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Restructuring and Other - Restructuring and Other Charges Reported in Consolidated Statements of Income Footnote (Detail) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 employee | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2014
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of employee reduction |  | 230 alb_NumberofEmployeeReduction |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Workforce reduction charges |  | $ 33,400,000 us-gaap_SeveranceCosts1 |  | $ 1,948,000 us-gaap_SeveranceCosts1 | [1] | $ 33,361,000 us-gaap_SeveranceCosts1 | [1],[2] | $ 21,640,000 us-gaap_SeveranceCosts1 | [1] |  |  |
Accrual for estimated site remediation costs |  |  |  | (1,954,000)us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesIncreaseDecreaseForAcquisitionsAndDivestitures |  | 0 us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesIncreaseDecreaseForAcquisitionsAndDivestitures |  | 0 us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesIncreaseDecreaseForAcquisitionsAndDivestitures |  |  |  |
Severance costs net of tax |  | 21,900,000 alb_SeveranceCostsNetOfTax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other, net |  |  | 5,300,000 us-gaap_OtherRestructuringCosts | 2,426,000 us-gaap_OtherRestructuringCosts | [3] |  |  | 5,334,000 us-gaap_OtherRestructuringCosts | [3] |  |  |
Defined benefit plan curtailment gain |  |  | 4,500,000 us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanRecognizedNetGainLossDueToCurtailments |  |  |  |  | 4,507,000 us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanRecognizedNetGainLossDueToCurtailments | [4] |  |  |
Defined benefit plan curtailment gain, net of tax |  |  | 2,900,000 alb_DefinedBenefitPlanRecognizedNetGainLossDueToCurtailmentsNetOfTax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Employer discretionary contribution to defined contribution plan |  |  | 10,100,000 us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerDiscretionaryContributionAmount |  |  |  |  | 10,081,000 us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerDiscretionaryContributionAmount | [4] |  |  |
Employer discretionary contribution to defined contribution plan, net of tax |  |  | 6,400,000 alb_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerDiscretionaryContributionAmountNetOfTax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of ongoing project | 3,300,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOngoingProject |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of ongoing project, net of tax | 2,100,000 alb_ImpairmentofOngoingProjectNetofTax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other restructuring costs net of tax |  |  | 4,300,000 alb_OtherRestructuringCostsNetOfTax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Phosphorous Flame Retardant Business Exit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Workforce reduction charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 22,000,000 us-gaap_SeveranceCosts1 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember |  |
Accrual for estimated site remediation costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9,000,000 us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesIncreaseDecreaseForAcquisitionsAndDivestitures / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember |  |
Business exit costs |  |  | 6,100,000 us-gaap_BusinessExitCosts1 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember |  |  |  |  | 100,777,000 us-gaap_BusinessExitCosts1 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember | [5] | 94,700,000 us-gaap_BusinessExitCosts1 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember |  |
Business exit costs, net of tax |  |  | 2,500,000 alb_BusinessExitCostsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember |  |  |  |  |  |  | 73,600,000 alb_BusinessExitCostsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember |  |
Reduction in net assets from business exit or disposal |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 57,000,000 alb_NetAssetsBusinessExitOrDisposal / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember |  |
Write-offs of foreign currency translation adjustments of phosphorous flame retardants business |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12,000,000 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIRealizedUponSaleOrLiquidationBeforeTax / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember |  |
Other, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,000,000 us-gaap_OtherRestructuringCosts / 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 |  |  |  |
Contract Termination |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business exit costs |  |  |  | 23,521,000 us-gaap_BusinessExitCosts1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_ContractTerminationMember | [6] |  |  |  |  |  | 6,500,000 us-gaap_BusinessExitCosts1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_ContractTerminationMember | 14,000,000 us-gaap_BusinessExitCosts1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_ContractTerminationMember
Asset impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,000,000 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_ContractTerminationMember
Asset impairment charges, net of tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,900,000 alb_AssetImpairmentChargesNetOfTax / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_ContractTerminationMember
Business exit costs, net of tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 4,300,000 alb_BusinessExitCostsNetOfTax / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_ContractTerminationMember | $ 9,300,000 alb_BusinessExitCostsNetOfTax / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_ContractTerminationMember
[1] | The year ended December 31, 2014 includes charges amounting to $1.9 million for retention of certain employees associated with our antioxidant, ibuprofen and propofol businesses which were sold effective September 1, 2014. These workforce reduction charges are recorded in (Loss) income from discontinued operations (net of tax), in our consolidated statements of income.The year ended December 31, 2013 includes charges amounting to $33.4 million in connection with the announced realignment of our operating segments effective January 1, 2014 as described above.The year ended December 31, 2012 includes charges amounting to $21.6 million relating to reduction in force liabilities associated with our exit of the phosphorus flame retardants business noted above.
[2] | 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 resulted in a reduction of approximately 230 employees worldwide. In the fourth quarter of 2013 we recorded charges of $33.4 million ($21.9 million after income taxes) for termination benefits and other costs related to this workforce reduction plan. Payments under this workforce reduction plan are substantially complete.
[3] | The amount for 2014 mainly consists of $3.3 million ($2.1 million after income taxes) recorded in the second quarter for certain multi-product facility project costs that we do not expect to recover in future periods, net of other credits recorded in the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter of 2012 we recorded charges amounting to $5.3 million ($4.3 million after income taxes) related to changes in product sourcing and other items.
[4] | In the fourth quarter of 2012, we recorded a net curtailment gain of $4.5 million ($2.9 million after income taxes) and a one-time employer contribution to the Company’s defined contribution plan of $10.1 million ($6.4 million after income taxes), both in connection with various amendments to certain of our U.S. pension and defined contribution plans that were approved by our Board of Directors in the fourth quarter of 2012. See Note 18, “Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits.”
[5] | In the second quarter of 2012, we recorded net charges amounting to $94.7 million ($73.6 million after income taxes), and in the fourth quarter we recorded net charges amounting to $6.1 million ($2.5 million after income taxes), in connection with our exit of the phosphorus flame retardants business, whose products were sourced mainly at our Avonmouth, United Kingdom and Nanjing, China manufacturing sites. The charges are comprised mainly of non-cash items consisting of net asset write-offs of approximately $57 million and write-offs of foreign currency translation adjustments of approximately $12 million, as well as accruals for future cash costs associated with related severance programs of approximately $22 million, estimated site remediation costs of approximately $9 million, other estimated exit costs of approximately $3 million, partly offset by a gain of approximately $2 million related to the sale of our Nanjing, China manufacturing site. Payments under this restructuring plan are substantially complete.
[6] | In 2014, we initiated action to reduce high cost supply capacity of certain aluminum alkyl products, primarily through the termination of a third party manufacturing contract. Based on the contract termination, we estimated costs of approximately $14.0 million ($9.3 million after income taxes) in the first quarter and $6.5 million ($4.3 million after income taxes) in the fourth quarter for contract termination and volume commitments. Additionally, in the first quarter of 2014 we recorded an impairment charge of $3.0 million ($1.9 million after income taxes) for certain capital project costs also related to aluminum alkyls capacity which we do not expect to recover.

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