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Acquisitions - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands |  |  |  | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 23, 2015 | Jan. 29, 2015 | Jan. 12, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Jun. 30, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Jun. 30, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Oct. 15, 2015 | Feb. 19, 2015
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Share price |  |  | $ 59.70 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) |  |  | $ 0.01 | $ 0.01 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0.01 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0.01 | $ 0.01 |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  |  | $ 19,609 | [1] | $ 42,798 | [1] | $ 24,166 | [1] | $ 59,523 | [1] | $ 15,054 | [1] | $ 10,261 | [1] | $ 4,843 | [1] | $ 0 | [1] | $ 146,096 | $ 30,158 | $ 0 |  |
Net sales |  |  |  | 930,353 |  | 905,093 |  | 931,485 |  | 884,404 |  | 598,566 |  | 642,418 |  | 604,721 |  | 599,843 |  | 3,651,335 | 2,445,548 | 2,394,270 |  |
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation |  |  |  | 174,252 |  | $ 65,392 |  | $ 52,147 |  | $ 43,115 |  | (18,508) |  | $ 72,794 |  | $ 22,447 |  | $ 56,583 |  | 334,906 | 133,316 | 413,171 |  |
Goodwill |  |  |  | $ 2,893,811 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 243,262 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,893,811 | 243,262 | 284,203 |  |
Purchase of noncontrolling interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,784 | 0 | $ 0 |  |
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total purchase price |  |  | $ 5,725,321 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash issued per outstanding share of Rockwood common stock |  |  | $ 50.65 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity issued per outstanding share of Rockwood common stock |  |  | 0.4803 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 137,700 | 23,600 |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,400,000 |  |  |  |
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 176,200 |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  | $ 2,817,135 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Change in purchase price allocation, goodwill |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 192,300 |  |  |  |
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life |  |  | 23 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Utilization of inventory markup |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 103,000 |  |  |  |
Other significant projects |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8,400 | $ 6,600 |  |  |
Shanghai Chemetall |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity interest acquired, percentage |  | 40.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisition of remaining interest in Shanghai Chemetall |  | $ 57,600 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisition of remaining interest in Shanghai Chemetall, net of cash acquired |  | 45,600 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity interest in acquiree, fair value |  | $ 60,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Nanjing Chemetall Surface Treatment Technologies [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase of noncontrolling interest | $ 4,800 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common Stock | Rockwood Holdings, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock - number of shares issued |  |  | 34,100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Appraisal shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 882,000
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Rockwood Holdings, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) |  |  | $ 0.01 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Patents and Technology | Rockwood Holdings, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life |  |  | 20 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Trademarks and Trade Names | Rockwood Holdings, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life |  |  | 20 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Customer Lists and Relationships | Rockwood Holdings, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life |  |  | 24 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
4.625% Senior Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, interest rate |  |  | 4.625% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Principal amount of debt |  |  | $ 1,250,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unamortized premium |  |  | $ 43,700 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 38,000 |
Cost of Sales | Rockwood Holdings, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisition measurement period adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,000 |  |  |  |
Utilization of inventory markup |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 75,900 |  |  |  |
[1] | See Note 2, “Acquisitions.”

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