) | 
      
        | Income (loss) before extraordinary gain | 119 | (32) | 410 | 157 | 
      
        | Net income (loss) | 120 | (32) | 411 | 159 | 
      
        | Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests | (4) | (2) | (8) | (17) | 
      
        | Net income (loss) attributable to Huntsman Corporation or Huntsman International LLC | 116 | (34) | 403 | 142 | 
      
        | Other comprehensive (loss) income | 108 | (195) | 78 | (39) | 
      
        | Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (6) | (2) | (10) | (18) | 
      
        | Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Huntsman International LLC | 222 | (229) | 479 | 102 | 
      
        | Parent Company |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Revenues: |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Trade sales, services and fees, net | 240 | 247 | 718 | 682 | 
      
        | Related party sales | 187 | 161 | 536 | 353 | 
      
        | Total revenues | 427 | 408 | 1,254 | 1,035 | 
      
        | Cost of goods sold | 362 | 360 | 1,071 | 901 | 
      
        | Gross profit | 65 | 48 | 183 | 134 | 
      
        | Selling, general and administrative | 43 | 35 | 142 | 119 | 
      
        | Research and development | 10 | 13 | 32 | 37 | 
      
        | Other operating (income) expense | (1) | (2) | (4) | 31 | 
      
        | Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs (credits) | 1 |  | 2 |  | 
      
        | Operating income | 12 | 2 | 11 | (53) | 
      
        | Interest (expense) income, net | (52) | (54) | (155) | (164) | 
      
        | Equity in income (loss) of investment in affiliates and subsidiaries | 146 | 19 | 531 | 300 | 
      
        | Loss on early extinguishment of debt | (1) | (2) | (2) | (5) | 
      
        | Other income |  |  | (22) | (16) | 
      
        | Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes | 105 | (35) | 363 | 62 | 
      
        | Income tax expense | 11 | 11 | 44 | 87 | 
      
        | Income (loss) from continuing operations | 116 | (24) | 407 | 149 | 
      
        | Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax | 1 | (7) | 3 |  | 
      
        | Income (loss) before extraordinary gain | 117 |  | 410 | 149 | 
      
        | Net income (loss) | 117 | (31) | 410 | 149 | 
      
        | Net income (loss) attributable to Huntsman Corporation or Huntsman International LLC | 117 | (31) | 410 | 149 | 
      
        | Other comprehensive (loss) income | 107 | (194) | 80 | (36) | 
      
        | Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Huntsman International LLC | 224 | (225) | 490 | 113 | 
      
        | Guarantors |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Revenues: |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Trade sales, services and fees, net | 838 | 870 | 2,654 | 2,534 | 
      
        | Related party sales | 92 | 117 | 346 | 400 | 
      
        | Total revenues | 930 | 987 | 3,000 | 2,934 | 
      
        | Cost of goods sold | 689 | 821 | 2,300 | 2,403 | 
      
        | Gross profit | 241 | 166 | 700 | 531 | 
      
        | Selling, general and administrative | 25 | 20 | 76 | 77 | 
      
        | Research and development | 9 | 9 | 27 | 25 | 
      
        | Other operating (income) expense | (5) | 15 | 2 | (23) | 
      
        | Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs (credits) | (1) |  |  |  | 
      
        | Operating income | 213 | 122 | 595 | 452 | 
      
        | Interest (expense) income, net | 10 | 11 | 31 | 32 | 
      
        | Equity in income (loss) of investment in affiliates and subsidiaries | (20) | (73) | 102 | (12) | 
      
        | Other income | 21 |  | 21 |  | 
      
        | Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes | 224 | 60 | 749 | 472 | 
      
        | Income tax expense | (80) | (46) | (214) | (166) | 
      
        | Income (loss) from continuing operations | 144 | 14 | 535 | 306 | 
      
        | Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax |  | (1) |  | (1) | 
      
        | Income (loss) before extraordinary gain | 144 |  | 535 | 305 | 
      
        | Net income (loss) | 144 | 13 | 535 | 305 | 
      
        | Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests | 1 | (1) |  | (2) | 
      
        | Net income (loss) attributable to Huntsman Corporation or Huntsman International LLC | 145 | 12 | 535 | 303 | 
      
        | Other comprehensive (loss) income | 61 | (167) | 80 | 141 | 
      
        | Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 1 |  |  | (1) | 
      
        | Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Huntsman International LLC | 206 | (154) | 615 | 445 | 
      
        | Non-guarantors |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Revenues: |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Trade sales, services and fees, net | 1,613 | 1,803 | 5,034 | 5,229 | 
      
        | Related party sales | 306 | 299 | 884 | 868 | 
      
        | Total revenues | 1,919 | 2,102 | 5,918 | 6,097 | 
      
        | Cost of goods sold | 1,706 | 1,827 | 5,170 | 5,283 | 
      
        | Gross profit | 213 | 275 | 748 | 814 | 
      
        | Selling, general and administrative | 152 | 161 | 451 | 492 | 
      
        | Research and development | 16 | 20 | 53 | 61 | 
      
        | Other operating (income) expense | 4 | (14) | 7 | (1) | 
      
        | Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs (credits) | 47 | 155 | 50 | 171 | 
      
