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Operating Segments and Geographic Area Information - Goodwill and Identifiable Assets by Reportable Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
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Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Identifiable assets: | $ 5,223,103 us-gaap_Assets |  | $ 3,584,797 us-gaap_Assets | $ 3,437,291 us-gaap_Assets
Goodwill | 243,262 us-gaap_Goodwill |  | 284,203 us-gaap_Goodwill | 276,966 us-gaap_Goodwill
Performance Chemicals |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Identifiable assets: | 1,042,177 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 1,129,838 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember | 1,110,006 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember
Goodwill | 42,282 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember |  | 43,603 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember | 43,519 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember
Catalyst Solutions |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Identifiable assets: | 1,375,202 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |  | 1,695,120 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember | 1,572,883 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember
Goodwill | 200,980 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember |  | 240,600 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember | 233,447 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_CatalystSolutionsMember
Corporate & other |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Identifiable assets: | $ 2,805,724 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember | [1] | $ 759,839 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember | $ 754,402 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember
[1] | As of December 31, 2014, Corporate & other included net proceeds received from the issuance of the 2014 Senior Notes, which, together with borrowings from our Commercial Paper Notes, Term Loan and Cash Bridge Facility, were used to finance the cash portion of the Merger Consideration, pay related fees and expenses and repay our senior notes which matured on February 1, 2015. See Note 13, “Long-Term Debt” and Note 23 “Acquisitions” for additional details about these transactions.

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- Definition Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events. + 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 210.5-02.18) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 12 -Article 7 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 18 -Article 5 + Details
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- Definition Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266 + Details
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