XML 77 R38.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Earnings Per Share - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended |  | 3 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2013 | Feb. 25, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2014 Common Stock | Feb. 03, 2014 Merrill Lynch Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreement tranche | Mar. 31, 2014 Merrill Lynch Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreement | Feb. 03, 2014 Merrill Lynch Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreement Initial Delivery | Feb. 03, 2014 Merrill Lynch Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreement Fair Market Value | Mar. 31, 2014 Merrill Lynch Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreement Final Settlement
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Increase in dividend rate, percentage |  |  | 15.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash dividend, amount per share (in dollars per share) |  |  | $ 0.275 |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount |  |  |  |  | $ 50,000,000 |  |  |  |
Number of tranches |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |
Authorized amount per tranche purchased |  |  |  |  | 25,000,000 |  |  |  |
Payment for repurchase of common stock | 50,000,000 | 60,798,000 |  |  |  |  | 50,000,000 |  |
Repurchase of common stock shares (in shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 623,248 |  | 157,000
Share price minimum for repurchase agreement transaction (in dollars per share) |  |  |  |  | $ 30 |  |  |  |
Shares repurchased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 40,000,000 |
Forward Purchase Price adjustment amount (in dollars per share) |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0.77 |  |  |
Number of shares authorized to be repurchased (in shares) |  |  |  |  | 1,500,000 |  |  |  |
Shares repurchased (in shares) |  |  |  | 623,248 |  |  |  |  |
Shares available for repurchase (in shares) | 5,316,346 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Dividend rate percentage increase decrease + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_DividendRatePercentageIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | alb_EarningsPerShareDisclosureLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Forward Purchase Contract Adjustment To Fair Value + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_ForwardPurchaseContractAdjustmentToFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of Tranches + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_NumberofTranches
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Repurchase of Common Stock, Shares + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_RepurchaseOfCommonStockShares
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Share Price Minimum for Repurchase Agreement Transaction + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_SharePriceMinimumforRepurchaseAgreementTransaction
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount Per Tranche Purchased + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmountPerTranchePurchased
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The per share amount of a dividend declared, but not paid, as of the financial reporting date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4304-108586 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DividendsPayableAmountPerShare
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The cash outflow to reacquire common stock during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Financing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3291-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and have not been retired and are not held in treasury. Some state laws may govern the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 29, 30 -Article 5 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Equity impact of the value of stock that has been repurchased during the period and has not been retired and is not held in treasury. Some state laws may mandate the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 29, 30, 31 -Article 5 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of a stock repurchase plan authorized by an entity's Board of Directors. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of shares authorized to be repurchased by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The remaining number of shares authorized to be repurchased by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant