XML 25 R52.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits - Domestic and Foreign Pension and Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended |  |  | 3 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2014 | Jan. 31, 2014 United States Pension Plan of US Entity, Defined Benefit | Dec. 31, 2013 United States Pension Plan of US Entity, Defined Benefit | Mar. 31, 2014 Pension Benefits | Mar. 31, 2013 Pension Benefits
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Curtailments | $ 800,000 |  |  |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation, Discount Rate |  | 4.97% | 5.14% |  |  |
Actuarial loss |  |  |  | $ 15,432,000 | [1] | $ 0
[1] | In connection with the announced realignment of our operating segments effective January 1, 2014, in the fourth quarter of 2013 we initiated a workforce reduction plan which will result in a reduction of approximately 230 employees worldwide. This workforce reduction triggered a net curtailment gain of approximately $0.8 million in the first quarter of 2014 for one of our U.S. defined benefit plans and our supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP). In connection with the curtailment, we were required to remeasure the related assets and obligations for these plans. As of the January 31, 2014 remeasurement date, the weighted-average discount rate for our domestic pension plans was reduced from 5.14% to 4.97%. Taking into account the discount rate reduction and actual return on plan assets through January 31, 2014, we recorded a mark-to-market actuarial loss (net of the curtailment gain) for the first quarter of 2014 of $15.4 million.

X
- Definition Mark-to-market adjustments for the gain or losses occurring on pension or postretirement plans during the year, and any mark-to-market true-up or other adjustments. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_DefinedBenefitPlanMarkToMarketPensionAndPostretirementAdjustmentstoGainsLosses
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The interest rate used to adjust for the time value of money for the plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (k)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of net gain (loss) recognized in net periodic benefit cost as a result of an event that significantly reduces the expected years of future service of present employees or eliminates for a significant number of employees the accrual of defined benefits for some or all of their future services. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (h)(7) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Plan Curtailment -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6520938 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 30 -Section 15 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7577095&loc=d3e8001-114927 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanRecognizedNetGainLossDueToCurtailments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration