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Investments - Ownership Positions in Significant Unconsolidated (Detail) | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
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Nippon Aluminum Alkyls |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Ownership percentage | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = alb_JointVentureNipponAluminumAlkylsMember | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = alb_JointVentureNipponAluminumAlkylsMember | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = alb_JointVentureNipponAluminumAlkylsMember
Magnifin Magnesiaprodukte GmbH & Co. KG |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Ownership percentage | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = alb_JointVentureMagnifinMagnesiaprodukteGmbhAndCompanyKgMember | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = alb_JointVentureMagnifinMagnesiaprodukteGmbhAndCompanyKgMember | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = alb_JointVentureMagnifinMagnesiaprodukteGmbhAndCompanyKgMember
Nippon Ketjen Company Limited |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Ownership percentage | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = alb_JointVentureNipponKetjenCompanyLimitedMember | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = alb_JointVentureNipponKetjenCompanyLimitedMember | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = alb_JointVentureNipponKetjenCompanyLimitedMember
Eurecat S.A. |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Ownership percentage | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = alb_JointVentureEurecatSAMember | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = alb_JointVentureEurecatSAMember | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = alb_JointVentureEurecatSAMember
Fabrica Carioca de Catalisadores S.A. |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Ownership percentage | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = alb_JointVentureFabricaCariocaDeCatalisadoresMember | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = alb_JointVentureFabricaCariocaDeCatalisadoresMember | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = alb_JointVentureFabricaCariocaDeCatalisadoresMember
Stannica, LLC |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Ownership percentage | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = alb_JointVentureStannicaLLCMember | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = alb_JointVentureStannicaLLCMember | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = alb_JointVentureStannicaLLCMember

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- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
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