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Goodwill and Other Intangibles - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Amortization of other intangible assets | $ 5,737 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets | $ 8,066 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets | $ 10,700 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Minimum |  |  |
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life | 5 years |  |
Maximum |  |  |
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life | 25 years |  |
Customer Lists and Relationships |  |  |
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Amortization of other intangible assets | 2,839 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_CustomerListsAndRelationshipsMember | 4,332 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_CustomerListsAndRelationshipsMember |
Customer Lists and Relationships | Minimum |  |  |
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life | 15 years |  |
Customer Lists and Relationships | Maximum |  |  |
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life | 25 years |  |
Trade Names |  |  |
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life | 11 years |  |
Amortization of other intangible assets | 824 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember | 995 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember |
Patents and Technology |  |  |
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Amortization of other intangible assets | 388 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_PatentsAndTechnologyMember | 797 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_PatentsAndTechnologyMember |
Patents and Technology | Minimum |  |  |
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life | 17 years |  |
Patents and Technology | Maximum |  |  |
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life | 20 years |  |
Land Use Rights |  |  |
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Amortization of other intangible assets | 42 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_UseRightsMember | 166 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_UseRightsMember |
Manufacturing Contracts and Supply/Service Agreements |  |  |
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life | 6 years |  |
Amortization of other intangible assets | 368 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_ManufacturingContractsAndServiceAgreementsMember | 647 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_ManufacturingContractsAndServiceAgreementsMember |
Other |  |  |
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Amortization of other intangible assets | 1,276 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember | 1,129 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember |
Other | Minimum |  |  |
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life | 5 years |  |
Other | Maximum |  |  |
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life | 15 years |  |
Antioxidant, Ibuprofen and Propofol Assets - Discontinued Operations |  |  |
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Amortization of other intangible assets | $ 900 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = alb_AntioxidantIbuprofenandPropofolAssetsMember | $ 3,500 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = alb_AntioxidantIbuprofenandPropofolAssetsMember | $ 3,400 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = alb_AntioxidantIbuprofenandPropofolAssetsMember

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