American Vanguard (AVD) 10-K 27 Feb 15 2014 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Feb. 20, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-14
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	AVD
Entity Registrant Name	AMERICAN VANGUARD CORP
Entity Central Index Key	5981
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		29,176,220
Entity Public Float			$372,500,000

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$4,885	$6,680
Receivables:
Trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $166 and $392, respectively	86,027	74,060
Other	2,396	892
Total receivables	88,423	74,952
Inventories	165,631	139,830
Prepaid expenses	13,415	11,435
Income taxes receivable	5,964	10,088
Deferred income tax assets	8,731	6,521
Total current assets	287,049	249,506
Property, plant and equipment, net	50,026	52,468
Intangible assets, net of applicable amortization	100,211	107,007
Other assets	35,885	38,462
Total assets	473,171	447,443
Current liabilities:
Current installments of other notes payable	71	69
Current installments of other liabilities	1,357	2,132
Accounts payable	20,411	40,702
Deferred revenue	898	3,788
Accrued program costs	52,546	53,630
Accrued expenses and other payables	5,962	10,178
Total current liabilities	81,245	110,499
Long-term debt and other notes payable, excluding current installments	99,455	51,676
Other liabilities, excluding current installments	3,309	4,143
Deferred income tax liabilities	28,159	23,330
Total liabilities	212,168	189,648
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $.10 par value per share; authorized 400,000 shares; none issued
Common stock, $.10 par value per share; authorized 40,000,000 shares; issued 31,550,477 shares in 2014 and 31,092,782 shares in 2013	3,156	3,109
Additional paid-in capital	66,232	60,160
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-1,970	-1,048
Retained earnings	202,488	202,470
Total stockholders' equity including treasury stock	269,906	264,691
Less treasury stock at cost, 2,450,634 shares in 2014 and 2,380,634 shares in 2013	-8,269	-6,738
American Vanguard Corporation stockholders' equity	261,637	257,953
Non-controlling interest	-634	-158
Total stockholders' equity	261,003	257,795
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$473,171	$447,443

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$166	$392
Preferred stock, par value per share	$0.10	$0.10
Preferred stock, shares authorized	400,000	400,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, par value per share	$0.10	$0.10
Common stock, shares authorized	40,000,000	40,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	31,550,477	31,092,782
Treasury stock, shares	2,450,634	2,380,634

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_OPE

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Net sales	$298,634	$381,021	$366,190
Cost of sales	184,138	209,674	205,065
Gross profit	114,496	171,347	161,125
Operating expenses	107,786	115,612	101,802
Operating income	6,710	55,735	59,323
Interest expense	3,172	2,176	2,872
Interest income	-19	-1	-1
Interest capitalized	-87	-274	-400
Income (loss) before income taxes total	3,644	53,834	56,852
Income taxes (benefit) expense	-451	18,916	20,026
Income before loss on equity investment	4,095	34,918	36,826
Less net loss from equity method investment	-29	-986
Net income	4,066	33,932	36,826
Add back net loss attributable to non-controlling interest	775	517	41
Net income attributable to American Vanguard	4,841	34,449	36,867
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps	340	388	158
Foreign currency translation adjustment	-1,262	326	330
Comprehensive income	$3,919	$35,163	$37,355
Earnings per common share-basic	$0.17	$1.22	$1.32
Earnings per common share-assuming dilution	$0.17	$1.19	$1.28
Weighted average shares outstanding-basic	28,436	28,301	27,914
Weighted average shares outstanding-assuming dilution	28,912	28,899	28,756

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_STO

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss)	Treasury Stock	AVD Total	Non- Controlling Interest
In Thousands, except Share data
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$187,072	$2,985	$45,966	$143,524	($2,250)	($3,153)	$187,072
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		29,845,047				2,260,996
Stocks issued under ESPP (in shares)	40,116	40,116
Stocks issued under ESPP	551	4	547				551
Cash dividends on common stock, $0.22 per share 2012, $0.22 per share 2013, $0.17 per share 2014	-6,148			-6,148			-6,148
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net	330				330		330
Stock based compensation	2,950		2,950				2,950
Changes in fair value of interest swap	158				158		158
Stock options exercised and grants of restricted stock units	2,676	88	4,239			-1,651	2,676
Stock options exercised and grants of restricted stock units, Shares		881,567				49,638
Excess tax benefits from share based payment arrangements	621		621				621
Non-controlling interest contribution	400							400
Net (loss) income	36,826			36,867			36,867	-41
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	225,436	3,077	54,323	174,243	-1,762	-4,804	225,077	359
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		30,766,730				2,310,634
Stocks issued under ESPP (in shares)	27,923	27,923
Stocks issued under ESPP	743	3	740				743
Cash dividends on common stock, $0.22 per share 2012, $0.22 per share 2013, $0.17 per share 2014	-6,222			-6,222			-6,222
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net	326				326		326
Stock based compensation	3,819		3,819				3,819
Changes in fair value of interest swap	388				388		388
Stock options exercised and grants of restricted stock units	867	29	838				867
Stock options exercised and grants of restricted stock units, Shares		298,129
Excess tax benefits from share based payment arrangements	440		440				440
Shares repurchased (in shares)						70,000
Shares repurchased	-1,934					-1,934	-1,934
Net (loss) income	33,932			34,449			34,449	-517
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	257,795	3,109	60,160	202,470	-1,048	-6,738	257,953	-158
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	31,092,782	31,092,782				2,380,634
Stocks issued under ESPP (in shares)	47,213	47,213
Stocks issued under ESPP	806	6	800				806
Cash dividends on common stock, $0.22 per share 2012, $0.22 per share 2013, $0.17 per share 2014	-4,823			-4,823			-4,823
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net	-1,262				-1,262		-1,262
Stock based compensation	4,153		4,153				4,153
Changes in fair value of interest swap	340				340		340
Stock options exercised and grants of restricted stock units	860	41	819				860
Stock options exercised and grants of restricted stock units, Shares		410,482
Excess tax benefits from share based payment arrangements	300		300				300
Shares repurchased (in shares)						70,000
Shares repurchased	-1,531					-1,531	-1,531
Non-controlling interest contribution	299							299
Net (loss) income	4,066			4,841			4,841	-775
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$261,003	$3,156	$66,232	$202,488	($1,970)	($8,269)	$261,637	($634)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	31,550,477	31,550,477				2,450,634

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_STO1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash dividends on common stock, per share	$0.17	$0.22	$0.22

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$4,066	$33,932	$36,826
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of fixed and intangible assets	16,332	14,845	13,487
Amortization of other long term assets	5,811	4,598	2,925
Amortization of discounted liabilities	324	174	818
Stock-based compensation	4,153	3,819	2,950
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	-300	-440	-621
Increase (decrease) in deferred income taxes	2,619	2,523	-886
Operating loss from equity method investment	983	986
Gain from dilution of equity method investment	-954
Changes in assets and liabilities associated with operations:
(Increase) decrease in net receivables	-13,471	2,351	-7,505
Increase in inventories	-25,801	-51,879	-16,883
Decrease (increase) in income tax receivable/payable, net	4,424	-10,961	2,137
Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets	-4,743	-19,733	-23,725
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable	-19,951	8,252	9,781
(Decrease) increase in deferred revenue	-2,890	-16,639	12,856
(Decrease) increase in other payables and accrued expenses	-4,697	21,958	8,264
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	-34,095	-6,214	40,424
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	-7,180	-15,260	-17,628
Investment	-500	-3,687
Acquisitions of intangible assets			-3,473
Net cash used in investing activities	-7,680	-18,947	-21,101
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net borrowings under line of credit agreement	47,850	51,550
Payments on long-term debt		-46,000	-8,443
Payment on other long-term liabilities	-1,756	-1,831	-6,035
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	300	440	621
Decrease in other notes payable		-6,154	-51
Repurchases of common stock	-1,531	-1,934
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock (sale of stock under ESPP and exercise of stock options)	1,666	1,610	3,227
Non-controlling interest contribution	299		400
Payment of cash dividends	-5,672	-4,804	-6,148
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	41,156	-7,123	-16,429
Net (decrease) increase in cash	-619	-32,284	2,894
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	-1,176	488	497
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	6,680	38,476	35,085
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	4,885	6,680	38,476
Cash paid (received) during the year for:
Interest	2,298	1,777	1,891
Income taxes	($8,206)	$25,271	$18,048

Valuation_and_Qualifying_Accou

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	Schedule II-A—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable (in thousands)
	Fiscal Year Ended	Balance at		Additions Charged to					Deductions			Balance at
		Beginning of										End of
		Period		Costs and		Other						Period
				Expenses
	December 31, 2014	$	392	$	75	$	—		$	(301	)	$	166
	December 31, 2013	$	623	$	—	$	(231	)	$	—		$	392
	December 31, 2012	$	340	$	—	$	283		$	—		$	623

Description_of_Business_Basis_

Description of Business, Basis of Consolidation and Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Description of Business, Basis of Consolidation and Significant Accounting Policies	Description of Business, Basis of Consolidation and Significant Accounting Policies
	American Vanguard Corporation (the “Company”) is primarily a specialty chemical manufacturer that develops and markets safe and effective products for agricultural, commercial and consumer uses. The Company manufactures and formulates chemicals for crops, human and animal protection. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries and Envance, its majority owned subsidiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company operates within a single operating segment.
	Based on similar economic and operational characteristics, the Company’s business is aggregated into one reportable segment. Selective enterprise information is as follows:
			2014			2013			2012
	Net sales:
	Insecticides		$	135,705		$	193,623		$	194,060
	Herbicides/soil fumigants/fungicides			101,785			121,042			89,899
	Other, including plant growth regulators			30,220			31,849			45,581
	Total crop			267,710			346,514			329,540
	Non-crop			30,924			34,507			36,650
			$	298,634		$	381,021		$	366,190
	Gross profit:
	Crop		$	101,633		$	155,275		$	142,019
	Non-crop			12,863			16,072			19,106
			$	114,496		$	171,347		$	161,125
	Due to elements inherent to the Company’s business, such as differing and unpredictable weather patterns, crop growing cycles, changes in product mix of sales and ordering patterns that may vary in timing, measuring the Company’s performance on a quarterly basis (gross profit margins on a quarterly basis may vary significantly) even when such comparisons are favorable, is not as good an indicator as full-year comparisons.
	Cost of Sales—In addition to normal cost centers (i.e., direct labor, raw materials) included in cost of sales, the Company also includes such cost centers as Health and Safety, Environmental, Maintenance and Quality Control in cost of sales.
	Operating Expenses—Operating expenses include cost centers for Selling, General and Administrative, Research, Product Development, and Regulatory, Freight, Delivery and Warehousing.
			2014			2013			2012
	Selling		$	31,593		$	32,929		$	25,869
	General and administrative			27,057			33,536			29,715
	Research, product development and regulatory			21,206			21,644			20,750
	Freight, delivery and warehousing			27,930			27,503			25,468
			$	107,786		$	115,612		$	101,802
	Freight, Delivery and Warehousing Expense—Freight, delivery and warehousing costs incurred by the Company are reported as operating expenses.
	Advertising Expense—The Company expenses advertising costs in the period incurred. Advertising expenses, which include promotional costs, are recognized in operating costs (specifically in selling expenses) in the consolidated statements of operations and were $4,322 in 2014, $4,011 in 2013 and $2,680 in 2012.
	Inventories —The Company values its inventories at lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method, including material, labor, factory overhead and subcontracting services. The Company writes down and makes adjustments to its inventory carrying values as a result of the effects of unutilized capacity, net realizable value assessments of slow moving and obsolete inventory and other annual adjustments to ensure that our standard costs continue to closely reflect manufacturing cost. The Company recorded an inventory reserve allowance of $3,882 at December 31, 2014, as compared to $2,602 at December 31, 2013.
	The components of inventories consist of the following:
			2014			2013
	Finished products		$	142,853		$	126,872
	Raw materials			22,778			12,958
			$	165,631		$	139,830
	Revenue Recognition and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts—Revenue from sales is recognized at the time title and the risks of ownership pass. This is when the customer has made the fixed commitment to purchase the goods, the products are shipped per the customer’s instructions, the sales price is fixed and determinable, and collection is reasonably assured. The Company has in place procedures to ensure that revenue is recognized when earned. The procedures are subject to management’s review and from time to time certain sales are excluded until it is clear that the title has passed and there is no further recourse to the Company. Allowance for doubtful accounts is established based on estimates of losses related to customer receivable balances. Estimates are developed using either standard quantitative measures based on historical losses, adjusted for current economic conditions or by evaluating specific customer accounts for risk of loss.
	Accrued Program Costs—In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, the Company classifies certain payments to its customers as a reduction of sales revenues. The Company describes these payments as “Programs.” Programs are a critical part of doing business in the agricultural chemicals business market place. For accounting purposes, programs are recorded as a reduction in gross sales and include market pricing adjustments, volume take up or other key performance indicators, driven payments made to distributors, retailers or growers at the end of a growing season. Each quarter management compares each sale transaction with published programs to determine what program liability has been incurred. Once this initial calculation is made for the specific quarter, sales and marketing management along with executive and financial management review the accumulated program balance and make assessments of whether or not customers are tracking in a manner that indicates that they will meet the requirements set out in the terms and conditions attached to each program. If management believes that customers are falling short of their annual goals then periodic adjustments will be made to the accumulated accrual to properly reflect the Company’s best estimate of the liability at the balance sheet date. The majority of adjustments are made at the end of the crop season, at which time customer performance can be fully assessed. Programs are paid out predominantly on an annual basis, usually in the final quarter of the financial year or the first quarter of the following year.
	Long-lived Assets— Long-lived assets primarily consist of the costs of Smartbox and Lock and Load containers. The carrying value of long-lived assets is reviewed for impairment quarterly and/or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. The Company evaluates recoverability of an asset group by comparing the carrying value to the future undiscounted cash flows that it expects to generate from the asset group. If the comparison indicates that the carrying value of an asset group is not recoverable, measurement of the impairment loss is based on the fair value of the asset. There were no circumstances that indicate any impairment of the carrying value of these long-lived assets and, as a result, no impairment losses were recorded in 2014 or 2013.
	Property, Plant and Equipment and Depreciation—Property, plant and equipment includes the cost of land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office furniture and fixtures, automobiles, construction projects and significant improvements to existing plant and equipment. Interest costs related to significant construction projects are capitalized at the Company’s current weighted effective interest rate. Expenditures for maintenance and minor repairs are expensed as incurred. When property or equipment is sold or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation is removed from the respective accounts, and the gain or loss realized on disposition is reflected in earnings. All plant and equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method, utilizing the estimated useful property lives. Building lives range from 10 to 30 years; machinery and equipment lives range from 3 to 15 years; office furniture and fixture lives range from 3 to 10 years; automobile lives range from 3 to 6 years; construction projects and significant improvements to existing plant and equipment lives range from 3 to 15 years when placed in service. The agricultural chemicals business involves complex manufacturing processes that drive high capital cost plant.
	Foreign Currency Translation—Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries, where the local currency is the functional currency, have been translated at period end exchange rates, and profit and loss accounts have been translated using weighted average yearly exchange rates. Adjustments resulting from translation have been recorded in the equity section of the balance sheet as cumulative translation adjustments in other comprehensive income (loss). The effects of foreign currency exchange gains and losses on transactions that are denominated in currencies other than the Company’s functional currency are remeasured to the functional currency using the end of the period exchange rates. The effects of remeasurement related to foreign currency transactions are included in the Company’s operating results.
	Derivative financial instruments and hedge activities—In accordance with FASB ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, the Company recognizes all derivative instruments as either other assets or other liabilities at fair value on the balance sheet. In accordance with the hierarchy contained in FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements, the Company calculated fair value using observable inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices (Level 2). During 2014, the Company had in place one interest rate swap contract that ended on December 31, 2014. While in place, the interest rate swap contract was accounted for under FASB ASC 815 as a cash flow hedge. The effective portion of the gains or losses on the interest rate swap are reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transactions affect earnings. As a result of the termination of the swap contract (as mentioned above), no balances remain in other comprehensive income at December 31, 2014. Losses in other comprehensive income that were expected to be reclassified to earnings in the coming 12 months were $564 and $689 at the end of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
	The following tables illustrate the impact of derivatives on the Company’s statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.
	The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Statement of Financial Performance
	For the Period Ended December 31
	Derivatives in ASC 815 Cash Flow		Amount of Gain or						Location of Gain or		Amount of Gain or							Location of Gain or	Amount of Gain or
			(Loss) Recognized in						(Loss) Reclassified		(Loss) Reclassified							(Loss) Recognized in	(Loss) Recognized
			OCI on Derivative						from Accumulated		from Accumulated							Income on Derivative	in Income on
			(Effective Portion)						OCI into Income		OCI into Income								Derivative
											(Effective Portion)								(Ineffective Portion)
	Hedging Relationships		2014			2013			(Effective Portion)		2014				2013			(Ineffective Portion)	2014			2013
	Interest rate contracts		$	(30	)	$	(75	)	Interest expense		$	(594	)		$	(712	)	Interest expense	$	(3	)	$	(1	)
	Total		$	(30	)	$	(75	)			$	(594	)		$	(712	)		$	(3	)	$	(1	)
	The counterparty to the interest rate derivative financial instrument that had been held by the Company during 2014 is Bank of the West, the Company’s primary bank. Pledged cash collateral was not required under the interest rate swap contract. There are no derivative financial instruments at December 31, 2014.
	Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets—The primary identifiable intangible assets of the Company relate to assets associated with its product acquisitions. The Company adopted the provisions of FASB ASC 350, under which identifiable intangibles with finite lives are amortized and those with indefinite lives are not amortized. The estimated useful life of an identifiable intangible asset to the Company is based upon a number of factors including the effects of demand, competition, and expected changes in the marketability of the Company’s products. The Company re-evaluates whether these intangible assets are impaired on an annual basis, relying on a number of factors including operating results, business plans and estimated future cash flows. Identifiable intangible assets that are subject to amortization are evaluated for impairment using a process similar to that used to evaluate long-lived assets. The impairment test for identifiable intangible assets not subject to amortization consists of either a qualitative assessment or a comparison of the fair value of the intangible asset with its carrying amount. An impairment loss, if any, is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the asset. Fair value is typically estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis, which requires the Company to estimate the future cash flows anticipated to be generated by the particular asset(s) being tested for impairment as well as selecting a discount rate to measure the present value of the anticipated cash flows. When determining future cash flow estimates, the Company considers historical results adjusted to reflect current and anticipated operating conditions. Estimating future cash flows requires significant judgment by the Company, in such areas as: future economic conditions, industry-specific conditions, product pricing and necessary capital expenditures. The use of different assumptions or estimates for future cash flows could produce different impairment amounts (or none at all) for long-lived assets, goodwill and identifiable intangible assets. The Company has performed an impairment review for the year ending December 31, 2014 and determined that one asset must be written down to zero, generating an impairment loss of $319. There were no similar impairment losses recorded in 2013 or 2012.
	Fair Value of Equity Investment—The Company utilizes the equity method of accounting with respect to its investment in TyraTech Inc. (“TyraTech”), a Delaware corporation that specializes in developing, marketing and selling pesticide products containing essential oils and other natural ingredients. In February 2014, TyraTech issued 37,391,763 shares, raising approximately £1.87 ($3.1) million. In July 2014, TyraTech issued a further 50,000,000 shares and raised approximately £3.5 ($5.9) million. Due to the share issuance in both periods, the Company recognized a total gain of $954 from the dilution of the Company’s ownership position as required by ASC 323. In October 2014, the Company exercised warrants in the amount of $500 and purchased 6,155,000 shares in TyraTech. As of December 31, 2014, the Company’s ownership position in TyraTech was approximately 21.18%. At December 31, 2014, the carrying value of the Company’s investment in TyraTech was $3,172 and the quoted market value based on TyraTech’s share price (Level 1 input) was $3,555. TyraTech’s shares trade on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange under the trading symbol ‘TYR’. The Company’s equity investment is included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet.
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments—The carrying values of cash, receivables and accounts payable approximate their fair values because of the short maturity of these instruments. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt and note payable to our lender group is estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities. Such fair value approximates the respective carrying values of the Company’s long-term debt and note payable to bank.
	The Company measures fair value based on the prices that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value measurements are based on a three-tier hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. These tiers include the following:
	Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.
	Level 2: Observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted on active markets, but corroborated by market data. These inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted market prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
	Level 3: Unobservable inputs are used when little or no market data is available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.
	In determining fair value, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible, as well as considering counterparty credit risk in the assessment of fair value.
			Fair Value Measurements
			Using Input Type
			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	As of December 31, 2013:
	Liability:
	Interest rate derivative financial instruments (1)		$	—		$	564		$	—
-1	Includes accrued interest expense.
Income Taxes—The Company utilizes the liability method of accounting for income taxes as set forth in ASC 740. Under the liability method, deferred taxes are determined based on the temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using tax rates expected to be in effect during the years in which the basis differences reverse. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that some of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In determining the need for valuation allowances, the Company considers projected future taxable income and the availability of tax planning strategies. If in the future the Company determines that it would not be able to realize its recorded deferred tax assets, an increase in the valuation allowance would be recorded, decreasing earnings in the period in which such determination is made.
The Company assesses its income tax positions and records tax benefits for all years subject to examination based upon the Company’s evaluation of the facts, circumstances and information available at the reporting date. For those tax positions where there is greater than 50% likelihood that a tax benefit will be sustained, the Company has recorded the largest amount of tax benefit that may potentially be realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. For those income tax positions where there is less than 50% likelihood that a tax benefit will be sustained, no tax benefit has been recognized in the financial statements.
Per Share Information—FASB ASC 260 requires dual presentation of basic earnings per share (“EPS”) and diluted EPS on the face of all income statements. Basic EPS is computed as net income divided by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects potential dilution to EPS that could occur if securities or other contracts, which, for the Company, consists of restricted stock grants and options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, are exercised as calculated using the treasury stock method.
The components of basic and diluted earnings per share were as follows:
		2014			2013			2012
Numerator:
Net income attributable to American Vanguard		$	4,841		$	34,449		$	36,867
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic			28,436			28,301			27,914
Dilutive effect of stock options and grants			476			598			842
			28,912			28,899			28,756
The Company excluded 1,616 stock options from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2014, because they are anti-dilutive. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, no options were excluded from the computation.
Accounting Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses at the date that the financial statements are prepared. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Reclassifications—Certain prior year’s amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.
Total comprehensive income—In addition to net income, total comprehensive income includes changes in equity that are excluded from the consolidated statements of operations and are recorded directly into a separate section of stockholders’ equity on the consolidated balance sheets. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, total comprehensive income consisted of net income attributable to American Vanguard, the change in fair value of interest rate swaps and foreign currency translation adjustments.
Stock-Based Compensation—The Company accounts for stock-based awards to employees and directors using FASB ASC 718. When applying the provisions of FASB ASC 718, the Company also applies the provisions of Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 107 and SAB No. 110.
FASB ASC 718 requires companies to estimate the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense over the requisite service periods in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Stock-based compensation expense recognized during the period is based on the fair value of the portion of share-based payment awards that is ultimately expected to vest during the period. Stock-based compensation expense recognized is reduced for forfeitures as required by FASB ASC 718. Estimated forfeitures recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations reduced compensation expense by $247, $247, and $88 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. The Company estimates that 7.3% of all restricted stock grants, 20.7% of the performance based restricted shares and 4.2% of all stock option grants that are currently vesting will be forfeited. These estimates are reviewed quarterly and revised as necessary.
The below table illustrates the Company’s unamortized stock-based compensation expenses as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 that will be recognized over the respective weighted average period. This projected expense will change if any stock options and restricted stock are granted or cancelled prior to the respective reporting periods or if there are any changes required to be made for estimated forfeitures.
		2014						2013
Description		Unamortized			Remaining			Unamortized				Remaining
		Stock-Based			Weighted			Stock-Based				Weighted
		Compensation			Average			Compensation				Average
		Expenses			Period (yrs)			Expenses				Period (yrs)
Options		$	1,457			3		$	21				0.5
Performance Based Options			551			3			—				—
Restricted Stock			4,829			1.8			5,550				1.9
Performance Based Restricted Stock			1,249			2.1			564				2.4
The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model (“Black-Scholes model”) to value option grants using the following weighted average assumptions:
		2014
Risk free interest rate			2	%
Dividend yield			0.9	%
Volatility factor			48.9	%
Weighted average life (years)			6.5 years
The weighted average grant-date fair values of options granted during 2014 was $5.27. There were no option shares granted during 2013 and 2012.
The expected volatility and expected life assumptions are highly complex and use subjective variables. The variables take into consideration, among other things, actual and projected employee stock option exercise behavior. The Company estimates the expected term or vesting period using the “safe harbor” provisions of SAB 107 and SAB 110. The Company used historical volatility as a proxy for estimating expected volatility.
The Company values restricted stock grants using the Company’s traded stock price on the date of grant. The weighted average grant-date fair values of restricted stock grants during 2014, 2013, and 2012 were $14.81, $30.91, and $21.51, respectively.
Recently Issued Accounting Guidance
In August 2014, The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. This ASU requires that management of an entity assesses whether there is substantial doubt about the ability of the entity to continue as a going concern and for making the appropriate disclosures. The assessment must be performed at each annual and interim reporting period, and there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern if it is probable that the entity will be unable to meet its obligations as they become due within 12 months of the date of the financial statements are issued. In the assessment, management must consider the information available at the date of issuance of the financial statements, as well as mitigating factors and plans to alleviate the substantial doubt. ASU 2014-15 is effective for annual period ending after December 15, 2016 and interim periods thereafter. Early application is permitted. Upon adoption, the Company will have to follow the guidance in this ASU when assessing going concern.
In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-12, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide that a Performance Target Could be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period, a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force. ASU 2014-12 requires that a performance target that affects vesting of share-based payment awards and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. Compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the periods for which the requisite service has already been rendered. If the performance target becomes probable of being achieved before the end of the requisite service period, the remaining unrecognized compensation cost should be recognized prospectively over the remaining requisite service period. The total amount of compensation cost recognized during and after the requisite service period should reflect the number of awards that are expected to vest and should be adjusted to reflect those awards that ultimately vest. The requisite service period ends when the employee can cease rendering service and still be eligible to vest in the award if the performance target is achieved. ASU 2014-12 is effective for all entities for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. An entity may apply the amendments in ASU 2014-12 either (i) prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date or (ii) retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. The adoption of ASU 2014-12 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU 2014-09 outlines a new, single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. This new revenue recognition model provides a five-step analysis in determining when and how revenue is recognized. The new model will require revenue recognition to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration a company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). We are currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of ASU 2014-09 on our consolidated financial statements and have not yet determined the method by which we will adopt the standard in 2017 or its impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Property_Plant_and_Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment	(1) Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment at December 31, 2014 and 2013 consist of the following:
		2014			2013			Estimated
								useful lives
	Land	$	2,458		$	2,458
	Buildings and improvements		14,380			14,167			10 to 30 years
	Machinery and equipment		107,899			94,184			3 to 15 years
	Office furniture, fixtures and equipment		4,698			9,717			3 to 10 years
	Automotive equipment		374			278			3 to 6 years
	Construction in progress		3,432			10,615
			133,241			131,419
	Less accumulated depreciation		(83,215	)		(78,951	)
		$	50,026		$	52,468

LongTerm_Debt

Long-Term Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Long-Term Debt	(2) Long-Term Debt
	Long-term debt of the Company at December 31, 2014 and 2013 is summarized as follows:
			2014			2013
	Revolving line of credit(a)		$	99,400		$	51,550
	Notes payable			126			195
				99,526			51,745
	Less current installments			(71	)		(69	)
			$	99,455		$	51,676
	Approximate principal payments on long-term debt at December 31, 2014 are as follows:
	2015		$	71
	2016			55
	2017			—
	2018			99,400
			$	99,526
	a)	On July 11, 2014, AMVAC Chemical Corporation (“AMVAC”), our principal operating subsidiary, as borrower, and affiliates (including the Company), as guarantors and/or borrowers, entered into a First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “First Amendment”) with a group of commercial lenders led by Bank of the West (AMVAC’s primary bank) as agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer. The First Amendment amends the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (“2013 Credit Agreement”) dated as of June 17, 2013. Under the terms of the First Amendment, the Consolidated Funded Debt Ratio was increased for the third and fourth quarters of 2014 and the first quarter of 2015, and, further, borrowers are permitted to pay cash dividends to shareholders during the first and second quarters of 2015, notwithstanding prior levels of net income. The 2013 Credit Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment (the “Credit Agreement”) is a senior secured lending facility with a five year term and consisting of a revolving line of credit of $200 million and an accordion feature for up to $100 million. The Credit Agreement includes both AMVAC CV and AMVAC BV as borrowers. Under the Credit Agreement, revolving loans bear interest at a variable rate based, at borrower’s election with proper notice, on either (i) LIBOR plus the “Applicable Rate” which is based upon the Consolidated Funded Debt Ratio (“Eurocurrency Rate Loan”) or (ii) the greater of (x) the Prime Rate, (y) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5%, and (z) the Daily One-Month LIBOR Rate plus 1.00%, plus, in the case of (x), (y) or (z) the Applicable Rate (“Alternate Base Rate Loan”). Interest payments for Eurocurrency Rate Loans are payable on the last day of each interest period (either one, two, three or six months, as selected by the borrower) and the maturity date, while interest payments for Alternate Base Rate Loans are payable on the last business day of each month and the maturity date. The senior secured revolving line of credit matures on June 17, 2018.
	The Company uses a pay fixed, receive 1M LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) interest rate swap to manage the interest expense generated by variable rate debt. At December 31, 2014 the Company did not have an interest rate swap in place. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company had in place an interest rate swap, the use of which resulted in a fixed interest rate of 3.39% for the portion of variable rate debt that was covered by the interest rate swap contract. The interest rate swap contract was put in place on March 30, 2011 and expired on December 31, 2014. The table below shows the amount of outstanding debt and the related notional amount on the interest rate swap contract at each of the balance sheet dates:
			Outstanding			Notional Amount on
			Variable Rate Debt			Interest Rate Swap
	At December 31, 2012		$	46,000		$	44,250
	At December 31, 2013			51,550			36,750
	At December 31, 2014			99,400			—
	Under the New Credit Agreement, the Company has three key covenants (with which it was in compliance throughout the year and as of December 31, 2014). The covenants are as follows: (1) the Company must maintain its borrowings below a certain consolidated funded debt ratio, (2) the Company has a limitation on its annual spending on the acquisition of fixed asset capital additions, and (3) the Company must maintain a certain consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio.
	At December 31, 2014, total indebtedness is $99,526 as compared to $51,745 at December 31, 2013. At December 31, 2014, based on its performance against the most restrictive covenants listed above, the Company has the capacity to increase its borrowings by up to the maximum limit of $26,143 according to the terms of the Credit Agreement.
	Substantially all of the Company’s assets are pledged as collateral under the Credit Agreement.
	The Company’s main bank is Bank of the West, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the French bank, BNP Paribas. Bank of the West has been the Company’s bank for more than 30 years. Bank of the West is the syndication manager for the Company’s loans and acts as the counterparty on the Company’s derivative transactions.
	The Company has various loans in place that together constitute the short-term and long-term loan balances shown in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. These are summarized in the following table:
	Indebtedness		December 31, 2014								December 31, 2013
	$000’s		Long-term			Short-term			Total		Long-term		Short-term		Total
	Revolving line of credit		$	99,400		$	—		$	99,400	$	51,550	$	—	$	51,550
	Notes payable			55			71			126		126		69		195
	Total indebtedness		$	99,455		$	71		$	99,526	$	51,676	$	69	$	51,745
	On June 17, 2013, all outstanding term loans were converted into revolving debt. The average amount outstanding on the term loan during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $23,318 and $50,957, respectively. The weighted average interest rate on the term loan during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was 3.8% and 3.7%, respectively.
	The average amount outstanding on the senior secured revolving line of credit during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $94,899 and $29,284, respectively. The weighted average interest rate on the revolving credit line during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 was 2.5% and 3.1% respectively.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Taxes	(3) Income Taxes
	The components of income tax (benefit) expense are:
		2014			2013			2012
	Current:
	Federal	$	(4,256	)	$	12,285		$	17,448
	State		251			3,007			2,528
	Foreign		934			1,101			1,027
	Deferred:
	Federal		3,492			2,213			(590	)
	State		(872	)		310			(387	)
		$	(451	)	$	18,916		$	20,026
	Total income tax expense differed from the amounts computed by applying the U.S. Federal income tax rate of 35.0% to income before income tax expense as a result of the following:
		2014			2013			2012
	Computed tax expense at statutory federal rates	$	1,536		$	18,678		$	19,911
	Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:
	State taxes, net of federal income tax benefit		(11	)		1,983			1,947
	Domestic production deduction		420			(1,142	)		(1,661	)
	Income tax credits		(728	)		(724	)		(395	)
	Foreign tax rate differential		(2,159	)		(1,459	)		(195	)
	Subpart F income		338			—			87
	Other expenses		153			1,580			332
		$	(451	)	$	18,916		$	20,026
	The components of income before provision for income tax expense (benefit) are as follows:
		2014			2013			2012
	Domestic	$	(5,196	)	$	46,520		$	53,361
	Foreign		8,840			7,314			3,491
		$	3,644		$	53,834		$	56,852
	Temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities that give rise to significant portions of the net deferred tax liability at December 31, 2014 and 2013 relate to the following:
		2014			2013
	Current:
	Inventories	$	5,558		$	4,398
	State income taxes		(633	)		(331	)
	Vacation pay accrual		776			648
	Accrued bonuses		95			1,791
	Bad debt		45			169
	Prepaid expenses		(1,314	)		(1,929	)
	Stock compensation		2,446			1,281
	Other		1,758			494
	Net deferred tax asset	$	8,731		$	6,521
	Non-Current:
	Plant and equipment, principally due to differences in depreciation and capitalized interest	$	(28,365	)	$	(25,662	)
	NOL Carryforward		361			—
	Tax credit		319			14
	Fair value adjustment		—			207
	Other		(474	)		2,111
	Net deferred tax liability		(28,159	)		(23,330	)
	Total net deferred tax liability	$	(19,428	)	$	(16,809	)
	The following is a roll-forward of the Company’s total gross unrecognized tax liabilities, not including interest and penalties, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014:
		2014			2013
		Gross			Gross
		Unrecognized Tax			Unrecognized Tax
		Liabilities			Liabilities
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	1,692		$	282
	Additions for tax positions related to the current year		140			1,290
	Additions for tax positions related to the prior year		499			161
	Deletion for tax positions related to the prior year		(373	)		(41	)
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	1,958		$	1,692
	The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company had recognized approximately $215 in interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits accrued.
	It is expected that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will change within the next 12 months; however we do not expect the change to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements. At this time, an estimate of the range of the reasonable possible outcomes cannot be made.
	The Company believes it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets detailed in the table above will be realized in the normal course of business. It is the intent of the Company that undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries are permanently reinvested and, accordingly, no provision for United States federal and state income taxes has been provided thereon. This amounted to $23,803 and $16,202 as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. Upon distribution of earnings in the form of dividends or otherwise, the Company would be subject to both United States income taxes (subject to adjustment for foreign tax credits) and withholding taxes payable to the various foreign countries. Determination of the unrecognized deferred United States income tax liability is not practical due to the complexities of a hypothetical calculation.
	The Company is subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as to income tax in multiple state jurisdictions. Federal income tax returns of the Company are subject to IRS examination for the 2011 through 2013 tax years. State income tax returns are subject to examination for the 2010 through 2013 tax years.
	The Company’s research and development credit is currently under audit by the California Franchise Tax Board for the years ended December 31, 2004 through December 31, 2006. In February 2015, the Company has agreed in principle to settle this matter for partial payment of the claimed refund plus interest.

