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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Other Intangibles (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross Asset Value, Beginning of Period | $ 129,873us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross |
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | (114,434)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTranslationAdjustments |
Gross Asset Value, End of Period | 2,050,064us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross |
Accumulated Amortization, Beginning of Period | (85,748)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization |
Amortization | (19,913)us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets |
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | 3,932alb_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortizationForeignExchangeImpact |
Accumulated Amortization, End of Period | (101,729)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization |
Net Book Value | 1,948,335us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill | 44,125us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
Customer lists and relationships |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross Asset Value, Beginning of Period | 48,479us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_CustomerListsAndRelationshipsMember |
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | (64,318)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTranslationAdjustments / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_CustomerListsAndRelationshipsMember |
Gross Asset Value, End of Period | 1,400,558us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_CustomerListsAndRelationshipsMember |
Accumulated Amortization, Beginning of Period | (22,931)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_CustomerListsAndRelationshipsMember |
Amortization | (13,003)us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_CustomerListsAndRelationshipsMember |
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | 1,318alb_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortizationForeignExchangeImpact / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_CustomerListsAndRelationshipsMember |
Accumulated Amortization, End of Period | (34,616)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_CustomerListsAndRelationshipsMember |
Net Book Value | 1,365,942us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_CustomerListsAndRelationshipsMember | 25,548us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_CustomerListsAndRelationshipsMember
Trade names and trademarks |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross Asset Value, Beginning of Period | 17,555us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember |
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | (27,723)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTranslationAdjustments / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember |
Gross Asset Value, End of Period | 352,952us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember |
Accumulated Amortization, Beginning of Period | (7,912)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember |
Amortization | (3,521)us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember |
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | 380alb_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortizationForeignExchangeImpact / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember |
Accumulated Amortization, End of Period | (11,053)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember |
Net Book Value | 341,899us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember | 9,643us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
Patents and technology |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross Asset Value, Beginning of Period | 40,398us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_PatentsAndTechnologyMember |
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | (19,855)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTranslationAdjustments / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_PatentsAndTechnologyMember |
Gross Asset Value, End of Period | 248,521us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_PatentsAndTechnologyMember |
Accumulated Amortization, Beginning of Period | (32,831)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_PatentsAndTechnologyMember |
Amortization | (3,282)us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_PatentsAndTechnologyMember |
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | 1,765alb_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortizationForeignExchangeImpact / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_PatentsAndTechnologyMember |
Accumulated Amortization, End of Period | (34,348)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_PatentsAndTechnologyMember |
Net Book Value | 214,173us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_PatentsAndTechnologyMember | 7,567us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_PatentsAndTechnologyMember
Other |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross Asset Value, Beginning of Period | 23,441us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember |
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | (2,538)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTranslationAdjustments / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember |
Gross Asset Value, End of Period | 48,033us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember |
Accumulated Amortization, Beginning of Period | (22,074)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember |
Amortization | (107)us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember |
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | 469alb_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortizationForeignExchangeImpact / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember |
Accumulated Amortization, End of Period | (21,712)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember |
Net Book Value | 26,321us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember | 1,367us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Acquisition of other intangible assets | 1,956,760us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsPurchaseAccountingAdjustments / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = alb_RockwoodHoldingsInc.Member |
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Customer lists and relationships |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Acquisition of other intangible assets | 1,339,860us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsPurchaseAccountingAdjustments / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = alb_RockwoodHoldingsInc.Member / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_CustomerListsAndRelationshipsMember |
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Trade names and trademarks |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Acquisition of other intangible assets | 363,120us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsPurchaseAccountingAdjustments / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = alb_RockwoodHoldingsInc.Member / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember |
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Patents and technology |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Acquisition of other intangible assets | 226,650us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsPurchaseAccountingAdjustments / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = alb_RockwoodHoldingsInc.Member / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_PatentsAndTechnologyMember |
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Other |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Acquisition of other intangible assets | 27,130us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsPurchaseAccountingAdjustments / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = alb_RockwoodHoldingsInc.Member / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember |
Shanghai Chemetall |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Acquisition of other intangible assets | 77,865us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsPurchaseAccountingAdjustments / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = alb_ShanghaiChemetallMember |
Shanghai Chemetall | Customer lists and relationships |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Acquisition of other intangible assets | 76,537us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsPurchaseAccountingAdjustments / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = alb_ShanghaiChemetallMember / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_CustomerListsAndRelationshipsMember |
Shanghai Chemetall | Trade names and trademarks |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Acquisition of other intangible assets | 0us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsPurchaseAccountingAdjustments / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = alb_ShanghaiChemetallMember / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember |
Shanghai Chemetall | Patents and technology |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Acquisition of other intangible assets | 1,328us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsPurchaseAccountingAdjustments / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = alb_ShanghaiChemetallMember / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = alb_PatentsAndTechnologyMember |
Shanghai Chemetall | Other |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Acquisition of other intangible assets | $ 0us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsPurchaseAccountingAdjustments / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = alb_ShanghaiChemetallMember / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember |

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- Definition The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) to assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life for purchase accounting adjustments. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) to assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life for foreign currency translation adjustments. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Sum of the carrying amounts of all intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16212-109274 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph ((a)(1),(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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