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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Components and Activity in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Net of Deferred Income Taxes) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) - Total - Beginning Balance | $ 116,245 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |  | $ 85,264 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax | $ 60,329 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |
Current Period Change | (179,131)alb_CurrentPeriodChange |  | 28,972 alb_CurrentPeriodChange | 20,525 alb_CurrentPeriodChange |
Tax benefit (expense) | 473 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax |  | 2,009 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax | 4,410 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) - Total - Ending Balance | (62,413)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |  | 116,245 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax | 85,264 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |
Foreign Currency Translation |  |  |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) - Total - Beginning Balance | 116,465 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |  | 85,117 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember | 56,245 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
Current Period Change | (163,456)alb_CurrentPeriodChange / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember | [1] | 29,539 alb_CurrentPeriodChange / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember | 26,846 alb_CurrentPeriodChange / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember | [1]
Tax benefit (expense) | (5,273)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |  | 1,809 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember | 2,026 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) - Total - Ending Balance | (52,264)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |  | 116,465 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember | 85,117 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
Pension and Postretirement Benefits |  |  |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) - Total - Beginning Balance | 487 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |  | 989 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember | 5,060 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
Current Period Change | (772)alb_CurrentPeriodChange / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |  | (781)alb_CurrentPeriodChange / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember | (6,533)alb_CurrentPeriodChange / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember | [2]
Tax benefit (expense) | 285 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |  | 279 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember | 2,462 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) - Total - Ending Balance | 0 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |  | 487 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember | 989 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
Net Investment Hedge |  |  |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) - Total - Beginning Balance | 0 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember |  | 0 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember | 0 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember |
Current Period Change | 17,971 alb_CurrentPeriodChange / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember | [3] | 0 alb_CurrentPeriodChange / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember | 0 alb_CurrentPeriodChange / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember |
Tax benefit (expense) | (6,587)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember |  | 0 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember | 0 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) - Total - Ending Balance | 11,384 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember |  | 0 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember | 0 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember |
Interest Rate Swap |  |  |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) - Total - Beginning Balance | 0 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |  | 0 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember | 0 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |
Current Period Change | (33,091)alb_CurrentPeriodChange / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember | [4] | 0 alb_CurrentPeriodChange / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember | 0 alb_CurrentPeriodChange / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |
Tax benefit (expense) | 12,129 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |  | 0 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember | 0 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) - Total - Ending Balance | (20,962)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |  | 0 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember | 0 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |
Other |  |  |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) - Total - Beginning Balance | (707)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = alb_OtherExpenseIncomeNetMember |  | (842)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = alb_OtherExpenseIncomeNetMember | (976)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = alb_OtherExpenseIncomeNetMember |
Current Period Change | 217 alb_CurrentPeriodChange / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = alb_OtherExpenseIncomeNetMember |  | 214 alb_CurrentPeriodChange / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = alb_OtherExpenseIncomeNetMember | 212 alb_CurrentPeriodChange / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = alb_OtherExpenseIncomeNetMember |
Tax benefit (expense) | (81)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = alb_OtherExpenseIncomeNetMember |  | (79)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = alb_OtherExpenseIncomeNetMember | (78)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = alb_OtherExpenseIncomeNetMember |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) - Total - Ending Balance | $ (571)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = alb_OtherExpenseIncomeNetMember |  | $ (707)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = alb_OtherExpenseIncomeNetMember | $ (842)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = alb_OtherExpenseIncomeNetMember |
[1] | Current period change for the year ended December 31, 2012 includes $12.3 million related to a non-cash write-off of foreign currency translation adjustments from Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income in connection with our exit of the phosphorus flame retardants business. See Note 20, “Restructuring and Other.” Current period change for the year ended December 31, 2014 includes $17.8 million related to a non-cash write-off of foreign currency translation adjustments from Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income in connection with the sale of our antioxidant, ibuprofen and propofol businesses and assets which closed on September 1, 2014. See Note 2, “Discontinued Operations.”
[2] | Current period change for the year ended December 31, 2012 includes $6.5 million related to a supplemental executive retirement plan settlement in connection with the retirement of our former CEO and executive chairman, and ($4.5) million related to various amendments to certain of our U.S. pension and defined contribution plans that were approved by our Board of Directors in the fourth quarter of 2012.
[3] | Current period change for the year ended December 31, 2014 includes $12.8 million related to the revaluation of our euro-denominated senior notes and a $5.2 million gain on the settlement of related foreign currency forward contracts, both of which were designated as a hedge of our net investment in foreign operations. See Note 13, “Long-Term Debt” for additional information about these transactions.
[4] | Current period change for the year ended December 31, 2014 includes a realized loss of ($33.4) million on the settlement of our forward starting interest rate swap which was designated and accounted for as a cash flow hedge under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. See Note 13, “Long-Term Debt” for additional information about this interest rate swap.

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