Litigation_and_Environmental

Litigation and Environmental	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Litigation and Environmental	(4) Litigation and Environmental
	A. DBCP Cases
	Over the course of the past 30 years, AMVAC and/or the Company have been named or otherwise implicated in a number of lawsuits concerning injuries allegedly arising from either contamination of water supplies or personal exposure to 1, 2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (“DBCP®”). DBCP was manufactured by several chemical companies, including Dow Chemical Company, Shell Oil Company and AMVAC and was approved by the U.S. EPA to control nematodes. DBCP was also applied on banana farms in Latin America. The U.S. EPA suspended registrations of DBCP in October 1979, except for use on pineapples in Hawaii. The U.S. EPA suspension was partially based on 1977 studies by other manufacturers that indicated a possible link between male fertility and exposure to DBCP among their factory production workers involved with producing the product.
	At present, there are four domestic lawsuits and approximately 85 Nicaraguan lawsuits, filed by former banana workers in which AMVAC has been named as a party. Only two of the Nicaraguan actions have actually been served on AMVAC.
	As described more fully below, activity in domestic cases during 2014 is as follows: in Hawaii, Patrickson, et. al. v. Dole Food Company, et. al which had been dismissed in 2011 (for expiration of the statute of limitations), remains on appeal; and Adams, from which co-defendant Dole was dismissed, is on appeal with respect to such dismissal and, at any rate, involves claims that pre-dated AMVAC’s sales into the relevant market. All but two matters that had been pending in Louisiana and Delaware have been dismissed (and affirmed on appeal) based upon the applicable statutes of limitation. Two Delaware cases (Abad-Castillo and Marquinez) (involving claims brought on behalf of 2,700 plantation workers from Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala and Panama) were dismissed on summary judgment (for expiration of the applicable statute of limitations) and are on appeal. With respect to Nicaraguan matters, there was no change in status during 2014.
	Delaware Matters
	On May 31, 2012, two cases (captioned, Abad-Castillo and Marquinez) were filed with the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (USCD DE No. 1:12-CV-00696-RGA) involving claims for physical injury arising from alleged exposure to DBCP over the course of the late 1960’s through the mid-1980’s on behalf of 2,700 banana plantation workers from Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala and Panama. Defendant Dole brought a motion to dismiss 22 plaintiffs from the Abad-Castillo case on the ground that they were parties in cases that had been previously filed by the Hendler law firm in Louisiana. On September 19, 2013, the appeals court granted, in part, and denied, in part, the motion to dismiss, holding that 14 of the 22 plaintiffs should be dismissed (as they were named as plaintiffs in prior actions). As for the remaining eight plaintiffs, the court found that there was a question as to whether they were parties to earlier cases in Louisiana. On May 27, 2014, the district court granted defendant Dole’s motion to dismiss the matter without prejudice on the grounds that the applicable statutes of limitation had expired. Then, on August 5, 2014, the parties stipulated to summary judgment in favor of all defendants (on the same grounds as the earlier motion) and the court entered final judgment in the matter. Plaintiffs have appealed this ruling, and, while the appeals court heard oral argument in December 2014, it has not yet issued its ruling. The company believes that a loss is neither probable nor reasonably estimable and, accordingly, has not recorded a loss contingency on these matters.
	Hawaiian Matters
	Patrickson, et. al. v. Dole Food Company, et. al
	In October 1997, AMVAC was served with two complaints in which it was named as a defendant, filed in the Circuit Court, First Circuit, State of Hawaii and in the Circuit Court of the Second Circuit, State of Hawaii (two identical suits) entitled Patrickson, et. al. v. Dole Food Company, et. al (“Patrickson Case”) alleging damages sustained from injuries (including sterility) to banana workers caused by plaintiffs’ exposure to DBCP while applying the product in their native countries. Other named defendants include: Dole Food Company, Shell Oil Company and Dow Chemical Company. The ten named plaintiffs are variously citizens of four countries—Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, and Ecuador. Punitive damages are sought against each defendant. The case was also filed as a class action on behalf of other workers allegedly so exposed in these four countries.
	After several years of law and motion activity, Dow filed a motion for summary adjudication as to the remaining plaintiffs based on the statute of limitations, as they had filed suit in Florida in 1995. All defendants joined in this motion. The court granted this motion on June 9, 2009. Plaintiffs’ counsel unsuccessfully argued that their claims were tolled by prior class action cases. On November 30, 2009, the court denied a motion for reconsideration. Judgment in favor of the defendants was entered on July 28, 2010. On August 24, 2010, the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal. In March 2011, Dow filed a brief in opposition to the appeal, arguing that plaintiffs are barred from this action by the applicable statute of limitations. The appellate court heard oral argument on the appeal in September 2014 but has not yet issued a ruling. The Company does not believe that a loss is either probable or reasonably estimable and, accordingly, has not recorded a loss contingency for this matter.
	Adams v. Dole Food Company et al
	On approximately November 23, 2007, AMVAC was served with a suit filed by two former Hawaiian pineapple workers and their spouses, alleging that they had testicular cancer due to DBCP exposure: Adams v. Dole Food Company et al in the First Circuit for the State of Hawaii. The complaint was filed on June 29, 2007 and names Dole Food Company, Standard Fruit and Steamship Company, Dole Fresh Food, Pineapple Growers Association, AMVAC, Shell Oil Company, Dow Chemical Company and Occidental Chemical Corporation. Plaintiff Mark Adams alleges he was exposed to DBCP in 1974 and 1975 while working on Dole’s plantation on Oahu. Plaintiff Nelson Ng alleges he was exposed between 1971 and 1973 while working in Lanai City, Lanai. AMVAC answered the complaint on or about December 14, 2007. While little discovery has taken place, AMVAC denies that any of its product could have been used at the times and locations alleged by these plaintiffs. Dole Food Company was dismissed on the basis of the exclusive remedy of worker’s compensation benefits, as it was the employer of plaintiffs. In October 2014, the appellate court upheld the dismissal but granted plaintiffs the right to amend its complaint. However, in light of the fact that Plaintiffs’ request (made in November 2012) to substitute new counsel was denied, until new counsel is properly substituted, Plaintiffs cannot proceed further with the matter. The Company does not believe that a loss is either probable or reasonably estimable and has not recorded a loss contingency for this matter.
	Nicaraguan Matters
	A review of court filings in Chinandega, Nicaragua, has found 85 suits alleging personal injury allegedly due to exposure to DBCP and involving approximately 3,592 plaintiffs have been filed against AMVAC and other parties. Of these cases, only two— Flavio Apolinar Castillo et al. v. AMVAC Chemical Corporation et al., No. 535/04 and Luis Cristobal Martinez Suazo et al. v. AMVAC Chemical Corporation et al., No. 679/04Castillo and Suazo, (which were filed in 2004 and involve 15 banana workers) have been served on AMVAC. All but one of the suits in Nicaragua have been filed pursuant to Special Law 364, an October 2000 Nicaraguan statute that contains substantive and procedural provisions that Nicaragua’s Attorney General previously expressed as unconstitutional. Each of the Nicaraguan plaintiffs’ claims $1,000 in compensatory damages and $5,000 in punitive damages. In all of these cases, AMVAC is a joint defendant with Dow Chemical Company and Dole Food Company, Inc. AMVAC contends that the Nicaragua courts do not have jurisdiction over it and that Public Law 364 violates international due process of law. AMVAC has objected to personal jurisdiction and demanded under Law 364 that the claims be litigated in the United States. In 2007, the court denied these objections, and AMVAC appealed the denial. It is not presently known as to how many of these plaintiffs actually claim exposure to DBCP at the time AMVAC’s product was allegedly used nor is there any verification of the claimed injuries. Further, to date, plaintiffs have not had success in enforcing Nicaraguan judgments against domestic companies before U.S. courts. Nor have Nicaraguan claimants had success in bringing actions domestically, as one U.S. court has dismissed such an action on its own motion after finding pervasive fraud on behalf of claimants and their counsel. With respect to the pending Nicaraguan matters, AMVAC intends to defend any claim vigorously. Furthermore, the Company does not believe that a loss is either probable or reasonably estimable and has not recorded a loss contingency for these matters.
	B. Other Matters
	Brazilian Citation. On or about October 5, 2009, IBAMA (the Brazilian equivalent of the U.S. EPA) served AMVAC Brazil with a Notice of Violation alleging that two lots of Granutox 150 (formulated product having phorate as the active ingredient) stored at BASF S.A. (AMVAC’s exclusive distributor in Brazil) and FMC Quimica do Brasil Ltda. (which formulates end-use product in that country) were not in compliance with the end-use registration on file with IBAMA. Specifically, IBAMA alleged that the color of the lots (gray) was inconsistent with the description in IBAMA’s files (pink). IBAMA also indicated an intention to assess a fine of approximately $200 against AMVAC B. The Company has challenged the citation, for among other reasons, on the ground that the change in color has to do with the removal of a coloring component and that such removal poses no environmental or toxicity risk. IBAMA has denied AMVAC B’s first and second appeals. Accordingly, on November 20, 2014, the Company paid $168 in full settlement of this matter. Thus, this matter is concluded.
	Sanchez v. Agro Logistics. AMVAC has been named as one of 27 defendants in an action entitled Sanchez v. Agro Logistic Systems, Inc. et al which was filed on April 14, 2014 with the Superior Court for the State of California for the County of Los Angeles as case number BC542612. In this matter, two individuals seek unspecified damages from defendants for negligence, strict liability and other causes of action allegedly leading to physical injury (myelogenous leukemia) arising from exposure to dozens of registered products over the course of their employment as laborers from 1989 through 2012. We believe that the claims have no merit, intend to defend the matter vigorously, and has entered into a joint defense arrangement with certain other defendants. A fair amount of discovery, including plaintiff’s deposition, has been completed. Plaintiffs are unable to confirm whether they used or were exposed to any of the Company’s products. The Company will continue to defend this matter and does not believe that a loss is either probable or reasonably estimable. Accordingly, the Company has not recorded a reserve for this matter.
	Galvan v. AMVAC. On April 7, 2014, an action entitled Graciela Galvan v. AMVAC Chemical Corp. was filed with the Superior Court for the State of California for the County of Orange as case number 00716103CXC. This is a putative class action brought under California Labor Code Section 2698 under which claimant, an inactive employee currently on leave, seeks civil penalties on behalf of herself and other allegedly “similarly aggrieved employees” under various Labor Code sections relating to overtime compensation, minimum wages, meal periods, and rest periods among other things. The Company believes that the claims have no merit and intends to defend the matter vigorously. Limited discovery has taken place since the filing of the action; however, the deposition of plaintiff has yet to be taken. At this stage in the proceedings, it is too early to determine whether a loss is probable or reasonably estimable; accordingly, the Company has not recorded a reserve for the matter.

Employee_Deferred_Compensation

Employee Deferred Compensation Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Employee Deferred Compensation Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan	(5) Employee Deferred Compensation Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan
	The Company maintains a deferred compensation plan (“the Plan”) for all eligible employees. The Plan calls for each eligible employee, at the employee’s election, to participate in an income deferral arrangement under Internal Revenue Code Section 401(k). The plan allows eligible employees to make contributions which cannot exceed 100% of compensation, or the annual dollar limit set by the Internal Revenue Code. The Company matches the first 5% of employee contributions. The Company’s contributions to the Plan amounted to $1,445, $1,330 and $982 in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	During 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the AVD Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan allows eligible employees to purchase shares of common stock through payroll deductions at a discounted price. An aggregate of approximately 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $.10 per share (subject to adjustment for any stock dividend, stock split or other relevant changes in the Company’s capitalization) may be sold pursuant to the Plan, which is intended to qualify under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan allows for purchases in a series of offering periods, each six months in duration, with new offering periods (other than the initial offering period) commencing on January 1 and July 1 of each year. The initial offering period commenced on July 1, 2001. Pursuant to action taken by the Company’s Board of Directors in December 10, 2010, the expiration of the Plan was extended to December 31, 2013. The Plan was amended and restated on June 30, 2011 following shareholders’ ratification of the extended expiration date. In December 2013, the Board of Directors resolved to extend the expiration date of the Plan five years, that is, until December 31, 2018. Under the Plan, as amended as of June 30, 2011, 995,000 shares of the Company’s common stock were authorized. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, 854,007 and 901,220 shares remained available under the plan, respectively.
	Shares of common stock purchased through the Plan in 2014, 2013 and 2012 were 47,213, 27,923 and 40,116, respectively.

Major_Customers_and_Export_Sal

Major Customers and Export Sales	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Major Customers and Export Sales	(6) Major Customers and Export Sales
	In 2014, there were three companies that accounted for 20%, 11% and 8% of the Company’s consolidated sales. In 2013, there were three companies that accounted for 17%, 13%, and 8% of the Company’s consolidated sales. In 2012, there were three companies that accounted for 19%, 10% and 8% of the Company’s consolidated sales.
	The Company primarily sells its products to large distributors, buying cooperatives and groups and extends credit based on an evaluation of the customer’s financial condition. The Company had three significant customers who each accounted for approximately 21%, 12% and 10% of the Company’s receivables as of December 31, 2014. The Company had three significant customers who each accounted for approximately 14%, 10% and 8% of the Company’s receivables as of December 31, 2013 and 20%, 11% and 7% of the Company’s receivables as of December 31, 2012. The Company has long-standing relationships with its customers and the Company considers the credit risk to be low.
	Worldwide export sales for 2014, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:
		2014		2013		2012
	Mexico	$	14,601	$	15,661	$	17,980
	South & Central America		16,585		15,491		16,374
	Europe		13,249		12,942		9,744
	Asia		7,683		8,129		7,308
	Africa		9,310		8,322		7,229
	Australia		4,202		2,692		4,444
	Canada		4,910		3,976		4,320
	Middle East		3,166		2,500		2,495
	Other		—		59		15
		$	73,706	$	69,772	$	69,909

Royalties

Royalties	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Royalties	(7) Royalties
	The Company entered into a licensing agreement in December 2012 that requires a minimum annual royalty payable through 2022. In addition, the Company had other royalty agreements in place that extended through December 2013. Those agreements related to the acquisition of certain products as well as various licensing arrangements, none of which contained a minimum royalty provision. Certain royalty agreements contain confidentiality covenants. Royalty expenses were $33, $116 and $38 for 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Product_Acquisitions

Product Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Product Acquisitions	(8) Product Acquisitions
	All product acquisitions made after January 1, 2009 have been accounted for pursuant to FASB ASC 805.
	The following schedule represents intangible assets recognized in connection with product acquisitions (See description of Business, Basis of Consolidation and Significant Accounting Policies for the Company’s accounting policy regarding intangible assets):
		Amount
	Intangible assets at December 31, 2011	$	116,189
	Acquisitions during fiscal 2012		3,473
	Impact of movement in exchange rates		(118	)
	Amortization expense		(6,023	)
	Intangible assets at December 31, 2012	$	113,521
	Impact of movement in exchange rates		(162	)
	Amortization expense		(6,352	)
	Intangible assets at December 31, 2013	$	107,007
	Write off during fiscal 2014		(319	)
	Impact of movement in exchange rates		(86	)
	Amortization expense		(6,391	)
	Intangible assets at December 31, 2014	$	100,211
	The following schedule represents the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of the intangible assets. Product rights are amortized over their expected useful lives of 25 years. Customer lists are amortized over their expected useful lives of ten years, and trademarks are amortized over their expected useful lives of 25 years.
		2014							2013
	$000’s	Gross			Accumulated		Net Book		Gross		Accumulated		Net Book
					Amortization		Value				Amortization		Value
	Product Rights	$	138,466		$	49,733	$	88,733	$	139,094	$	44,254	$	94,840
	Customer Lists		1,091			437		654		1,091		328		763
	Trademarks		12,941			2,117		10,824		12,941		1,537		11,404
	Total Intangibles	$	152,498		$	52,287	$	100,211	$	153,126	$	46,119	$	107,007
	The following schedule represents future amortization charges related to intangible assets:
	Year ending December 31,
	2015	$	6,371
	2016		6,371
	2017		6,371
	2018		6,371
	2019		6,371
	Thereafter		68,356
		$	100,211
	The following schedule represents the Company’s obligations under product acquisitions and licensing agreements:
		Amount
	Obligations under acquisition agreements at December 31, 2011	$	17,624
	Additional obligations acquired		1,073
	Adjustment to deferred liabilities		(216	)
	FX impact		48
	Amortization of discounted liabilities		818
	Payments on existing obligations		(7,447	)
	Obligations under acquisition agreements at December 31, 2012	$	11,900
	Adjustment to deferred liabilities		(297	)
	FX impact		(1	)
	Amortization of discounted liabilities		174
	Payments on existing obligations		(7,890	)
	Obligations under acquisition agreements at December 31, 2013	$	3,886
	Adjustment to deferred liabilities		(32	)
	Amortization of discounted liabilities		324
	Payments on existing obligations		(1,686	)
	Obligations under acquisition agreements at December 31, 2014	$	2,492
	During 2014, the Company remeasured the fair value of the earn out liabilities related to the acquisitions completed in the first quarter of 2010. Based on the remeasurement, the fair value was reduced by $32. The fair value change had the effect of reducing operating expenses by $32.
	During 2013, the Company remeasured the fair value of the earn out liabilities related to the acquisitions completed in the first quarter of 2010. Based on the remeasurement, the fair value was reduced by $297. The fair value change had the effect of reducing operating expenses by $297.
	During 2012, the Company remeasured the fair value of the earn out liabilities related to the acquisitions completed in the first quarter of 2010. Based on the remeasurement, the fair value was reduced by $216. The fair value change had the effect of reducing cost of sales by $0 and operating expenses by $216.
	As of December 31, 2014, the $2,492 in remaining obligations under product acquisitions and licensing agreements is included in other liabilities.

