XML 31 R42.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.1.9

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Changes in Goodwill (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015 | Jan. 12, 2015
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Balance at beginning of period | $ 243,262us-gaap_Goodwill |
Foreign currency translation | (176,636)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments |
Balance at end of period | 2,709,670us-gaap_Goodwill |
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Balance at beginning of period |  | 2,624,876us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = alb_RockwoodHoldingsInc.Member
Acquisition of goodwill | 2,624,876us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = alb_RockwoodHoldingsInc.Member |
Balance at end of period |  | 2,624,876us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = alb_RockwoodHoldingsInc.Member
Shanghai Chemetall |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Acquisition of goodwill | $ 18,168us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = alb_ShanghaiChemetallMember |

X
- 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
Name: | us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillRollForward
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments 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 -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=alb_RockwoodHoldingsInc.Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=alb_ShanghaiChemetallMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |