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Operating Segments and Geographic Area Information - Net Sales to External Customers in Each of Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
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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
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales | $ 598,566 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 642,418 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 604,721 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 599,843 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 639,635 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 591,196 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 576,842 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 586,597 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 2,445,548 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | [1] | $ 2,394,270 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | [1] | $ 2,519,154 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | [1]
Performance Chemicals |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,351,596 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 1,392,664 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 1,451,247 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |
Performance Chemicals | Fire Safety Solutions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 607,477 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis = alb_FireSafetySolutionsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 620,972 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis = alb_FireSafetySolutionsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 665,293 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis = alb_FireSafetySolutionsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |
Performance Chemicals | Specialty Chemicals |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 520,297 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis = alb_SpecialtyChemicalsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 520,998 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis = alb_SpecialtyChemicalsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 519,606 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis = alb_SpecialtyChemicalsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |
Performance Chemicals | Fine Chemistry Services |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 223,822 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis = alb_FineChemistryServicesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 250,694 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis = alb_FineChemistryServicesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 266,348 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis = alb_FineChemistryServicesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |
Catalyst Solutions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,093,952 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |  | 1,001,606 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |  | 1,067,907 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |
Catalyst Solutions | Refinery Catalyst Solutions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 844,221 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis = alb_RefineryCatalystSolutionsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |  | 768,837 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis = alb_RefineryCatalystSolutionsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |  | 794,933 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis = alb_RefineryCatalystSolutionsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |
Catalyst Solutions | Performance Catalyst Solutions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 249,731 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis = alb_PerformanceCatalystSolutionsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |  | $ 232,769 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis = alb_PerformanceCatalystSolutionsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |  | $ 272,974 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis = alb_PerformanceCatalystSolutionsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |
[1] | No sales in a foreign country exceed 10% of total net sales. Also, net sales are attributed to countries based upon shipments to final destination.

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- Definition Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5 + Details
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