Commitments

Commitments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments	(9) Commitments
	The Company has various lease agreements for offices as well as long-term ground leases for its facilities at Axis, AL, Hannibal, MO and Marsing, ID. The office leases contain provisions to pass through to the Company its pro-rata share of certain of the building’s operating expenses. The long-term ground lease at Axis, AL is for twenty years (commencing May 2001) with up to five automatic renewals of three years each for a total of thirty-five years. The long-term ground lease at Hannibal, MO is for a period of 20 years (commencing December 2007) with automatic one year extensions thereafter, subject to termination with a twelve-month notice. The long-term ground lease at Marsing is for a period of 25 years (commencing in March 2008). Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $1,012, $939 and $727. Future minimum lease payments under the terms of the leases are as follows:
	Year ending December 31,
	2015	$	868
	2016		433
	2017		135
	2018		135
	2019		135
	Thereafter		1,035
		$	2,741

Research_and_Development

Research and Development	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Research and Development	(10) Research and Development
	Research and development expenses which are included in operating expenses were $8,591, $8,604 and $7,648 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

Stock_Options

Stock Options	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Stock Options	(11) Stock Options
	Incentive Stock Option Plans (“ISOP”)
	Under the terms of the Company’s ISOP, under which options to purchase 4,296,000 shares of common stock can be issued, all employees are eligible to receive non-assignable and non-transferable options to purchase shares. The exercise price of any option may not be less than the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant; provided, however, that the exercise price of any option granted to an eligible employee owning more than 10% of the outstanding common stock may not be less than 110% of the fair market value of the shares underlying such option on the date of grant. No options granted may be exercisable more than ten years after the date of grant.
	In 2014, the Company granted incentive stock options to purchase 277,025 shares of common stock to employees. Of these options, 26,483 option shares vest on each of the first, second, and third anniversaries of the date of grant. All options granted are non-assignable and non-transferable. In 2013 and 2012, no options were granted.
	Nonstatutory Stock Options (“NSSO”)
	The Company did not grant any non-statutory stock options during the three years ended December 31, 2014.
	Option activity within each plan is as follows:
		Incentive			Weighted Average		Exercisable
		Stock Option			Price Per Share		Weighted
		Plans					Average
							Price
							Per Share
	Balance outstanding, December 31, 2011		1,388,514		$	7.44	$	7.26
	Options exercised, range from $3.67-$14.99		(659,733	)		7.05
	Options expired		(23,436	)		10.41
	Balance outstanding, December 31, 2012		705,345		$	7.7	$	7.95
	Options exercised, $7.50		(126,149	)		7.5
	Options expired		(18,167	)		7.5
	Balance outstanding, December 31, 2013		561,029		$	7.76	$	7.7
	Options granted, $11.49		277,025			11.49
	Options exercised, $7.50		(113,150	)		7.5
	Balance outstanding, December 31, 2014		724,904		$	9.22	$	7.82
	Information relating to stock options at December 31, 2014 summarized by exercise price is as follows:
		Outstanding Weighted Average							Exercisable Weighted
									Average
	Exercise Price Per Share	Shares			Remaining		Exercise		Shares		Exercise
					Life		Price				Price
					(Months)
	Incentive Stock Option Plan:
	$7.50		421,200			71	$	7.5		421,200	$	7.5
	$11.32-$14.75		303,704			115	$	11.61		26,679	$	12.9
			724,904				$	9.22		447,879	$	7.82
	The weighted average exercise prices for options granted and exercisable and the weighted average remaining contractual life for options outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and 2014 was as follows:
		Number			Weighted		Weighted		Intrinsic
		of			Average		Average		Value
		Shares			Exercise		Remaining		(thousands)
					Price		Contractual
							Life
							(Months)
	As of December 31, 2013:
	Incentive Stock Option Plans:
	Outstanding		561,029		$	7.76		83	$	9,276
	Expected to Vest		560,972		$	7.76		83	$	9,275
	Exercisable		554,362		$	7.7		83	$	9,196
	As of December 31, 2014:
	Incentive Stock Option Plans:
	Outstanding		724,904		$	9.22		90	$	1,774
	Expected to Vest		713,172		$	9.19		89	$	1,773
	Exercisable		447,879		$	7.82		71	$	1,738
	The total intrinsic value of options exercised during 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $1,480, $2,365, and $15,910, respectively. Cash received from stock options exercised during 2014, 2013, and 2012 was $849, $946, and $2,996, respectively. Upon exercise in 2012, the Company also received 49,638 shares in payment for the options which were valued on the day of exercise at $1,651.
	Restricted Stock Grants
	During 2014, the Company issued a total of 240,724 shares of common and restricted stock to certain employees and non-executive board members. Vesting ranges from immediate to three years from the date of grant. The fair values of the grants range from $13.84 to $14.92 per share based on the publicly traded share prices. The total fair value of $3,566 is being recognized over the related service periods. During 2014, 20,772 shares of common stock granted to employees were forfeited.
	During 2013, the Company issued a total of 162,336 shares of common and restricted stock to certain employees and non-executive board members. Vesting ranges from immediate to three years from the date of grant. The fair values of the grants range from $23.43 to $31.83 per share based on the publicly traded share prices. The total fair value of $5,018 is being recognized over the related service periods. During 2013, 11,999 shares of common stock granted to employees were forfeited.
	During 2012, the Company issued a total of 248,536 shares of common and restricted stock to certain employees and non-executive board members. Vesting ranges from immediate to three years from the date of grant. The fair values of the grants range from $13.34 to $34.04 per share based on the publicly traded share prices. The total fair value of $5,346 is being recognized over the related service periods. During 2012, 1,367 shares of common stock granted to employees were forfeited.
	A status summary of non-vested shares as of December 31, 2014, is presented below:
		Number			Weighted
		of			Average
		Shares			Grant-Date
					Fair Value
	Nonvested shares at January 1, 2014		376,702		$	24.85
	Granted		240,724		$	14.81
	Vested		(35,812	)	$	14.74
	Forfeited		(20,772	)	$	17.91
	Nonvested shares at December 31, 2014		560,842		$	21.44
Performance Based Stock Grants
During 2014, the Company granted a total of 79,270 performance based shares that will cliff vest on May 23, 2017, provided that recipient is continuously employed by the Company during the vesting period. Of these performance based shares, 80% are based upon financial performance of the Company, specifically, an earnings before interest and tax (“EBIT”) goal weighted at 50% and a net sales goal weighted at 30% for the period commencing April 1, 2014 and ending December 31, 2016; the remaining 20% of performance based shares are based upon AVD stock price appreciation (shareholder return) over the same performance measurement period. The net sales and EBIT goal measures the relative growth of the Company’s net sales and EBIT for the performance measurement period, as compared to the median growth of net sales and EBIT for an identified peer group. The shareholder return goal measures the relative growth of the fair market value of the Company’s stock price over the performance measurement period, as compared to that of the Russell 2000 Index and the median fair market value of the common stock of the comparator companies. All parts of these awards vest in three years, but are subject to reduction to a minimum (or even zero) for meeting less than the targeted performance and to increase to a maximum of 200% for meeting in excess of the targeted performance.
The performance based shares related to net sales and EBIT were average fair valued at $14.92 per share. The fair value was determined by using the publicly traded share price as of the date of grant. The performance based shares related to AVD stock price were average fair valued at $12.85 per share. The fair value was determined by using the Monte Carlo valuation method. The Company is recognizing as expense the value of these shares over the required service period of three years.
During 2013, the Company granted a total of 24,637 performance based shares that will cliff vest after three years of service. Of these performance based shares, 80% are based upon net income and net sales for the period commencing April 1, 2013 and ending December 31, 2015; the remaining 20% of performance based shares are based upon the Company’s stock price appreciation over the course of the period commencing June 6, 2013 and ending on December 31, 2015. Both parts of these awards vest in three years, but are subject to reduction to a minimum (or even zero) for meeting less than the targeted performance and to increase to a maximum of 200% for meeting in excess of the targeted performance.
The performance based shares related to net income and net sales have an average fair value of $30.13 per share. The fair value was determined by using the publicly traded share price as of the date of grant. The performance based shares related to the Company’s stock price have an average fair value of $15.31 per share. The fair value was determined by using the Monte Carlo valuation method. For awards with performance conditions, the Company recognizes share-based compensation cost on a straight-line basis for each performance criteria over the implied service period when the Company believes it is probable that the performance targets, as defined in the agreements, will be achieved.
During 2014 and 2013, the Company recognized stock-based compensation expense related to performance based shares of $168 and $90, respectively. There were no performance based shares issued by the Company prior to those issued during the quarter ended June 30, 2013.
As of December 31, 2014, the Company had approximately $1,249 of unamortized stock-based compensation expenses related to unvested performance based shares. This amount will be recognized over the weighted-average period of 2.1 years. This projected expense will change if any performance based shares are granted or cancelled prior to the respective reporting periods or if there are any changes required to be made for estimated forfeitures.
As of December 31, 2013, the Company had approximately $564 of unamortized stock-based compensation expenses related to unvested performance based shares. This amount will be recognized over the weighted-average period of 2.4 years. This projected expense will change if any performance based shares are granted or cancelled prior to the respective reporting periods or if there are any changes required to be made for estimated forfeitures.
A status summary of non-vested shares as of December 31, 2014, is presented below:
	Number			Weighted
	of			Average
	Shares			Grant-Date
				Fair Value
Nonvested shares at January 1, 2014		24,637		$	28.43
Granted		79,270		$	14.51
Nonvested shares at December 31, 2014		103,907		$	17.81
Performance Incentive Stock Option Plan
During 2014, the Company granted performance incentive stock options to purchase 107,689 shares of common stock to employees. Of these performance based stock options, 80% are based upon financial performance of the Company, specifically, an earnings before interest and tax (“EBIT”) goal weighted at 50% and a net sales goal weighted at 30% for the period commencing January 1, 2015 and ending December 31, 2017; the remaining 20% of performance based shares are based upon AVD stock price appreciation (shareholder return) over the same performance measurement period. The net sales and EBIT goal measures the relative growth of the Company’s net sales and EBIT for the performance measurement period, as compared to the median growth of net sales and EBIT for an identified peer group. The shareholder return goal measures the relative growth of the fair market value of the Company’s stock price over the performance measurement period, as compared to that of the Russell 2000 Index and the median fair market value of the common stock of the comparator companies. All parts of these options vest in three years, but are subject to reduction to a minimum (or even zero) for meeting less than the targeted performance and to increase to a maximum of 200% for meeting in excess of the targeted performance. There were no performance based stock options issued by the Company prior to those issued during 2014.
Performance option activity is as follows:
	Incentive			Weighted Average		Exercisable
	Stock Option			Price Per Share		Weighted
	Plans					Average
						Price
						Per Share
Balance outstanding, December 31, 2013		—		$	—	$	—
Options granted, $11.49		107,689			11.49
Balance outstanding, December 31, 2014		107,689		$	11.49	$	—
Information relating to performance stock options at December 31, 2014 summarized by exercise price is as follows:
	Outstanding Weighted Average							Exercisable Weighted
								Average
Exercise Price Per Share	Shares			Remaining		Exercise		Shares		Exercise
				Life		Price				Price
				(Months)
Performance Incentive Stock Option Plan:
$11.49		107,689			36	$	11.49		—	$	—
		107,689				$	11.49		—	$	—
The weighted average exercise prices for performance options granted and exercisable and the weighted average remaining contractual life for performance options outstanding as of December 31, 2014 was as follows:
	Number			Weighted		Weighted		Intrinsic
	of			Average		Average		Value
	Shares			Exercise		Remaining		(thousands)
				Price		Contractual
						Life
						(Months)
As of December 31, 2014:
Performance Incentive Stock Option Plans:
Outstanding		107,689		$	11.49		36	$	14
Expected to Vest		107,689		$	11.49		36	$	14
Exercisable		—		$	—		—	$	—

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	(12) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
	The following table lists the beginning balance, annual activity and ending balance of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income:
		Interest			FX			Total
		Rate			Translation
		Swap
	Balance, December 31, 2011	$	(886	)	$	(1,364	)	$	(2,250	)
	Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications		(472	)		330			(142	)
	Amounts reclassified from AOCI		721			—			721
	Tax effect		(91	)		—			(91	)
	Balance, December 31, 2012	$	(728	)	$	(1,034	)	$	(1,762	)
	Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications		(75	)		326			251
	Amounts reclassified from AOCI		712			—			712
	Tax effect		(249	)		—			(249	)
	Balance, December 31, 2013	$	(340	)	$	(708	)	$	(1,048	)
	Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications		(30	)		(1,262	)		(1,292	)
	Amounts reclassified from AOCI		594			—			594
	Tax effect		(224	)		—			(224	)
	Balance, December 31, 2014	$	—		$	(1,970	)	$	(1,970	)

Equity_Method_Investment

Equity Method Investment	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Equity Method Investment	(13) Equity Method Investment
	On March 25, 2013, the Company made a $3,687 equity investment in TyraTech Inc. (“TyraTech”), a Delaware corporation that specializes in developing, marketing and selling pesticide products containing essential oils and other natural ingredients. In February 2014, TyraTech issued 37,391,763 shares, raising approximately £1.87 ($3.1) million. In July 2014 TyraTech issued a further 50,000,000 shares and raised approximately £3.5 ($5.9) million. Due to the share issuance in both periods, the Company recognized a total gain of $954 from the dilution of the Company’s ownership position as required by ASC 323. In October 2014, the Company exercised warrants in the amount of $500 and purchased 6,155,000 shares in TyraTech. As of December 31, 2014, the Company’s ownership position in TyraTech was approximately 21.18%. The Company utilizes the equity method of accounting with respect to this investment. As a result, our net income includes earnings (losses) from equity method investments, which represents our proportionate share of TyraTech’s estimated net earnings (losses) for the period from the time of the investment to the end of the accounting period. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recognized a loss of $983, as compared to $986 in 2013, as a result of the Company’s ownership position in TyraTech.
	The Company’s investment in TyraTech is included in other assets on the balance sheet. At December 31, 2014, the carrying value of the Company’s investment in TyraTech was $3,172 and the quoted market value was $3,555. TyraTech’s shares trade on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange under the trading symbol ‘TYR’.

Quarterly_DataUnaudited

Quarterly Data-Unaudited	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Data-Unaudited	(14) Quarterly Data—Unaudited
		March 31		June 30		September 30		December 31
	Quarterly Data—2014
	Net sales	$	81,095	$	68,313	$	71,635	$	77,591
	Gross profit		28,905		26,060		28,293		31,238
	Net income attributable to American Vanguard		2,159		145		732		1,805
	Basic net income per share		0.08		0.01		0.03		0.06
	Diluted net income per share		0.07		0.01		0.03		0.06
	Quarterly Data—2013
	Net sales	$	121,537	$	86,761	$	97,201	$	75,522
	Gross profit		53,781		42,066		43,159		32,341
	Net income attributable to American Vanguard		16,915		8,386		8,870		278
	Basic net income per share		0.6		0.29		0.32		0.01
	Diluted net income per share		0.59		0.29		0.3		0.01
	Note: Totals may not agree with full year amounts due to rounding and separate calculations each quarter.

