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v2.4.1.9

Long-Term Debt (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
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Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Commercial paper notes | $ 461,717us-gaap_CommercialPaper | $ 367,178us-gaap_CommercialPaper
Fixed rate foreign borrowings | 10,679alb_FixedRateForeignBorrowings | 1,958alb_FixedRateForeignBorrowings
Variable-rate foreign bank loans | 38,390alb_VariableRateForeignBorrowings | 25,139alb_VariableRateForeignBorrowings
Variable rate domestic bank loans | 59,880alb_VariableRateDomesticBorrowings | 0alb_VariableRateDomesticBorrowings
Capital lease obligations | 21,994us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations | 0us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations
Miscellaneous | 88us-gaap_OtherLongTermDebt | 189us-gaap_OtherLongTermDebt
Total long-term debt | 4,013,121us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsIncludingCurrentMaturities | 2,934,131us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsIncludingCurrentMaturities
Less amounts due within one year | 471,809us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent | 711,096us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent
Long-term debt, less current portion | 3,541,312us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations | 2,223,035us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
1.875% Senior Notes |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Senior notes | 758,438us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_OnePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesMember | 844,315us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_OnePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
3.00% Senior Notes |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Senior notes | 249,709us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_ThreePointZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember | 249,694us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_ThreePointZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
4.15% Senior Notes |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Senior notes | 423,597us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_FourPointOneFivePercentSeniorNotesMember | 423,561us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_FourPointOneFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
4.50% Senior Notes |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Senior notes | 348,207us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_FourPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember | 348,129us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_FourPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
4.625% Senior Notes |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Senior notes | 1,291,442us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_FourPointSixTwoFivePercentSeniorNotesMember | 0us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_FourPointSixTwoFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
5.10% Senior Notes |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Senior notes | 0us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_FivePointOneZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember | 324,997us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_FivePointOneZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
5.45% Senior Notes |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Senior notes | $ 348,980us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_FivePointFourFivePercentSeniorNotesMember | $ 348,971us-gaap_SeniorNotes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_FivePointFourFivePercentSeniorNotesMember

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- Definition Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 7 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6455398&loc=d3e45280-112737 + Details
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- Definition Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
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