        | Operating income | (6) | (47) | 187 | 91 | 
      
        | Interest (expense) income, net | (17) | (23) | (57) | (65) | 
      
        | Equity in income (loss) of investment in affiliates and subsidiaries | 3 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 
      
        | Other income | 1 |  | 2 |  | 
      
        | Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes | (19) | (68) | 138 | 33 | 
      
        | Income tax expense | 7 | (20) | (18) | (32) | 
      
        | Income (loss) from continuing operations | (12) | (88) | 120 | 1 | 
      
        | Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax | (2) | 18 | (10) | (4) | 
      
        | Income (loss) before extraordinary gain | (14) |  | 110 | (3) | 
      
        | Extraordinary gain on the acquisition of a business, net of tax of nil | 1 |  | 1 | 2 | 
      
        | Net income (loss) | (13) | (70) | 111 | (1) | 
      
        | Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests | (6) | (1) | (11) | (9) | 
      
        | Net income (loss) attributable to Huntsman Corporation or Huntsman International LLC | (19) | (71) | 100 | (10) | 
      
        | Other comprehensive (loss) income | 87 | (184) | 72 | (77) | 
      
        | Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (8) | (2) | (10) | (11) | 
      
        | Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Huntsman International LLC | 66 | (256) | 173 | (89) | 
      
        | Eliminations |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Revenues: |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Trade sales, services and fees, net |  | 3 |  |  | 
      
        | Related party sales | (535) | (524) | (1,604) | (1,477) | 
      
        | Total revenues | (535) | (521) | (1,604) | (1,477) | 
      
        | Cost of goods sold | (558) | (527) | (1,601) | (1,463) | 
      
        | Gross profit | 23 | 6 | (3) | (14) | 
      
        | Other operating (income) expense | 2 |  | 2 |  | 
      
        | Operating income | 21 | 6 | (5) | (14) | 
      
        | Equity in income (loss) of investment in affiliates and subsidiaries | (127) | 54 | (634) | (289) | 
      
        | Other income | (21) | (1) | 1 | 16 | 
      
        | Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes | (127) | 59 | (638) | (287) | 
      
        | Income (loss) from continuing operations | (127) | 59 | (638) | (287) | 
      
        | Income (loss) before extraordinary gain | (127) |  | (638) | (287) | 
      
        | Net income (loss) | (127) | 59 | (638) | (287) | 
      
        | Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests | 1 |  | 3 | (6) | 
      
        | Net income (loss) attributable to Huntsman Corporation or Huntsman International LLC | (126) | 59 | (635) | (293) | 
      
        | Other comprehensive (loss) income | (146) | 351 | (150) | (63) | 
      
        | Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 1 |  |  | (6) | 
      
        | Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Huntsman International LLC | (272) | 410 | (788) | (356) | 
      
        | HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Revenues: |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Trade sales, services and fees, net | 2,691 | 2,923 | 8,406 | 8,445 | 
      
        | Related party sales | 50 | 53 | 162 | 144 | 
      
        | Total revenues | 2,741 | 2,976 | 8,568 | 8,589 | 
      
        | Cost of goods sold | 2,199 | 2,481 | 6,940 | 7,124 | 
      
        | Gross profit | 542 | 495 | 1,628 | 1,465 | 
      
        | Selling, general and administrative | 220 | 216 | 669 | 688 | 
      
        | Research and development | 35 | 42 | 112 | 123 | 
      
        | Other operating (income) expense |  | (1) | 7 | 7 | 
      
        | Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs (credits) | 47 | 155 | 52 | 171 | 
      
        | Operating income | 240 | 83 | 788 | 476 | 
      
        | Interest (expense) income, net | (59) | (66) | (181) | (197) | 
      
        | Equity in income (loss) of investment in affiliates and subsidiaries | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 
      
        | Loss on early extinguishment of debt | (1) | (2) | (2) | (5) | 
      
        | Other income | 1 | (1) | 2 |  | 
      
        | Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes | 183 | 16 | 612 | 280 | 
      
        | Income tax expense | (62) | (55) | (188) | (111) | 
      
        | Income (loss) from continuing operations | 121 | (39) | 424 | 169 | 
      
        | Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax | (1) | 10 | (7) | (5) | 
      
        | Income (loss) before extraordinary gain | 120 | (29) | 417 | 164 | 
      
        | Extraordinary gain on the acquisition of a business, net of tax of nil | 1 |  | 1 | 2 | 
      
        | Net income (loss) | 121 | (29) | 418 | 166 | 
      
        | Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests | (4) | (2) | (8) | (17) | 
      
        | Net income (loss) attributable to Huntsman Corporation or Huntsman International LLC | 117 | (31) | 410 | 149 | 
      
        | Other comprehensive (loss) income | 109 | (194) | 82 | (35) | 
      
        | Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (6) | (2) | (10) | (18) | 
      
        | Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Huntsman International LLC | $ 224 | $ (225) | $ 490 | $ 113 |