Description_of_Business_Basis_1

Description of Business, Basis of Consolidation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Cost of Sales	Cost of Sales—In addition to normal cost centers (i.e., direct labor, raw materials) included in cost of sales, the Company also includes such cost centers as Health and Safety, Environmental, Maintenance and Quality Control in cost of sales.
Fair Value of Equity Investment	Fair Value of Equity Investment—The Company utilizes the equity method of accounting with respect to its investment in TyraTech Inc. (“TyraTech”), a Delaware corporation that specializes in developing, marketing and selling pesticide products containing essential oils and other natural ingredients. In February 2014, TyraTech issued 37,391,763 shares, raising approximately £1.87 ($3.1) million. In July 2014, TyraTech issued a further 50,000,000 shares and raised approximately £3.5 ($5.9) million. Due to the share issuance in both periods, the Company recognized a total gain of $954 from the dilution of the Company’s ownership position as required by ASC 323. In October 2014, the Company exercised warrants in the amount of $500 and purchased 6,155,000 shares in TyraTech. As of December 31, 2014, the Company’s ownership position in TyraTech was approximately 21.18%. At December 31, 2014, the carrying value of the Company’s investment in TyraTech was $3,172 and the quoted market value based on TyraTech’s share price (Level 1 input) was $3,555. TyraTech’s shares trade on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange under the trading symbol ‘TYR’. The Company’s equity investment is included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet.
Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedge Activities	Derivative financial instruments and hedge activities—In accordance with FASB ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, the Company recognizes all derivative instruments as either other assets or other liabilities at fair value on the balance sheet. In accordance with the hierarchy contained in FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements, the Company calculated fair value using observable inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices (Level 2). During 2014, the Company had in place one interest rate swap contract that ended on December 31, 2014. While in place, the interest rate swap contract was accounted for under FASB ASC 815 as a cash flow hedge. The effective portion of the gains or losses on the interest rate swap are reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transactions affect earnings. As a result of the termination of the swap contract (as mentioned above), no balances remain in other comprehensive income at December 31, 2014. Losses in other comprehensive income that were expected to be reclassified to earnings in the coming 12 months were $564 and $689 at the end of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
	The following tables illustrate the impact of derivatives on the Company’s statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.
	The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Statement of Financial Performance
	For the Period Ended December 31
	Derivatives in ASC 815 Cash Flow		Amount of Gain or						Location of Gain or		Amount of Gain or							Location of Gain or	Amount of Gain or
			(Loss) Recognized in						(Loss) Reclassified		(Loss) Reclassified							(Loss) Recognized in	(Loss) Recognized
			OCI on Derivative						from Accumulated		from Accumulated							Income on Derivative	in Income on
			(Effective Portion)						OCI into Income		OCI into Income								Derivative
											(Effective Portion)								(Ineffective Portion)
	Hedging Relationships		2014			2013			(Effective Portion)		2014				2013			(Ineffective Portion)	2014			2013
	Interest rate contracts		$	(30	)	$	(75	)	Interest expense		$	(594	)		$	(712	)	Interest expense	$	(3	)	$	(1	)
	Total		$	(30	)	$	(75	)			$	(594	)		$	(712	)		$	(3	)	$	(1	)
	The counterparty to the interest rate derivative financial instrument that had been held by the Company during 2014 is Bank of the West, the Company’s primary bank. Pledged cash collateral was not required under the interest rate swap contract. There are no derivative financial instruments at December 31, 2014.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	Fair Value of Financial Instruments—The carrying values of cash, receivables and accounts payable approximate their fair values because of the short maturity of these instruments. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt and note payable to our lender group is estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities. Such fair value approximates the respective carrying values of the Company’s long-term debt and note payable to bank.
	The Company measures fair value based on the prices that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value measurements are based on a three-tier hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. These tiers include the following:
	Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.
	Level 2: Observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted on active markets, but corroborated by market data. These inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted market prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
	Level 3: Unobservable inputs are used when little or no market data is available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.
	In determining fair value, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible, as well as considering counterparty credit risk in the assessment of fair value.
			Fair Value Measurements
			Using Input Type
			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	As of December 31, 2013:
	Liability:
	Interest rate derivative financial instruments (1)		$	—		$	564		$	—
	-1	Includes accrued interest expense.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets—The primary identifiable intangible assets of the Company relate to assets associated with its product acquisitions. The Company adopted the provisions of FASB ASC 350, under which identifiable intangibles with finite lives are amortized and those with indefinite lives are not amortized. The estimated useful life of an identifiable intangible asset to the Company is based upon a number of factors including the effects of demand, competition, and expected changes in the marketability of the Company’s products. The Company re-evaluates whether these intangible assets are impaired on an annual basis, relying on a number of factors including operating results, business plans and estimated future cash flows. Identifiable intangible assets that are subject to amortization are evaluated for impairment using a process similar to that used to evaluate long-lived assets. The impairment test for identifiable intangible assets not subject to amortization consists of either a qualitative assessment or a comparison of the fair value of the intangible asset with its carrying amount. An impairment loss, if any, is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the asset. Fair value is typically estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis, which requires the Company to estimate the future cash flows anticipated to be generated by the particular asset(s) being tested for impairment as well as selecting a discount rate to measure the present value of the anticipated cash flows. When determining future cash flow estimates, the Company considers historical results adjusted to reflect current and anticipated operating conditions. Estimating future cash flows requires significant judgment by the Company, in such areas as: future economic conditions, industry-specific conditions, product pricing and necessary capital expenditures. The use of different assumptions or estimates for future cash flows could produce different impairment amounts (or none at all) for long-lived assets, goodwill and identifiable intangible assets. The Company has performed an impairment review for the year ending December 31, 2014 and determined that one asset must be written down to zero, generating an impairment loss of $319. There were no similar impairment losses recorded in 2013 or 2012.
Operating Expenses	Operating Expenses—Operating expenses include cost centers for Selling, General and Administrative, Research, Product Development, and Regulatory, Freight, Delivery and Warehousing.
			2014			2013			2012
	Selling		$	31,593		$	32,929		$	25,869
	General and administrative			27,057			33,536			29,715
	Research, product development and regulatory			21,206			21,644			20,750
	Freight, delivery and warehousing			27,930			27,503			25,468
			$	107,786		$	115,612		$	101,802
Freight, Delivery and Warehousing Expense	Freight, Delivery and Warehousing Expense—Freight, delivery and warehousing costs incurred by the Company are reported as operating expenses.
Advertising Expense	Advertising Expense—The Company expenses advertising costs in the period incurred. Advertising expenses, which include promotional costs, are recognized in operating costs (specifically in selling expenses) in the consolidated statements of operations and were $4,322 in 2014, $4,011 in 2013 and $2,680 in 2012.
Inventories	Inventories —The Company values its inventories at lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method, including material, labor, factory overhead and subcontracting services. The Company writes down and makes adjustments to its inventory carrying values as a result of the effects of unutilized capacity, net realizable value assessments of slow moving and obsolete inventory and other annual adjustments to ensure that our standard costs continue to closely reflect manufacturing cost. The Company recorded an inventory reserve allowance of $3,882 at December 31, 2014, as compared to $2,602 at December 31, 2013.
	The components of inventories consist of the following:
			2014			2013
	Finished products		$	142,853		$	126,872
	Raw materials			22,778			12,958
			$	165,631		$	139,830
Revenue Recognition and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	Revenue Recognition and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts—Revenue from sales is recognized at the time title and the risks of ownership pass. This is when the customer has made the fixed commitment to purchase the goods, the products are shipped per the customer’s instructions, the sales price is fixed and determinable, and collection is reasonably assured. The Company has in place procedures to ensure that revenue is recognized when earned. The procedures are subject to management’s review and from time to time certain sales are excluded until it is clear that the title has passed and there is no further recourse to the Company. Allowance for doubtful accounts is established based on estimates of losses related to customer receivable balances. Estimates are developed using either standard quantitative measures based on historical losses, adjusted for current economic conditions or by evaluating specific customer accounts for risk of loss.
Accrued Program Costs	Accrued Program Costs—In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, the Company classifies certain payments to its customers as a reduction of sales revenues. The Company describes these payments as “Programs.” Programs are a critical part of doing business in the agricultural chemicals business market place. For accounting purposes, programs are recorded as a reduction in gross sales and include market pricing adjustments, volume take up or other key performance indicators, driven payments made to distributors, retailers or growers at the end of a growing season. Each quarter management compares each sale transaction with published programs to determine what program liability has been incurred. Once this initial calculation is made for the specific quarter, sales and marketing management along with executive and financial management review the accumulated program balance and make assessments of whether or not customers are tracking in a manner that indicates that they will meet the requirements set out in the terms and conditions attached to each program. If management believes that customers are falling short of their annual goals then periodic adjustments will be made to the accumulated accrual to properly reflect the Company’s best estimate of the liability at the balance sheet date. The majority of adjustments are made at the end of the crop season, at which time customer performance can be fully assessed. Programs are paid out predominantly on an annual basis, usually in the final quarter of the financial year or the first quarter of the following year.
Long-lived Assets	Long-lived Assets— Long-lived assets primarily consist of the costs of Smartbox and Lock and Load containers. The carrying value of long-lived assets is reviewed for impairment quarterly and/or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. The Company evaluates recoverability of an asset group by comparing the carrying value to the future undiscounted cash flows that it expects to generate from the asset group. If the comparison indicates that the carrying value of an asset group is not recoverable, measurement of the impairment loss is based on the fair value of the asset. There were no circumstances that indicate any impairment of the carrying value of these long-lived assets and, as a result, no impairment losses were recorded in 2014 or 2013.
Property, Plant and Equipment and Depreciation	Property, Plant and Equipment and Depreciation—Property, plant and equipment includes the cost of land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office furniture and fixtures, automobiles, construction projects and significant improvements to existing plant and equipment. Interest costs related to significant construction projects are capitalized at the Company’s current weighted effective interest rate. Expenditures for maintenance and minor repairs are expensed as incurred. When property or equipment is sold or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation is removed from the respective accounts, and the gain or loss realized on disposition is reflected in earnings. All plant and equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method, utilizing the estimated useful property lives. Building lives range from 10 to 30 years; machinery and equipment lives range from 3 to 15 years; office furniture and fixture lives range from 3 to 10 years; automobile lives range from 3 to 6 years; construction projects and significant improvements to existing plant and equipment lives range from 3 to 15 years when placed in service. The agricultural chemicals business involves complex manufacturing processes that drive high capital cost plant.
Foreign Currency Translation	Foreign Currency Translation—Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries, where the local currency is the functional currency, have been translated at period end exchange rates, and profit and loss accounts have been translated using weighted average yearly exchange rates. Adjustments resulting from translation have been recorded in the equity section of the balance sheet as cumulative translation adjustments in other comprehensive income (loss). The effects of foreign currency exchange gains and losses on transactions that are denominated in currencies other than the Company’s functional currency are remeasured to the functional currency using the end of the period exchange rates. The effects of remeasurement related to foreign currency transactions are included in the Company’s operating results.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes—The Company utilizes the liability method of accounting for income taxes as set forth in ASC 740. Under the liability method, deferred taxes are determined based on the temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using tax rates expected to be in effect during the years in which the basis differences reverse. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that some of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In determining the need for valuation allowances, the Company considers projected future taxable income and the availability of tax planning strategies. If in the future the Company determines that it would not be able to realize its recorded deferred tax assets, an increase in the valuation allowance would be recorded, decreasing earnings in the period in which such determination is made.
	The Company assesses its income tax positions and records tax benefits for all years subject to examination based upon the Company’s evaluation of the facts, circumstances and information available at the reporting date. For those tax positions where there is greater than 50% likelihood that a tax benefit will be sustained, the Company has recorded the largest amount of tax benefit that may potentially be realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. For those income tax positions where there is less than 50% likelihood that a tax benefit will be sustained, no tax benefit has been recognized in the financial statements.
Per Share Information	Per Share Information—FASB ASC 260 requires dual presentation of basic earnings per share (“EPS”) and diluted EPS on the face of all income statements. Basic EPS is computed as net income divided by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects potential dilution to EPS that could occur if securities or other contracts, which, for the Company, consists of restricted stock grants and options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, are exercised as calculated using the treasury stock method.
	The components of basic and diluted earnings per share were as follows:
			2014			2013			2012
	Numerator:
	Net income attributable to American Vanguard		$	4,841		$	34,449		$	36,867
	Denominator:
	Weighted average shares outstanding—basic			28,436			28,301			27,914
	Dilutive effect of stock options and grants			476			598			842
				28,912			28,899			28,756
	The Company excluded 1,616 stock options from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2014, because they are anti-dilutive. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, no options were excluded from the computation.
Accounting Estimates	Accounting Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses at the date that the financial statements are prepared. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Reclassifications	Reclassifications—Certain prior year’s amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.
Total Comprehensive Income	Total comprehensive income—In addition to net income, total comprehensive income includes changes in equity that are excluded from the consolidated statements of operations and are recorded directly into a separate section of stockholders’ equity on the consolidated balance sheets. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, total comprehensive income consisted of net income attributable to American Vanguard, the change in fair value of interest rate swaps and foreign currency translation adjustments.
Stock-Based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation—The Company accounts for stock-based awards to employees and directors using FASB ASC 718. When applying the provisions of FASB ASC 718, the Company also applies the provisions of Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 107 and SAB No. 110.
	FASB ASC 718 requires companies to estimate the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense over the requisite service periods in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.
	Stock-based compensation expense recognized during the period is based on the fair value of the portion of share-based payment awards that is ultimately expected to vest during the period. Stock-based compensation expense recognized is reduced for forfeitures as required by FASB ASC 718. Estimated forfeitures recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations reduced compensation expense by $247, $247, and $88 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. The Company estimates that 7.3% of all restricted stock grants, 20.7% of the performance based restricted shares and 4.2% of all stock option grants that are currently vesting will be forfeited. These estimates are reviewed quarterly and revised as necessary.
	The below table illustrates the Company’s unamortized stock-based compensation expenses as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 that will be recognized over the respective weighted average period. This projected expense will change if any stock options and restricted stock are granted or cancelled prior to the respective reporting periods or if there are any changes required to be made for estimated forfeitures.
			2014						2013
	Description		Unamortized			Remaining			Unamortized				Remaining
			Stock-Based			Weighted			Stock-Based				Weighted
			Compensation			Average			Compensation				Average
			Expenses			Period (yrs)			Expenses				Period (yrs)
	Options		$	1,457			3		$	21				0.5
	Performance Based Options			551			3			—				—
	Restricted Stock			4,829			1.8			5,550				1.9
	Performance Based Restricted Stock			1,249			2.1			564				2.4
	The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model (“Black-Scholes model”) to value option grants using the following weighted average assumptions:
			2014
	Risk free interest rate			2	%
	Dividend yield			0.9	%
	Volatility factor			48.9	%
	Weighted average life (years)			6.5 years
	The weighted average grant-date fair values of options granted during 2014 was $5.27. There were no option shares granted during 2013 and 2012.
	The expected volatility and expected life assumptions are highly complex and use subjective variables. The variables take into consideration, among other things, actual and projected employee stock option exercise behavior. The Company estimates the expected term or vesting period using the “safe harbor” provisions of SAB 107 and SAB 110. The Company used historical volatility as a proxy for estimating expected volatility.
	The Company values restricted stock grants using the Company’s traded stock price on the date of grant. The weighted average grant-date fair values of restricted stock grants during 2014, 2013, and 2012 were $14.81, $30.91, and $21.51, respectively.
Recently Issued Accounting Guidance	Recently Issued Accounting Guidance
	In August 2014, The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. This ASU requires that management of an entity assesses whether there is substantial doubt about the ability of the entity to continue as a going concern and for making the appropriate disclosures. The assessment must be performed at each annual and interim reporting period, and there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern if it is probable that the entity will be unable to meet its obligations as they become due within 12 months of the date of the financial statements are issued. In the assessment, management must consider the information available at the date of issuance of the financial statements, as well as mitigating factors and plans to alleviate the substantial doubt. ASU 2014-15 is effective for annual period ending after December 15, 2016 and interim periods thereafter. Early application is permitted. Upon adoption, the Company will have to follow the guidance in this ASU when assessing going concern.
	In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-12, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide that a Performance Target Could be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period, a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force. ASU 2014-12 requires that a performance target that affects vesting of share-based payment awards and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. Compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the periods for which the requisite service has already been rendered. If the performance target becomes probable of being achieved before the end of the requisite service period, the remaining unrecognized compensation cost should be recognized prospectively over the remaining requisite service period. The total amount of compensation cost recognized during and after the requisite service period should reflect the number of awards that are expected to vest and should be adjusted to reflect those awards that ultimately vest. The requisite service period ends when the employee can cease rendering service and still be eligible to vest in the award if the performance target is achieved. ASU 2014-12 is effective for all entities for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. An entity may apply the amendments in ASU 2014-12 either (i) prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date or (ii) retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. The adoption of ASU 2014-12 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU 2014-09 outlines a new, single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. This new revenue recognition model provides a five-step analysis in determining when and how revenue is recognized. The new model will require revenue recognition to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration a company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). We are currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of ASU 2014-09 on our consolidated financial statements and have not yet determined the method by which we will adopt the standard in 2017 or its impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Description_of_Business_Basis_2

Description of Business, Basis of Consolidation and Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Summary of Business Sales and Gross Profit Information	Based on similar economic and operational characteristics, the Company’s business is aggregated into one reportable segment. Selective enterprise information is as follows:
			2014			2013			2012
	Net sales:
	Insecticides		$	135,705		$	193,623		$	194,060
	Herbicides/soil fumigants/fungicides			101,785			121,042			89,899
	Other, including plant growth regulators			30,220			31,849			45,581
	Total crop			267,710			346,514			329,540
	Non-crop			30,924			34,507			36,650
			$	298,634		$	381,021		$	366,190
	Gross profit:
	Crop		$	101,633		$	155,275		$	142,019
	Non-crop			12,863			16,072			19,106
			$	114,496		$	171,347		$	161,125
Summary of Operating Expense	Operating expenses include cost centers for Selling, General and Administrative, Research, Product Development, and Regulatory, Freight, Delivery and Warehousing.
			2014			2013			2012
	Selling		$	31,593		$	32,929		$	25,869
	General and administrative			27,057			33,536			29,715
	Research, product development and regulatory			21,206			21,644			20,750
	Freight, delivery and warehousing			27,930			27,503			25,468
			$	107,786		$	115,612		$	101,802
Components of Inventories	The components of inventories consist of the following:
			2014			2013
	Finished products		$	142,853		$	126,872
	Raw materials			22,778			12,958
			$	165,631		$	139,830
Impact of Derivatives on Statement of Operations	The following tables illustrate the impact of derivatives on the Company’s statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.
	The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Statement of Financial Performance
	For the Period Ended December 31
	Derivatives in ASC 815 Cash Flow		Amount of Gain or						Location of Gain or		Amount of Gain or							Location of Gain or	Amount of Gain or
			(Loss) Recognized in						(Loss) Reclassified		(Loss) Reclassified							(Loss) Recognized in	(Loss) Recognized
			OCI on Derivative						from Accumulated		from Accumulated							Income on Derivative	in Income on
			(Effective Portion)						OCI into Income		OCI into Income								Derivative
											(Effective Portion)								(Ineffective Portion)
	Hedging Relationships		2014			2013			(Effective Portion)		2014				2013			(Ineffective Portion)	2014			2013
	Interest rate contracts		$	(30	)	$	(75	)	Interest expense		$	(594	)		$	(712	)	Interest expense	$	(3	)	$	(1	)
	Total		$	(30	)	$	(75	)			$	(594	)		$	(712	)		$	(3	)	$	(1	)
Foreign Currency Derivatives to Hedge Foreign Currency Balances Measured at Fair Value
			Fair Value Measurements
			Using Input Type
			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	As of December 31, 2013:
	Liability:
	Interest rate derivative financial instruments (1)		$	—		$	564		$	—
	-1	Includes accrued interest expense
Components of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share	The components of basic and diluted earnings per share were as follows:
			2014			2013			2012
	Numerator:
	Net income attributable to American Vanguard		$	4,841		$	34,449		$	36,867
	Denominator:
	Weighted average shares outstanding—basic			28,436			28,301			27,914
	Dilutive effect of stock options and grants			476			598			842
				28,912			28,899			28,756
Unamortized Stock Based Compensation Expenses	The below table illustrates the Company’s unamortized stock-based compensation expenses as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 that will be recognized over the respective weighted average period. This projected expense will change if any stock options and restricted stock are granted or cancelled prior to the respective reporting periods or if there are any changes required to be made for estimated forfeitures.
			2014						2013
	Description		Unamortized			Remaining			Unamortized				Remaining
			Stock-Based			Weighted			Stock-Based				Weighted
			Compensation			Average			Compensation				Average
			Expenses			Period (yrs)			Expenses				Period (yrs)
	Options		$	1,457			3		$	21				0.5
	Performance Based Options			551			3			—				—
	Restricted Stock			4,829			1.8			5,550				1.9
	Performance Based Restricted Stock			1,249			2.1			564				2.4
Summary of Value Option Grants Using Weighted Average Assumptions	The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model (“Black-Scholes model”) to value option grants using the following weighted average assumptions:
			2014
	Risk free interest rate			2	%
	Dividend yield			0.9	%
	Volatility factor			48.9	%
	Weighted average life (years)			6.5 years

