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v2.4.1.9

Long-Term Debt (Detail) (USD $) | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
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Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Commercial paper classified as current | $ 367,178,000 us-gaap_CommercialPaper |
Commercial paper classified as long term |  | 363,000,000 us-gaap_CommercialPaperNoncurrent
Fixed-rate foreign borrowings | 1,958,000 alb_Fixedrateforeignborrowings | 7,879,000 alb_Fixedrateforeignborrowings
Variable-rate foreign bank loans | 25,139,000 alb_VariableRateForeignBorrowings | 34,910,000 alb_VariableRateForeignBorrowings
Miscellaneous | 189,000 us-gaap_OtherLongTermDebt | 297,000 us-gaap_OtherLongTermDebt
Total long-term debt | 2,934,131,000 us-gaap_LongTermDebt | 1,078,864,000 us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Less amounts due within one year | 711,096,000 us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent | 24,554,000 us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
Long-term debt, less current portion | 2,223,035,000 us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent | 1,054,310,000 us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
1.875% Senior Notes |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Senior notes | 844,315,000 us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_OnePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesMember | 0 us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_OnePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
3.00% Senior Notes |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Senior notes | 249,694,000 us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_ThreePointZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember | 0 us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_ThreePointZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
4.15% Senior Notes |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Senior notes | 423,561,000 us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_FourPointOneFivePercentSeniorNotesMember | 0 us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_FourPointOneFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
4.50% Senior Notes |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Senior notes | 348,129,000 us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_FourPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember | 347,814,000 us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_FourPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
5.10% Senior Notes |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Senior notes | 324,997,000 us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_FivePointOneZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember | 324,964,000 us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_FivePointOneZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
5.45% Senior Notes |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Senior notes | $ 348,971,000 us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_FivePointFourFivePercentSeniorNotesMember | $ 0 us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_FivePointFourFivePercentSeniorNotesMember

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- Definition Loans from foreign banks at fixed interest rates + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Loans from foreign banks at variable interest rates. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of short-term borrowings using unsecured obligations issued by banks, corporations and other borrowers to investors. The maturities of these money market securities generally do not exceed 270 days. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 7 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(a)(3)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.13(2)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19 -Subparagraph a(3) -Article 5 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph 2 -Article 9 + Details
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- Definition Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of long-term unsecured obligations issued by corporations and other borrowers to investors (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer), excluding current portion. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 + Details
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- Definition Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 7 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20, 22 -Article 5 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
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- Definition Amount of long-term debt, after unamortized discount or premium, scheduled to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19 -Article 5 + Details
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- Definition Including both current and noncurrent portions, carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of other forms of debt not elsewhere specified in the taxonomy with initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 20, 22 -Article 5 + Details
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- Definition Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 + Details
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