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Operating Segments and Geographic Area Information - Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Jun. 30, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2013 | Mar. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales | $ 598,566 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet |  | $ 642,418 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet |  | $ 604,721 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet |  | $ 599,843 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet |  | $ 639,635 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet |  | $ 591,196 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 576,842 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 586,597 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 2,445,548 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | [1] | $ 2,394,270 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | [1] | $ 2,519,154 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | [1]
Total segment operating profit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 271,298 us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss |  | 576,675 us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss |  | 399,783 us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss |
Total equity in net income of unconsolidated investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 35,742 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments |  | 31,729 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments |  | 38,067 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments |
Total net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (4,460)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest |  | (8,546)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest |  | (6,932)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest |  | (7,652)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest |  | (5,413)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest |  | (7,332)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest | (8,389)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest | (5,529)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest | (27,590)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest |  | (26,663)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest |  | (18,591)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest |
Segment income: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 539,175 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest |  | 533,663 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest |  | 660,503 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest |
Corporate & other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (203,620)alb_CorporateAndOtherCharges | [2] | 81,439 alb_CorporateAndOtherCharges | [2] | (129,559)alb_CorporateAndOtherCharges | [2]
Restructuring and other charges, net (Note 20) | (5,322)us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | [3] | (293)us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | [3] | (3,332)us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | [3] | (17,000)us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | [3] | (33,361)us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | [3] | 0 us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | 0 us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | 0 us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | (25,947)us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | [3] | (33,361)us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | [3] | (111,685)us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | [3]
Acquisition and integration related costs | (15,054)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts | [4] | (10,261)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts | [4] | (4,843)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts | [4] | 0 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts |  |  |  |  |  |  | (30,158)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts | [4] | 0 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts | [4] | 0 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts | [4]
Interest and financing expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (41,358)us-gaap_InterestAndDebtExpense |  | (31,559)us-gaap_InterestAndDebtExpense |  | (32,800)us-gaap_InterestAndDebtExpense |
Other (expenses) income, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (16,761)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense |  | (6,674)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense |  | 1,229 us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense |
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (18,484)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit |  | (134,445)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit |  | (80,433)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit |
(Loss) income from discontinued operations (net of tax) | (1,058)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax | [5] | (6,679)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax | [5] | (60,025)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax | [5] | (1,769)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax | [5] | (886)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax |  | 531 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax | 2,628 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax | 1,835 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax | (69,531)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax |  | 4,108 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax |  | 4,281 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax |
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation | (18,508)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss |  | 72,794 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss |  | 22,447 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss |  | 56,583 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss |  | 155,933 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss |  | 90,512 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | 82,739 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | 83,987 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | 133,316 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss |  | 413,171 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss |  | 311,536 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss |
Performance Chemicals |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,351,596 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 1,392,664 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 1,451,247 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |
Total segment operating profit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 306,616 us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 334,275 us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 410,359 us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |
Total equity in net income of unconsolidated investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10,068 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 8,875 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 6,416 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |
Total net income attributable to noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (27,590)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | (26,663)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | (18,571)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |
Segment income: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 289,094 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 316,487 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 398,204 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |
Catalyst Solutions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,093,952 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |  | 1,001,606 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |  | 1,067,907 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |
Total segment operating profit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 224,407 us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |  | 194,322 us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |  | 230,648 us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |
Total equity in net income of unconsolidated investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 25,674 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |  | 22,854 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |  | 31,651 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |
Segment income: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 250,081 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |  | 217,176 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |  | 262,299 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |
Total segment operating profit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total segment operating profit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 531,023 us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_SegmentOperatingProfitExcludingCorporateExpenseMember |  | 528,597 us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_SegmentOperatingProfitExcludingCorporateExpenseMember |  | 641,007 us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_SegmentOperatingProfitExcludingCorporateExpenseMember |
Corporate & other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total net income attributable to noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember |  | $ 0 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember |  | $ (20)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember |
[1] | No sales in a foreign country exceed 10% of total net sales. Also, net sales are attributed to countries based upon shipments to final destination.
[2] | For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, Corporate & other includes $(127.2) million, $143.1 million and $(68.0) million, respectively, of pension and OPEB plan (costs) credits (including mark-to-market actuarial gains and losses).
[3] | See Note 20, “Restructuring and Other.”
[4] | See Note 23, “Acquisitions.”
[5] | Included in Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax) for the year ended December 31, 2014 is $(65.7) million related to the loss on the sale of our antioxidant, ibuprofen and propofol businesses and assets, the majority of which was recorded in the second quarter. See Note 2, “Discontinued Operations.”

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