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_T

Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Summary of Property, Plant and Equipment	Property, plant and equipment at December 31, 2014 and 2013 consist of the following:
		2014			2013			Estimated
								useful lives
	Land	$	2,458		$	2,458
	Buildings and improvements		14,380			14,167			10 to 30 years
	Machinery and equipment		107,899			94,184			3 to 15 years
	Office furniture, fixtures and equipment		4,698			9,717			3 to 10 years
	Automotive equipment		374			278			3 to 6 years
	Construction in progress		3,432			10,615
			133,241			131,419
	Less accumulated depreciation		(83,215	)		(78,951	)
		$	50,026		$	52,468

LongTerm_Debt_Tables

Long-Term Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Summary of Long Term Debt	Long-term debt of the Company at December 31, 2014 and 2013 is summarized as follows:
			2014			2013
	Revolving line of credit(a)		$	99,400		$	51,550
	Notes payable			126			195
				99,526			51,745
	Less current installments			(71	)		(69	)
			$	99,455		$	51,676
	a)	On July 11, 2014, AMVAC Chemical Corporation (“AMVAC”), our principal operating subsidiary, as borrower, and affiliates (including the Company), as guarantors and/or borrowers, entered into a First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “First Amendment”) with a group of commercial lenders led by Bank of the West (AMVAC’s primary bank) as agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer. The First Amendment amends the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (“2013 Credit Agreement”) dated as of June 17, 2013. Under the terms of the First Amendment, the Consolidated Funded Debt Ratio was increased for the third and fourth quarters of 2014 and the first quarter of 2015, and, further, borrowers are permitted to pay cash dividends to shareholders during the first and second quarters of 2015, notwithstanding prior levels of net income. The 2013 Credit Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment (the “Credit Agreement”) is a senior secured lending facility with a five year term and consisting of a revolving line of credit of $200 million and an accordion feature for up to $100 million. The Credit Agreement includes both AMVAC CV and AMVAC BV as borrowers. Under the Credit Agreement, revolving loans bear interest at a variable rate based, at borrower’s election with proper notice, on either (i) LIBOR plus the “Applicable Rate” which is based upon the Consolidated Funded Debt Ratio (“Eurocurrency Rate Loan”) or (ii) the greater of (x) the Prime Rate, (y) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5%, and (z) the Daily One-Month LIBOR Rate plus 1.00%, plus, in the case of (x), (y) or (z) the Applicable Rate (“Alternate Base Rate Loan”). Interest payments for Eurocurrency Rate Loans are payable on the last day of each interest period (either one, two, three or six months, as selected by the borrower) and the maturity date, while interest payments for Alternate Base Rate Loans are payable on the last business day of each month and the maturity date. The senior secured revolving line of credit matures on June 17, 2018.
Payments on Long-term Debt Details	Approximate principal payments on long-term debt at December 31, 2014 are as follows:
	2015		$	71
	2016			55
	2017			—
	2018			99,400
			$	99,526
Amount of Outstanding Debt and Notional Amount on Interest Rate Swap Contract	The table below shows the amount of outstanding debt and the related notional amount on the interest rate swap contract at each of the balance sheet dates:
			Outstanding			Notional Amount on
			Variable Rate Debt			Interest Rate Swap
	At December 31, 2012		$	46,000		$	44,250
	At December 31, 2013			51,550			36,750
	At December 31, 2014			99,400			—
Summary of Short-Term and Long-Term Loan Balances in the Consolidated Balance Sheets	The Company has various loans in place that together constitute the short-term and long-term loan balances shown in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. These are summarized in the following table:
	Indebtedness		December 31, 2014								December 31, 2013
	$000’s		Long-term			Short-term			Total		Long-term		Short-term		Total
	Revolving line of credit		$	99,400		$	—		$	99,400	$	51,550	$	—	$	51,550
	Notes payable			55			71			126		126		69		195
	Total indebtedness		$	99,455		$	71		$	99,526	$	51,676	$	69	$	51,745

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Components of Income Tax (Benefit) Expense	The components of income tax (benefit) expense are:
		2014			2013			2012
	Current:
	Federal	$	(4,256	)	$	12,285		$	17,448
	State		251			3,007			2,528
	Foreign		934			1,101			1,027
	Deferred:
	Federal		3,492			2,213			(590	)
	State		(872	)		310			(387	)
		$	(451	)	$	18,916		$	20,026
Total Income Tax Expense Applying U.S. Federal Income Tax Rate	Total income tax expense differed from the amounts computed by applying the U.S. Federal income tax rate of 35.0% to income before income tax expense as a result of the following:
		2014			2013			2012
	Computed tax expense at statutory federal rates	$	1,536		$	18,678		$	19,911
	Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:
	State taxes, net of federal income tax benefit		(11	)		1,983			1,947
	Domestic production deduction		420			(1,142	)		(1,661	)
	Income tax credits		(728	)		(724	)		(395	)
	Foreign tax rate differential		(2,159	)		(1,459	)		(195	)
	Subpart F income		338			—			87
	Other expenses		153			1,580			332
		$	(451	)	$	18,916		$	20,026
Components of Income before Provision	The components of income before provision for income tax expense (benefit) are as follows:
		2014			2013			2012
	Domestic	$	(5,196	)	$	46,520		$	53,361
	Foreign		8,840			7,314			3,491
		$	3,644		$	53,834		$	56,852
Deferred Tax Assets and Liability	Temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities that give rise to significant portions of the net deferred tax liability at December 31, 2014 and 2013 relate to the following:
		2014			2013
	Current:
	Inventories	$	5,558		$	4,398
	State income taxes		(633	)		(331	)
	Vacation pay accrual		776			648
	Accrued bonuses		95			1,791
	Bad debt		45			169
	Prepaid expenses		(1,314	)		(1,929	)
	Stock compensation		2,446			1,281
	Other		1,758			494
	Net deferred tax asset	$	8,731		$	6,521
	Non-Current:
	Plant and equipment, principally due to differences in depreciation and capitalized interest	$	(28,365	)	$	(25,662	)
	NOL Carryforward		361			—
	Tax credit		319			14
	Fair value adjustment		—			207
	Other		(474	)		2,111
	Net deferred tax liability		(28,159	)		(23,330	)
	Total net deferred tax liability	$	(19,428	)	$	(16,809	)
Gross Unrecognized Tax Liabilities	The following is a roll-forward of the Company’s total gross unrecognized tax liabilities, not including interest and penalties, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014:
		2014			2013
		Gross			Gross
		Unrecognized Tax			Unrecognized Tax
		Liabilities			Liabilities
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	1,692		$	282
	Additions for tax positions related to the current year		140			1,290
	Additions for tax positions related to the prior year		499			161
	Deletion for tax positions related to the prior year		(373	)		(41	)
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	1,958		$	1,692

Major_Customers_and_Export_Sal1

Major Customers and Export Sales (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Summary of Worldwide Export Sales	Worldwide export sales for 2014, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:
		2014		2013		2012
	Mexico	$	14,601	$	15,661	$	17,980
	South & Central America		16,585		15,491		16,374
	Europe		13,249		12,942		9,744
	Asia		7,683		8,129		7,308
	Africa		9,310		8,322		7,229
	Australia		4,202		2,692		4,444
	Canada		4,910		3,976		4,320
	Middle East		3,166		2,500		2,495
	Other		—		59		15
		$	73,706	$	69,772	$	69,909

Product_Acquisitions_Tables

Product Acquisitions (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Intangible Assets Recognized in Connection with Product Acquisitions	The following schedule represents intangible assets recognized in connection with product acquisitions (See description of Business, Basis of Consolidation and Significant Accounting Policies for the Company’s accounting policy regarding intangible assets):
		Amount
	Intangible assets at December 31, 2011	$	116,189
	Acquisitions during fiscal 2012		3,473
	Impact of movement in exchange rates		(118	)
	Amortization expense		(6,023	)
	Intangible assets at December 31, 2012	$	113,521
	Impact of movement in exchange rates		(162	)
	Amortization expense		(6,352	)
	Intangible assets at December 31, 2013	$	107,007
	Write off during fiscal 2014		(319	)
	Impact of movement in exchange rates		(86	)
	Amortization expense		(6,391	)
	Intangible assets at December 31, 2014	$	100,211
Schedule of Gross Carrying Amount and Accumulated Amortization of Intangible Assets	The following schedule represents the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of the intangible assets. Product rights are amortized over their expected useful lives of 25 years. Customer lists are amortized over their expected useful lives of ten years, and trademarks are amortized over their expected useful lives of 25 years.
		2014							2013
	$000’s	Gross			Accumulated		Net Book		Gross		Accumulated		Net Book
					Amortization		Value				Amortization		Value
	Product Rights	$	138,466		$	49,733	$	88,733	$	139,094	$	44,254	$	94,840
	Customer Lists		1,091			437		654		1,091		328		763
	Trademarks		12,941			2,117		10,824		12,941		1,537		11,404
	Total Intangibles	$	152,498		$	52,287	$	100,211	$	153,126	$	46,119	$	107,007
Schedule of Future Amortization Charges Related to Intangible Assets	The following schedule represents future amortization charges related to intangible assets:
	Year ending December 31,
	2015	$	6,371
	2016		6,371
	2017		6,371
	2018		6,371
	2019		6,371
	Thereafter		68,356
		$	100,211
Schedule of Company's Obligations under Product Acquisitions and Licensing Agreements	The following schedule represents the Company’s obligations under product acquisitions and licensing agreements:
		Amount
	Obligations under acquisition agreements at December 31, 2011	$	17,624
	Additional obligations acquired		1,073
	Adjustment to deferred liabilities		(216	)
	FX impact		48
	Amortization of discounted liabilities		818
	Payments on existing obligations		(7,447	)
	Obligations under acquisition agreements at December 31, 2012	$	11,900
	Adjustment to deferred liabilities		(297	)
	FX impact		(1	)
	Amortization of discounted liabilities		174
	Payments on existing obligations		(7,890	)
	Obligations under acquisition agreements at December 31, 2013	$	3,886
	Adjustment to deferred liabilities		(32	)
	Amortization of discounted liabilities		324
	Payments on existing obligations		(1,686	)
	Obligations under acquisition agreements at December 31, 2014	$	2,492

Commitments_Tables

Commitments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Future Minimum Lease Payments Under the Terms of the Leases	Future minimum lease payments under the terms of the leases are as follows:
	Year ending December 31,
	2015	$	868
	2016		433
	2017		135
	2018		135
	2019		135
	Thereafter		1,035
		$	2,741

Stock_Options_Tables

Stock Options (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Summary of Option Activity	Option activity within each plan is as follows:
		Incentive			Weighted Average		Exercisable
		Stock Option			Price Per Share		Weighted
		Plans					Average
							Price
							Per Share
	Balance outstanding, December 31, 2011		1,388,514		$	7.44	$	7.26
	Options exercised, range from $3.67-$14.99		(659,733	)		7.05
	Options expired		(23,436	)		10.41
	Balance outstanding, December 31, 2012		705,345		$	7.7	$	7.95
	Options exercised, $7.50		(126,149	)		7.5
	Options expired		(18,167	)		7.5
	Balance outstanding, December 31, 2013		561,029		$	7.76	$	7.7
	Options granted, $11.49		277,025			11.49
	Options exercised, $7.50		(113,150	)		7.5
	Balance outstanding, December 31, 2014		724,904		$	9.22	$	7.82
Summary of Stock Options Summarized by Exercise Price	Information relating to stock options at December 31, 2014 summarized by exercise price is as follows:
		Outstanding Weighted Average							Exercisable Weighted
									Average
	Exercise Price Per Share	Shares			Remaining		Exercise		Shares		Exercise
					Life		Price				Price
					(Months)
	Incentive Stock Option Plan:
	$7.50		421,200			71	$	7.5		421,200	$	7.5
	$11.32-$14.75		303,704			115	$	11.61		26,679	$	12.9
			724,904				$	9.22		447,879	$	7.82
Weighted Average Exercise Prices for Options Granted and Exercisable and Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life for Options Outstanding	The weighted average exercise prices for options granted and exercisable and the weighted average remaining contractual life for options outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and 2014 was as follows:
		Number			Weighted		Weighted		Intrinsic
		of			Average		Average		Value
		Shares			Exercise		Remaining		(thousands)
					Price		Contractual
							Life
							(Months)
	As of December 31, 2013:
	Incentive Stock Option Plans:
	Outstanding		561,029		$	7.76		83	$	9,276
	Expected to Vest		560,972		$	7.76		83	$	9,275
	Exercisable		554,362		$	7.7		83	$	9,196
	As of December 31, 2014:
	Incentive Stock Option Plans:
	Outstanding		724,904		$	9.22		90	$	1,774
	Expected to Vest		713,172		$	9.19		89	$	1,773
	Exercisable		447,879		$	7.82		71	$	1,738
Summary of Non-Vested Shares	A status summary of non-vested shares as of December 31, 2014, is presented below:
		Number			Weighted
		of			Average
		Shares			Grant-Date
					Fair Value
	Nonvested shares at January 1, 2014		376,702		$	24.85
	Granted		240,724		$	14.81
	Vested		(35,812	)	$	14.74
	Forfeited		(20,772	)	$	17.91
	Nonvested shares at December 31, 2014		560,842		$	21.44
Performance Shares
Summary of Non-Vested Shares	A status summary of non-vested shares as of December 31, 2014, is presented below:
		Number			Weighted
		of			Average
		Shares			Grant-Date
					Fair Value
	Nonvested shares at January 1, 2014		24,637		$	28.43
	Granted		79,270		$	14.51
	Nonvested shares at December 31, 2014		103,907		$	17.81
Performance Based Options
Summary of Option Activity	Performance option activity is as follows:
		Incentive			Weighted Average		Exercisable
		Stock Option			Price Per Share		Weighted
		Plans					Average
							Price
							Per Share
	Balance outstanding, December 31, 2013		—		$	—	$	—
	Options granted, $11.49		107,689			11.49
	Balance outstanding, December 31, 2014		107,689		$	11.49	$	—
Summary of Stock Options Summarized by Exercise Price	Information relating to performance stock options at December 31, 2014 summarized by exercise price is as follows:
		Outstanding Weighted Average							Exercisable Weighted
									Average
	Exercise Price Per Share	Shares			Remaining		Exercise		Shares		Exercise
					Life		Price				Price
					(Months)
	Performance Incentive Stock Option Plan:
	$11.49		107,689			36	$	11.49		—	$	—
			107,689				$	11.49		—	$	—
Weighted Average Exercise Prices for Options Granted and Exercisable and Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life for Options Outstanding	The weighted average exercise prices for performance options granted and exercisable and the weighted average remaining contractual life for performance options outstanding as of December 31, 2014 was as follows:
		Number			Weighted		Weighted		Intrinsic
		of			Average		Average		Value
		Shares			Exercise		Remaining		(thousands)
					Price		Contractual
							Life
							(Months)
	As of December 31, 2014:
	Performance Incentive Stock Option Plans:
	Outstanding		107,689		$	11.49		36	$	14
	Expected to Vest		107,689		$	11.49		36	$	14
	Exercisable		—		$	—		—	$	—

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Beginning Balance, Annual Activity and Ending Balance of each Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	The following table lists the beginning balance, annual activity and ending balance of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income:
		Interest			FX			Total
		Rate			Translation
		Swap
	Balance, December 31, 2011	$	(886	)	$	(1,364	)	$	(2,250	)
	Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications		(472	)		330			(142	)
	Amounts reclassified from AOCI		721			—			721
	Tax effect		(91	)		—			(91	)
	Balance, December 31, 2012	$	(728	)	$	(1,034	)	$	(1,762	)
	Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications		(75	)		326			251
	Amounts reclassified from AOCI		712			—			712
	Tax effect		(249	)		—			(249	)
	Balance, December 31, 2013	$	(340	)	$	(708	)	$	(1,048	)
	Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications		(30	)		(1,262	)		(1,292	)
	Amounts reclassified from AOCI		594			—			594
	Tax effect		(224	)		—			(224	)
	Balance, December 31, 2014	$	—		$	(1,970	)	$	(1,970	)

