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Goodwill and Other Intangibles - Changes in Goodwill by Operating Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Goodwill, Beginning Balance | $ 284,203 us-gaap_Goodwill |  | $ 276,966 us-gaap_Goodwill
Foreign currency translation adjustments | (25,853)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments |  | 7,237 us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
Divestitures(a) | (15,088)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit | [1] |
Goodwill, Ending Balance | 243,262 us-gaap_Goodwill |  | 284,203 us-gaap_Goodwill
Performance Chemicals |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Goodwill, Beginning Balance | 43,603 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 43,519 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember
Foreign currency translation adjustments | (1,321)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 84 us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember
Goodwill, Ending Balance | 42,282 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 43,603 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember
Catalyst Solutions |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Goodwill, Beginning Balance | 240,600 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |  | 233,447 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember
Foreign currency translation adjustments | (24,532)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |  | 7,153 us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember
Divestitures(a) | (15,088)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember | [1] |
Goodwill, Ending Balance | 200,980 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |  | 240,600 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember
Antioxidant, Ibuprofen and Propofol Assets - Discontinued Operations |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Divestitures(a) | $ (15,088)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = alb_AntioxidantIbuprofenandPropofolAssetsMember |  |
[1] | In 2014 we reduced Catalyst Solutions segment goodwill by $15.1 million in connection with the sale of our antioxidant, ibuprofen and propofol businesses and assets which closed on September 1, 2014. See Note 2 “Discontinued Operations” for additional information about this transaction.

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- Definition Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266 + Details
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- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
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