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v2.4.1.9

Property, Plant and Equipment - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation |  | $ 97,900,000 us-gaap_Depreciation | $ 99,300,000 us-gaap_Depreciation | $ 88,300,000 us-gaap_Depreciation |
Interest capitalized on significant capital projects |  | 2,400,000 us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized | 6,100,000 us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized | 5,800,000 us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized |
Cash proceeds from divestitures, net | 7,700,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinessesNetOfCashDivested | 104,718,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinessesNetOfCashDivested | 0 us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinessesNetOfCashDivested | 9,646,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinessesNetOfCashDivested |
Cash proceeds from sale of land | 1,900,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfLandHeldForUse |  |  |  |
Phosphorous Flame Retardant Business Exit |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Reduction in net assets from business exit or disposal |  |  |  |  | 57,000,000 alb_NetAssetsBusinessExitOrDisposal / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember
Gain related to the sale of Nanjing, China manufacturing site | 2,000,000 us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember |  |  | 2,000,000 us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember |
Phosphorous Flame Retardant Business Exit | Property Plant and Equipment |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Reduction in net assets from business exit or disposal |  |  |  | 30,900,000 alb_NetAssetsBusinessExitOrDisposal / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember |
Antioxidant, Ibuprofen and Propofol Assets - Discontinued Operations |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation |  | 2,300,000 us-gaap_Depreciation / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = alb_AntioxidantIbuprofenandPropofolAssetsMember | 8,600,000 us-gaap_Depreciation / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = alb_AntioxidantIbuprofenandPropofolAssetsMember | 8,700,000 us-gaap_Depreciation / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = alb_AntioxidantIbuprofenandPropofolAssetsMember |
Reduction in net assets from business exit or disposal |  | 100,000,000 alb_NetAssetsBusinessExitOrDisposal / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = alb_AntioxidantIbuprofenandPropofolAssetsMember |  |  |
Cash proceeds from divestitures, net |  | $ 104,700,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinessesNetOfCashDivested / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = alb_AntioxidantIbuprofenandPropofolAssetsMember |  |  |

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- Definition The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
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- Definition Gain (loss) from sale or disposal of an organization or integrated set of activities (for example, but not limited to, a partnership or corporation) engaged in providing a product or service in a commercial, industrial, or professional environment. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The cash inflow from the sale of land held for use; excludes sales of land held as inventory or investments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Investing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3179-108585 + Details
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