Quarterly_DataUnaudited_Tables

Quarterly Data-Unaudited (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Quarterly Data
		March 31		June 30		September 30		December 31
	Quarterly Data—2014
	Net sales	$	81,095	$	68,313	$	71,635	$	77,591
	Gross profit		28,905		26,060		28,293		31,238
	Net income attributable to American Vanguard		2,159		145		732		1,805
	Basic net income per share		0.08		0.01		0.03		0.06
	Diluted net income per share		0.07		0.01		0.03		0.06
	Quarterly Data—2013
	Net sales	$	121,537	$	86,761	$	97,201	$	75,522
	Gross profit		53,781		42,066		43,159		32,341
	Net income attributable to American Vanguard		16,915		8,386		8,870		278
	Basic net income per share		0.6		0.29		0.32		0.01
	Diluted net income per share		0.59		0.29		0.3		0.01

Valuation_and_Qualifying_Accou1

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Detail) (Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Balance at Beginning of Period	$392	$623	$340
Additions Charged to Costs and Expenses	75
Charge to Other		-231	283
Deductions	-301
Balance at End of Period	$166	$392	$623

Summary_of_Business_Sales_Segm

Summary of Business Sales Segmentation as per Product (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Net Sales:
Total crop									$267,710	$346,514	$329,540
Non-crop									30,924	34,507	36,650
Net sales	77,591	71,635	68,313	81,095	75,522	97,201	86,761	121,537	298,634	381,021	366,190
Gross profit	31,238	28,293	26,060	28,905	32,341	43,159	42,066	53,781	114,496	171,347	161,125
Crop
Net Sales:
Gross profit									101,633	155,275	142,019
Non-crop
Net Sales:
Gross profit									12,863	16,072	19,106
Insecticides
Net Sales:
Total crop									135,705	193,623	194,060
Herbicides/Soil Fumigants/Fungicides
Net Sales:
Total crop									101,785	121,042	89,899
Other, Including Plant Growth Regulators
Net Sales:
Total crop									$30,220	$31,849	$45,581

Summary_of_Operating_Expense_D

Summary of Operating Expense (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Components of Other Income (Expense) [Line Items]
Selling	$31,593	$32,929	$25,869
General and administrative	27,057	33,536	29,715
Research, product development and regulatory	21,206	21,644	20,750
Freight, delivery and warehousing	27,930	27,503	25,468
Operating expenses	$107,786	$115,612	$101,802

Description_of_Business_Basis_3

Description of Business, Basis of Consolidation and Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)

1 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Jul. 31, 2014

Jul. 31, 2014

Feb. 28, 2014

Feb. 28, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

TyraTech Inc.

TyraTech Inc.

TyraTech Inc.

TyraTech Inc.

Restricted Stock

Restricted Stock

Restricted Stock

Performance Shares

Stock Options

Stock Options

Stock Options

Building

Building

Machinery and equipment

Machinery and equipment

Office furniture, fixtures and equipment

Office furniture, fixtures and equipment

Automotive equipment

Automotive equipment

Construction in progress

Construction in progress

asset_group

USD ($)

GBP (£)

USD ($)

GBP (£)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

Minimum

Maximum

Minimum

Maximum

Minimum

Maximum

Minimum

Maximum

Minimum

Maximum

Derivative

Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Advertising expense

$4,322,000

$4,011,000

$2,680,000

Inventory reserve allowance

3,882,000

2,602,000

Property, Plant and Equipment Useful Life

10 years

30 years

3 years

15 years

3 years

10 years

3 years

6 years

3 years

15 years

Number of Interest rate swap contract outstanding

1

Losses in other comprehensive income expected to be reclassified to earnings

0

564,000

689,000

Number of intangible assets written down

1

Impaired intangible assets, carrying value

0

Intangible assets, impairment loss

319,000

0

0

Shares issued by equity investee

50,000,000

50,000,000

37,391,763

37,391,763

Amount raised by equity investee on shares issued

1,666,000

1,610,000

3,227,000

5,900,000

3,500,000

3,100,000

1,870,000

Gain from dilution of equity method investment

954,000

Warrants exercised amount

500,000

Warrants exercised shares

6,155,000

Ownership position in equity investment

21.18%

Carrying value of equity investment

3,172,000

Quoted market value of equity investment

3,555,000

Anti-dilutive stock options excluded from computation of diluted earning per share

1,616

0

0

Reduction in share based compensation expense

$247,000

$247,000

$88,000

Forfeited percentage of stock

7.30%

20.70%

4.20%

Weighted average grant-date fair values of options in period

$5.27

Option shares granted

0

0

Weighted average grant-date fair values of restricted stock grants

$14.81

$30.91

$21.51

$14.51

Components_of_Inventories_Deta

Components of Inventories (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory [Line Items]
Finished products	$142,853	$126,872
Raw materials	22,778	12,958
Total Inventories	$165,631	$139,830

Summary_of_Effect_of_Derivativ

Summary of Effect of Derivative Instruments on Statements of Operations (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)	($30)	($75)
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)	-594	-712
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative (Ineffective Portion)	-3	-1
Designated as Hedging | Cash Flow Hedging | Interest Rate Contracts
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)	-30	-75
Designated as Hedging | Cash Flow Hedging | Interest Rate Contracts | Interest Expense
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)	-594	-712
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative (Ineffective Portion)	($3)	($1)

Cash_Flow_Hedge_Related_to_Var

Cash Flow Hedge Related to Variable Debt Instrument and Outstanding Foreign Currency Derivatives to Hedge Foreign Currency Balances Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis, and Balances (Detail) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring, Cash Flow Hedging, Level 2, USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Cash Flow Hedging | Level 2
Liability:
Interest rate derivative financial instruments	$564	[1]
[1]	Includes accrued interest expense.

Components_of_Basic_and_Dilute

Components of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Numerator:
Net income attributable to American Vanguard	$1,805	$732	$145	$2,159	$278	$8,870	$8,386	$16,915	$4,841	$34,449	$36,867
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding-basic									28,436	28,301	27,914
Dilutive effect of stock options and grants									476	598	842
Weighted average shares outstanding-assuming dilution									28,912	28,899	28,756

Unamortized_Stock_Based_Compen

Unamortized Stock Based Compensation Expenses (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Stock Options
Unrecognized Share Based Compensation Expense [Line Items]
Unamortized Stock-Based Compensation Expenses	$1,457	$21
Remaining Weighted Average Period (yrs)	3 years	6 months
Performance Based Options
Unrecognized Share Based Compensation Expense [Line Items]
Unamortized Stock-Based Compensation Expenses	551
Remaining Weighted Average Period (yrs)	3 years
Restricted Stock
Unrecognized Share Based Compensation Expense [Line Items]
Unamortized Stock-Based Compensation Expenses	4,829	5,550
Remaining Weighted Average Period (yrs)	1 year 9 months 18 days	1 year 10 months 24 days
Performance Shares
Unrecognized Share Based Compensation Expense [Line Items]
Remaining Weighted Average Period (yrs)	2 years 1 month 6 days	2 years 4 months 24 days
Performance Based Restricted Stock
Unrecognized Share Based Compensation Expense [Line Items]
Unamortized Stock-Based Compensation Expenses	$1,249	$564

Summary_of_Value_Option_Grants

Summary of Value Option Grants Using Weighted Average Assumptions (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Risk free interest rate	2.00%
Dividend yield	0.90%
Volatility factor	48.90%
Weighted average life (years)	6 years 6 months

Summary_of_Property_Plant_and_

Summary of Property, Plant and Equipment (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, Gross	133,241	$131,419
Less accumulated depreciation	-83,215	-78,951
Total Property, plant and equipment	50,026	52,468
Land
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, Gross	2,458	2,458
Buildings and improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, Gross	14,380	14,167
Buildings and improvements | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment Useful Life	10 years
Buildings and improvements | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment Useful Life	30 years
Machinery and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, Gross	107,899	94,184
Machinery and equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment Useful Life	3 years
Machinery and equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment Useful Life	15 years
Office furniture, fixtures and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, Gross	4,698	9,717
Office furniture, fixtures and equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment Useful Life	3 years
Office furniture, fixtures and equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment Useful Life	10 years
Automotive equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, Gross	374	278
Automotive equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment Useful Life	3 years
Automotive equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment Useful Life	6 years
Construction in progress
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, Gross	3,432	$10,615
Construction in progress | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment Useful Life	3 years
Construction in progress | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment Useful Life	15 years

Summary_of_Long_Term_Debt_Deta

Summary of Long Term Debt (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	$99,526		$51,745
Less current installments	-71		-69
Long term debt, non current	99,455		51,676
Revolving line of credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	99,400	[1]	51,550	[1]
Long term debt, non current	99,400		51,550
Notes payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	126		195
Less current installments	-71		-69
Long term debt, non current	$55		$126
[1]	On July 11, 2014, AMVAC Chemical Corporation ("AMVAC"), our principal operating subsidiary, as borrower, and affiliates (including the Company), as guarantors and/or borrowers, entered into a First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the "First Amendment") with a group of commercial lenders led by Bank of the West (AMVAC's primary bank) as agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer. The First Amendment amends the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement ("2013 Credit Agreement") dated as of June 17, 2013. Under the terms of the First Amendment, the Consolidated Funded Debt Ratio was increased for the third and fourth quarters of 2014 and the first quarter of 2015, and, further, borrowers are permitted to pay cash dividends to shareholders during the first and second quarters of 2015, notwithstanding prior levels of net income. The 2013 Credit Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment (the "Credit Agreement") is a senior secured lending facility with a five year term and consisting of a revolving line of credit of $200 million and an accordion feature for up to $100 million. The Credit Agreement includes both AMVAC CV and AMVAC BV as borrowers. Under the Credit Agreement, revolving loans bear interest at a variable rate based, at borrower's election with proper notice, on either (i) LIBOR plus the "Applicable Rate" which is based upon the Consolidated Funded Debt Ratio ("Eurocurrency Rate Loan") or (ii) the greater of (x) the Prime Rate, (y) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5%, and (z) the Daily One-Month LIBOR Rate plus 1.00%, plus, in the case of (x), (y) or (z) the Applicable Rate ("Alternate Base Rate Loan"). Interest payments for Eurocurrency Rate Loans are payable on the last day of each interest period (either one, two, three or six months, as selected by the borrower) and the maturity date, while interest payments for Alternate Base Rate Loans are payable on the last business day of each month and the maturity date. The senior secured revolving line of credit matures on June 17, 2018.

Principal_Payments_on_LongTerm

Principal Payments on Long-Term Debt (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
2015	$71
2016	55
2017	0
2018	99,400
Total indebtedness	$99,526	$51,745

Summary_of_Long_Term_Debt_Pare

Summary of Long Term Debt (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior secured credit facility term	5 years
Senior secured credit facility, maturity date	17-Jun-18
Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior secured credit facility	200
Maximum | Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Accordion feature	100

LongTerm_Debt_Additional_Infor

Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate for interest rate swap contract		3.39%	3.39%
Interest rate swap, start date	30-Mar-11
Interest rate swap, expiration date	31-Dec-14
Total indebtedness	$99,526	$51,745
Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Capacity to increase borrowings under credit agreement	26,143
Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Average line of credit facility outstanding		23,318	50,957
Weighted average interest rate		3.80%	3.70%
Secured Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Average line of credit facility outstanding	$94,899	$29,284
Weighted average interest rate	2.50%	3.10%

Amount_of_Outstanding_Debt_and

Amount of Outstanding Debt and Notional Amount on Interest Rate Swap Contract (Detail) (Interest Rate Swap, USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Interest Rate Swap
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Outstanding Variable Rate Debt	$99,400	$51,550	$46,000
Notional Amount on Interest Rate Swap		$36,750	$44,250

Summary_Revolving_Line_of_Cred

Summary Revolving Line of Credit And Various Notes Payable Constitute Short-Term and Long-Term Loan Balances Together (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Long Term debt	$99,455		$51,676
Short-term	71		69
Total indebtedness	99,526		51,745
Revolving line of credit
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Long Term debt	99,400		51,550
Total indebtedness	99,400	[1]	51,550	[1]
Notes payable
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Long Term debt	55		126
Short-term	71		69
Total indebtedness	$126		$195
[1]	On July 11, 2014, AMVAC Chemical Corporation ("AMVAC"), our principal operating subsidiary, as borrower, and affiliates (including the Company), as guarantors and/or borrowers, entered into a First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the "First Amendment") with a group of commercial lenders led by Bank of the West (AMVAC's primary bank) as agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer. The First Amendment amends the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement ("2013 Credit Agreement") dated as of June 17, 2013. Under the terms of the First Amendment, the Consolidated Funded Debt Ratio was increased for the third and fourth quarters of 2014 and the first quarter of 2015, and, further, borrowers are permitted to pay cash dividends to shareholders during the first and second quarters of 2015, notwithstanding prior levels of net income. The 2013 Credit Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment (the "Credit Agreement") is a senior secured lending facility with a five year term and consisting of a revolving line of credit of $200 million and an accordion feature for up to $100 million. The Credit Agreement includes both AMVAC CV and AMVAC BV as borrowers. Under the Credit Agreement, revolving loans bear interest at a variable rate based, at borrower's election with proper notice, on either (i) LIBOR plus the "Applicable Rate" which is based upon the Consolidated Funded Debt Ratio ("Eurocurrency Rate Loan") or (ii) the greater of (x) the Prime Rate, (y) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5%, and (z) the Daily One-Month LIBOR Rate plus 1.00%, plus, in the case of (x), (y) or (z) the Applicable Rate ("Alternate Base Rate Loan"). Interest payments for Eurocurrency Rate Loans are payable on the last day of each interest period (either one, two, three or six months, as selected by the borrower) and the maturity date, while interest payments for Alternate Base Rate Loans are payable on the last business day of each month and the maturity date. The senior secured revolving line of credit matures on June 17, 2018.

Components_of_Income_Tax_Benef

Components of Income Tax (Benefit) Expense (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current:
Federal	($4,256)	$12,285	$17,448
State	251	3,007	2,528
Foreign	934	1,101	1,027
Deferred:
Federal	3,492	2,213	-590
State	-872	310	-387
Total income tax expense (benefit)	($451)	$18,916	$20,026

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Federal Income Tax Rate	35.00%
Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits accrued	$215
Undistributed foreign earnings reinvested	$23,803	$16,202
State and Local Jurisdiction | Minimum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income Tax Examination Period	2010
State and Local Jurisdiction | Maximum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income Tax Examination Period	2013
Federal | Minimum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income Tax Examination Period	2011
Federal | Maximum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income Tax Examination Period	2013

Total_Income_Tax_Expense_Apply

Total Income Tax Expense Applying U.S. Federal Income Tax Rate (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Components Of Income Tax Expense Benefit [Line Items]
Computed tax expense at statutory federal rates	$1,536	$18,678	$19,911
Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:
State taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	-11	1,983	1,947
Domestic production deduction	420	-1,142	-1,661
Income tax credits	-728	-724	-395
Foreign tax rate differential	-2,159	-1,459	-195
Subpart F income	338		87
Other expenses	153	1,580	332
Total income tax expense (benefit)	($451)	$18,916	$20,026

Components_of_Income_Loss_befo

Components of Income (Loss) before Provision Benefit (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Income Before Income Tax [Line Items]
Domestic	($5,196)	$46,520	$53,361
Foreign	8,840	7,314	3,491
Income (loss) before income taxes total	$3,644	$53,834	$56,852

Temporary_Differences_in_Finan

Temporary Differences in Financial Statement Carrying Amounts and Tax Bases of Assets and Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Deferred Tax Assets And Liabilities [Line Items]
Inventories	$5,558	$4,398
State income taxes	-633	-331
Vacation pay accrual	776	648
Accrued bonuses	95	1,791
Bad debt	45	169
Prepaid expenses	-1,314	-1,929
Stock compensation	2,446	1,281
Other	1,758	494
Net deferred tax asset	8,731	6,521
Plant and equipment, principally due to differences in depreciation and capitalized interest	-28,365	-25,662
NOL Carryforward	361
Tax credit	319	14
Fair value adjustment		207
Other	-474	2,111
Net deferred tax liability	-28,159	-23,330
Total net deferred tax liability	($19,428)	($16,809)

Gross_Unrecognized_Tax_Liabili

Gross Unrecognized Tax Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$1,692	$282
Additions for tax positions related to the current year	140	1,290
Additions for tax positions related to the prior year	499	161
Deletion for tax positions related to the prior year	-373	-41
Ending Balance	$1,958	$1,692

Litigation_and_Environmental_A

Litigation and Environmental - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Nov. 20, 2014	Sep. 19, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 1997
		Claimant		Case	Plaintiff
					Country
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of Claimants Involved in Case		14
Number of Claimants Not Involved in Case		8
Potential value of fine against AMVAC			$200
Legal settlements	168
Delaware
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of cases filed				2
Hendler Law Firm
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of dismissed complaints			22
Former Banana Workers
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of claimants					10
Number Of Countries					4
Former Banana Workers | Louisiana And Delaware
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of pending claims			2
Former Banana Workers | Delaware
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of dismissed complaints			2
Number of claimants			2,700
Former Banana Workers | Domestic Lawsuits
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of lawsuits			4
Former Banana Workers | Nicaraguan Lawsuits
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of lawsuits			85
Former Banana Workers | Nicaraguan
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of claimants			3,592
Former Banana Workers | Nicaraguan | Public Law
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of Lawsuits Filed			85
Former Banana Workers | Nicaraguan | Special Law
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of Lawsuits Filed			2
Former Banana Workers | Nicaraguan | Compensatory Damages
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Value of claims paid			1,000
Former Banana Workers | Nicaraguan | Punitive Damages
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Value of claims paid			$5,000

