<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000932440-13-000164.txt : 20130703
<SEC-HEADER>0000932440-13-000164.hdr.sgml : 20130703
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130703174303
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000932440-13-000164
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20130701
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130703
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130703

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALBEMARLE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000915913
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PLASTICS, MATERIALS, SYNTH RESINS & NONVULCAN ELASTOMERS [2821]
		IRS NUMBER:				541692118
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		451 FLORIDA STREET
		CITY:			BATON ROUGE
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70801
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2253888011

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		451 FLORIDA STREET
		CITY:			BATON ROUGE
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70801

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ECHEM INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19931208

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Kelliher Susan M.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001568507

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12658
		FILM NUMBER:		13954264

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ALBEMARLE CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		451 FLORIDA STREET
		CITY:			BATON ROUGE
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70801
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-07-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000915913</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALBEMARLE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001568507</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kelliher Susan M.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ALBEMARLE CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>451 FLORIDA STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BATON ROUGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>LA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>70801</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP - Human Resources</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>216</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Albemarle Savings Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>547</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>62.29</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4553</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Portion of share increase due to periodic purchases by Albemarle Savings Plan trustee.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">5,100 restricted shares originally granted on April 20, 2012, to cliff vest on April 20, 2015.  Pursuant to the reporting person's offer letter, the agreement relating to such restricted shares was amended to provide for the vesting of such restricted shares in equal increments on July 1, 2013, April 20, 2014 and April 20, 2015.  1,700 restricted shares vested on July 1, 2013.  547 shares withheld to meet tax liabilities associated with such vested restricted shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jacob B. Wilson, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-07-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