Employee_Deferred_Compensation1

Employee Deferred Compensation Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2001	Jun. 30, 2011
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]
Percentage contribution, compensation	100.00%
Matching percentage, employee contribution	5.00%
Company's contributions amount	$1,445	$1,330	$982
Common stock under employee stock purchase plan, par value	$0.10	$0.10
Shares of common stock purchased through the plan	47,213	27,923	40,116
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]
Number of common stock shares under employee stock purchase plan				1,000,000
Common stock under employee stock purchase plan, par value				$0.10
Employee stock purchase plan offering period	January 1 and July 1 of each year
Commons stock plan available for sale under plan					995,000
Available common stock under plan	854,007	901,220

Major_Customers_and_Export_Sal2

Major Customers and Export Sales - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Customer One
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage of customer receivables	21.00%	14.00%	20.00%
Customer Two
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage of customer receivables	12.00%	10.00%	11.00%
Customer Three
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage of customer receivables	10.00%	8.00%	7.00%
Customer Concentration Risk | Sales | Customer One
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage to company consolidated sales	20.00%	17.00%	19.00%
Customer Concentration Risk | Sales | Customer Two
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage to company consolidated sales	11.00%	13.00%	10.00%
Customer Concentration Risk | Sales | Customer Three
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage to company consolidated sales	8.00%	8.00%	8.00%

Summary_of_Worldwide_Export_Sa

Summary of Worldwide Export Sales (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Worldwide Export Sales	$73,706	$69,772	$69,909
Mexico
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Worldwide Export Sales	14,601	15,661	17,980
Central & South America
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Worldwide Export Sales	16,585	15,491	16,374
Europe
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Worldwide Export Sales	13,249	12,942	9,744
Asia
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Worldwide Export Sales	7,683	8,129	7,308
Africa
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Worldwide Export Sales	9,310	8,322	7,229
Australia
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Worldwide Export Sales	4,202	2,692	4,444
Canada
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Worldwide Export Sales	4,910	3,976	4,320
Middle East
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Worldwide Export Sales	3,166	2,500	2,495
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Worldwide Export Sales		$59	$15

Royalties_Additional_Informati

Royalties - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Other Income Expense [Line Items]
Royalty expense	$33	$116	$38

Schedule_of_Intangible_Assets_

Schedule of Intangible Assets Recognized in Connection with Product Acquisitions (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$107,007	$113,521	$116,189
Write off during fiscal 2014	-319
Acquisitions during fiscal year			3,473
Impact of movement in exchange rates	-86	-162	-118
Amortization expense	-6,391	-6,352	-6,023
Ending Balance	$100,211	$107,007	$113,521

Product_Acquisitions_Additiona

Product Acquisitions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair value reduction	$32	$297	$216
Product acquisition and licensing agreements obligation, Other Liability	2,492
Costs and Expenses
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair value reduction	32	297	216
Cost of Sales
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair value reduction			$0
Product Rights
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Expected useful life	25 years
Customer Lists
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Expected useful life	10 years
Trademarks
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Expected useful life	25 years

Schedule_of_Gross_Carrying_Amo

Schedule of Gross Carrying Amount and Accumulated Amortization of Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets And Liabilities [Line Items]
Gross	$152,498	$153,126
Accumulated Amortization	52,287	46,119
Net Book Value	100,211	107,007
Product Rights
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets And Liabilities [Line Items]
Gross	138,466	139,094
Accumulated Amortization	49,733	44,254
Net Book Value	88,733	94,840
Customer Lists
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets And Liabilities [Line Items]
Gross	1,091	1,091
Accumulated Amortization	437	328
Net Book Value	654	763
Trademarks
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets And Liabilities [Line Items]
Gross	12,941	12,941
Accumulated Amortization	2,117	1,537
Net Book Value	$10,824	$11,404

Schedule_of_Future_Amortizatio

Schedule of Future Amortization Charges Related to Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Finite Lived Intangible Assets And Liabilities Future Amortization Expense [Line Items]
2015	$6,371
2016	6,371
2017	6,371
2018	6,371
2019	6,371
Thereafter	68,356
Net Book Value	$100,211	$107,007

Schedule_of_Companys_Obligatio

Schedule of Company's Obligations Under Product Acquisitions and Licensing Agreements (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$3,886	$11,900	$17,624
Additional obligations acquired			1,073
Adjustment to deferred liabilities	-32	-297	-216
FX impact		-1	48
Amortization of discounted liabilities	324	174	818
Payments on existing obligations	-1,686	-7,890	-7,447
Ending Balance	$2,492	$3,886	$11,900

Commitments_Additional_Informa

Commitments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule Of Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Rent Expense	$1,012	$939	$727
Hannibal, Missouri
Schedule Of Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Long Term Ground Leases Expiration Period		20 years	20 years
Marsing
Schedule Of Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Long Term Ground Leases Expiration Period		25 years	25 years
Minimum | Axis, Alabama
Schedule Of Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Long Term Ground Leases Expiration Period	20 years
Maximum | Axis, Alabama
Schedule Of Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Long Term Ground Leases Expiration Period	35 years

Future_Minimum_Lease_Payments_

Future Minimum Lease Payments Under Term Of Leases (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
2015	$868
2016	433
2017	135
2018	135
2019	135
Thereafter	1,035
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Total	$2,741

Research_and_Development_Addit

Research and Development - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule Of Research And Development [Line Items]
Research and development expenses	$21,206	$21,644	$20,750
Costs and Expenses
Schedule Of Research And Development [Line Items]
Research and development expenses	$8,591	$8,604	$7,648

Stock_Options_Additional_Infor

Stock Options - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Potential number of common stock issued under company's ISOP	47,213	27,923	40,116
Incentive Stock Option Plans, Options granted	277,025
Number of shares received upon exercise of stock options		49,638
Value of shares received upon exercise of stock options		$1,651
Performance Based Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Incentive Stock Option Plans, Options granted	107,689
Number of option shares vest on anniversary of grant date	107,689
Number of Shares, Granted	107,689
Targeted performance percentage	200.00%
Performance based stock options based upon financial performance of earnings before interest and tax ("EBIT") and net sales goal for the period commencing January 1, 2015 and ending December 31, 2017 | Performance Based Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage of shares vesting based on Performance	80.00%
Earnings before income tax goal weight, percentage	50.00%
Net sales goal weight, percentage	30.00%
Performance based stock options based upon AVD stock price appreciation over the course of the period commencing January 1, 2015 and ending December 31, 2017 | Performance Based Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage of shares vesting based on Performance	20.00%
Incentive Stock Option Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Potential number of common stock issued under company's ISOP	4,296,000
Option Exercisable Maximum Period	10 years
Option Exercise Price as Percentage of Fair Value of Common Stock	10.00%
Option exercise price as percentage of fair value of common stock	110.00%
Total intrinsic value of options exercised	1,480	2,365	15,910
Cash received from stock option exercised	849	946	2,996
Incentive Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Incentive Stock Option Plans, Options granted	277,025	0	0
Incentive Stock Options | First Anniversary
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of option shares vest on anniversary of grant date	26,483
Incentive Stock Options | Second Anniversary
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of option shares vest on anniversary of grant date	26,483
Incentive Stock Options | Third Anniversary
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of option shares vest on anniversary of grant date	26,483
Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value, Granted	14.81	$30.91	21.51
Number of forfeited common stock that is granted	20,772
Number of Shares, Granted	240,724
Nonvested unamortized stock-based compensation expense, contractual term	1 year 9 months 18 days	1 year 10 months 24 days
Restricted Stock | Common Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of common and restricted stock issued to employees and non-executive board members	240,724	162,336	248,536
Stock option granted vesting period	3 years	3 years	3 years
The total fair value recognized over the related service periods	3,566	5,018	5,346
Number of forfeited common stock that is granted	20,772	11,999	1,367
Restricted Stock | Minimum | Common Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value, Granted	13.84	$23.43	13.34
Restricted Stock | Maximum | Common Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value, Granted	14.92	$31.83	34.04
Performance Shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value, Granted	14.51
Number of Shares, Granted	79,270	24,637
Cliff vesting date	23-May-17
Targeted performance percentage	200.00%	200.00%
Number of years of service before vesting		3 years
Stock-based compensation expense	168	90
Unamortized stock-based compensation expense	1,249	$564
Nonvested unamortized stock-based compensation expense, contractual term	2 years 1 month 6 days	2 years 4 months 24 days
Performance Shares | Performance based shares based upon net income and net sales for the period commencing April 1, 2013 and ending December 31, 2015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value, Granted	30.13
Percentage of shares vesting based on Performance		80.00%
Performance Shares | Performance based shares based upon AVD stock price appreciation over the course of the period commencing June 6, 2013 and ending on December 31, 2015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value, Granted	15.31
Percentage of shares vesting based on Performance		20.00%
Performance Shares | Performance based shares based upon financial performance of earnings before interest and tax ("EBIT") and net sales goal for the period commencing April 1, 2014 and ending December 31, 2016
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value, Granted	14.92
Percentage of shares vesting based on Performance	80.00%
Earnings before income tax goal weight, percentage	50.00%
Net sales goal weight, percentage	30.00%
Performance Shares | Performance based shares based upon AVD stock price appreciation over the course of the period commencing April 1, 2014 and ending December 31, 2016
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value, Granted	12.85
Percentage of shares vesting based on Performance	20.00%

Summary_of_Option_Activity_Det

Summary of Option Activity (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Incentive Stock Option Plans, Beginning balance	561,029	705,345	1,388,514
Incentive Stock Option Plans, Option granted	277,025
Incentive Stock Option Plans, Option exercised	-113,150	-126,149	-659,733
Incentive Stock Option Plans, Option expired or forfeited		-18,167	-23,436
Incentive Stock Option Plans, Ending balance	724,904	561,029	705,345
Weighted Average Price Per Share, Beginning balance	$7.76	$7.70	$7.44
Weighted Average Price Per Share, Option granted	$11.49
Weighted Average Price Per Share, Option exercised	$7.50	$7.50	$7.05
Weighted Average Price Per Share, Option expired or forfeited		$7.50	$10.41
Weighted Average Price Per Share, Ending balance	$9.22	$7.76	$7.70
Exercisable Weighted Average Price Per Share, Beginning balance	$7.70	$7.95	$7.26
Exercisable Weighted Average Price Per Share, Ending balance	$7.82	$7.70	$7.95
Performance Based Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Incentive Stock Option Plans, Option granted	107,689
Incentive Stock Option Plans, Ending balance	107,689
Weighted Average Price Per Share, Option granted	$11.49
Weighted Average Price Per Share, Ending balance	$11.49

Summary_of_Option_Activity_Par

Summary of Option Activity (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted Average Price Per Share, Option granted,	$11.49
Weighted Average Price Per Share, Option exercised	$7.50	$7.50	$7.05
Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options exercised, Lower Range			$3.67
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options exercised, Upper Range			$14.99

Summary_of_Stock_Options_Summa

Summary of Stock Options Summarized by Exercise Price (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Outstanding Weighted Average, Exercise Price	$9.22	$7.76	$7.70	$7.44
Exercisable Weighted Average, Exercise Price	$7.82	$7.70	$7.95	$7.26
Incentive Stock Option Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Outstanding Weighted Average, Shares	724,904
Outstanding Weighted Average, Remaining Life (Months)	90 months	83 months
Outstanding Weighted Average, Exercise Price	$9.22	$7.76
Exercisable Weighted Average, Shares	447,879	554,362
Exercisable Weighted Average, Exercise Price	$7.82	$7.70
Incentive Stock Option Plan | Range One
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options exercised, Lower Range	$7.50
Outstanding Weighted Average, Shares	421,200
Outstanding Weighted Average, Remaining Life (Months)	71 months
Outstanding Weighted Average, Exercise Price	$7.50
Exercisable Weighted Average, Shares	421,200
Exercisable Weighted Average, Exercise Price	$7.50
Incentive Stock Option Plan | Range Two
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options exercised, Lower Range	$11.32
Options exercised, Upper Range	$14.75
Outstanding Weighted Average, Shares	303,704
Outstanding Weighted Average, Remaining Life (Months)	115 months
Outstanding Weighted Average, Exercise Price	$11.61
Exercisable Weighted Average, Shares	26,679
Exercisable Weighted Average, Exercise Price	$12.90
Performance Based Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Outstanding Weighted Average, Shares	107,689
Outstanding Weighted Average, Remaining Life (Months)	36 months
Outstanding Weighted Average, Exercise Price	$11.49
Performance Based Options | Range Three
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options exercised, Lower Range	$11.49
Outstanding Weighted Average, Shares	107,689
Outstanding Weighted Average, Remaining Life (Months)	36 months
Outstanding Weighted Average, Exercise Price	$11.49

Weighted_Average_Exercise_Pric

Weighted Average Exercise Prices for Options Granted and Exercisable and Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life for Options Outstanding (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of Shares, Outstanding	724,904	561,029	705,345	1,388,514
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Outstanding	$9.22	$7.76	$7.70	$7.44
Weighted Average Exercisable, Exercise Price	$7.82	$7.70	$7.95	$7.26
Incentive Stock Option Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of Shares, Outstanding	724,904	561,029
Number of Shares, Expected to Vest	713,172	560,972
Number of Shares, Exercisable	447,879	554,362
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Outstanding	$9.22	$7.76
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Expected to Vest	$9.19	$7.76
Weighted Average Exercisable, Exercise Price	$7.82	$7.70
Weighted Average Remaining Life, Outstanding	90 months	83 months
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life, Expected to Vest	89 months	83 months
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life, Exercisable	71 months	83 months
Intrinsic Value, Outstanding	$1,774	$9,276
Intrinsic Value, Expected to Vest	1,773	9,275
Intrinsic Value, Exercisable	1,738	9,196
Performance Based Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of Shares, Outstanding	107,689
Number of Shares, Expected to Vest	107,689
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Outstanding	$11.49
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Expected to Vest	$11.49
Weighted Average Remaining Life, Outstanding	36 months
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life, Expected to Vest	36 months
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life, Exercisable	0 months
Intrinsic Value, Outstanding	14
Intrinsic Value, Expected to Vest	$14

Summary_of_NonVested_Shares_De

Summary of Non-Vested Shares (Detail) (Restricted Stock, USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of Shares, Beginning balance	376,702
Number of Shares, Granted	240,724
Number of Shares, Vested	-35,812
Number of Shares, Forfeited	-20,772
Number of Shares, Ending Balance	560,842	376,702
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value, Beginning balance	$24.85
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value, Granted	$14.81	$30.91	$21.51
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value, Vested	$14.74
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value, Forfeited	$17.91
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value, Ending balance	$21.44	$24.85

Status_Summary_of_NonVested_Sh

Status Summary of Non-Vested Shares (Detail) (Performance Shares, USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Performance Shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of Shares, Beginning balance	24,637
Number of Shares, Granted	79,270	24,637
Number of Shares, Ending Balance	103,907	24,637
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value, Beginning balance	$28.43
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value, Granted	$14.51
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value, Ending balance	$17.81	$28.43

Beginning_Balance_Annual_Activ

Beginning Balance, Annual Activity and Ending Balance of each Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	($1,048)	($1,762)	($2,250)
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications	-1,292	251	-142
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	594	712	721
Tax effect	-224	-249	-91
Ending Balance	-1,970	-1,048	-1,762
Interest Rate Swap
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	-340	-728	-886
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications	-30	-75	-472
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	594	712	721
Tax effect	-224	-249	-91
Ending Balance		-340	-728
Accumulated Translation Adjustment
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	-708	-1,034	-1,364
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications	-1,262	326	330
Ending Balance	($1,970)	($708)	($1,034)

Equity_Method_Investment_Addit

Equity Method Investment - Additional Information (Detail)	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 25, 2013	Oct. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Feb. 28, 2014	Feb. 28, 2014
	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	TyraTech Inc.	TyraTech Inc.	TyraTech Inc.	TyraTech Inc.
						USD ($)	GBP (£)	USD ($)	GBP (£)
Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity investment	$3,687		$500	$3,687
Shares issued by equity investee						50,000,000	50,000,000	37,391,763	37,391,763
Amount raised by equity investee on shares issued			1,666	1,610	3,227	5,900	3,500	3,100	1,870
Gain on dilution of equity method investment			954
Warrants exercised amount		500
Warrants exercised shares		6,155,000
Equity investment ownership position			21.18%
Loss from equity method investment			-983	-986
Carrying value of equity investment			3,172
Quoted market value of equity investment			$3,555

Schedule_of_Quarterly_Data_Det

Schedule of Quarterly Data (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Net sales	$77,591	$71,635	$68,313	$81,095	$75,522	$97,201	$86,761	$121,537	$298,634	$381,021	$366,190
Gross profit	31,238	28,293	26,060	28,905	32,341	43,159	42,066	53,781	114,496	171,347	161,125
Net income attributable to American Vanguard	$1,805	$732	$145	$2,159	$278	$8,870	$8,386	$16,915	$4,841	$34,449	$36,867
Basic net income per share	$0.06	$0.03	$0.01	$0.08	$0.01	$0.32	$0.29	$0.60	$0.17	$1.22	$1.32
Diluted net income per share	$0.06	$0.03	$0.01	$0.07	$0.01	$0.30	$0.29	$0.59	$0.17	$1.19	$1.28