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Segment and Geographic Area Information Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
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
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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 |
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 959,322 | 562,155 |  | 557,551 |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (260,076) | (103,572) |  | (107,370) |
Restructuring and other, net |  | 0 | [1] | 6,804 | [1] | 0 | [1] | 0 | [1] | (5,322) | [1] | (293) | [1] | (3,332) | [1] | (17,000) | [1] | 6,804 | (25,947) |  | (33,361) |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  | (19,609) | [2] | (42,798) | [2] | (24,166) | [2] | (59,523) | [2] | (15,054) | [2] | (10,261) | [2] | (4,843) | [2] | 0 | [2] | (146,096) | (30,158) |  | 0 |
Interest and financing expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (132,722) | (41,358) |  | (31,559) |
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (29,122) | (18,484) |  | (134,445) |
(Loss) income from discontinued operations (net of tax) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,058) | [3] | (6,679) | [3] | (60,025) | [3] | (1,769) | [3] | 0 | (69,531) |  | 4,108 |
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 |
Performance Chemicals |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,610,319 | 1,121,645 |  | 1,141,890 |
All Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 471,434 | 471,764 |  | 477,173 |
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 53,993 | 73,973 |  | 71,691 |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (18,183) | (13,478) |  | (13,323) |
Corporate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15,415 | 0 |  | 0 |
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (29,814) | (74,875) |  | (69,240) |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (8,703) | (2,552) |  | (2,188) |
Operating Segments | Performance Chemicals |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,610,319 | 1,121,645 |  | 1,141,890 |
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 535,520 | 306,572 |  | 364,712 |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (120,248) | (51,707) |  | (46,225) |
Operating Segments | Refining Solutions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 729,261 | 852,139 |  | 775,207 |
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 197,595 | 256,485 |  | 190,388 |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (34,039) | (32,670) |  | (33,580) |
Operating Segments | Chemetall Surface Treatment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 824,906 | 0 |  | 0 |
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 202,028 | 0 |  | 0 |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (78,903) | 0 |  | 0 |
Continuing Operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 959,322 | 562,155 |  | 557,551 |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (260,076) | (100,407) | [4] | (95,316) | [4]
Utilization of inventory markup | [5] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (103,036) |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other, net | [6] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,804 | (25,947) |  | (33,361) |
Acquisition and integration related costs | [7] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (146,096) | (30,158) |  |  |
Interest and financing expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (132,722) | (41,358) |  | (31,559) |
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (29,122) | (18,484) |  | (134,445) |
(Loss) income from discontinued operations (net of tax) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (69,531) |  | 4,108 |
Non-operating pension and OPEB items |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 46,244 | (125,462) |  | 146,193 |
Other | [8] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (6,412) | (17,492) |  |  |
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 334,906 | 133,316 |  | 413,171 |
Continuing Operations | All Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 53,993 | 73,973 |  | 71,691 |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (18,183) | (13,478) | [4] | (13,323) | [4]
Utilization of inventory markup | [5] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (3,029) |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other, net | [6] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
Acquisition and integration related costs | [7] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  |  |
Interest and financing expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
(Loss) income from discontinued operations (net of tax) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0 |
Non-operating pension and OPEB items |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
Other | [8] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  |  |
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 32,781 | 60,495 |  | 58,368 |
Continuing Operations | Corporate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (29,814) | (74,875) |  | (69,240) |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (8,703) | (2,552) | [4] | (2,188) | [4]
Utilization of inventory markup | [5] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other, net | [6] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,804 | (25,947) |  | (33,361) |
Acquisition and integration related costs | [7] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (146,096) | (30,158) |  |  |
Interest and financing expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (132,722) | (41,358) |  | (31,559) |
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (29,122) | (18,484) |  | (134,445) |
(Loss) income from discontinued operations (net of tax) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (69,531) |  | 4,108 |
Non-operating pension and OPEB items |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 46,244 | (125,462) |  | 146,193 |
Other | [8] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (4,441) | (17,492) |  |  |
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (297,850) | (405,859) |  | (120,492) |
Continuing Operations | Operating Segments | Performance Chemicals |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 535,520 | 306,572 |  | 364,712 |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (120,248) | (51,707) | [4] | (46,225) | [4]
Utilization of inventory markup | [5] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (79,977) |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other, net | [6] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
Acquisition and integration related costs | [7] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  |  |
Interest and financing expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
(Loss) income from discontinued operations (net of tax) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0 |
Non-operating pension and OPEB items |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
Other | [8] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  |  |
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 335,295 | 254,865 |  | 318,487 |
Continuing Operations | Operating Segments | Refining Solutions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 197,595 | 256,485 |  | 190,388 |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (34,039) | (32,670) | [4] | (33,580) | [4]
Utilization of inventory markup | [5] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other, net | [6] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
Acquisition and integration related costs | [7] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  |  |
Interest and financing expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
(Loss) income from discontinued operations (net of tax) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0 |
Non-operating pension and OPEB items |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
Other | [8] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,971) | 0 |  |  |
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 161,585 | 223,815 |  | 156,808 |
Continuing Operations | Operating Segments | Chemetall Surface Treatment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 202,028 | 0 |  | 0 |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (78,903) | 0 | [4] | 0 | [4]
Utilization of inventory markup | [5] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (20,030) |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other, net | [6] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
Acquisition and integration related costs | [7] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  |  |
Interest and financing expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
(Loss) income from discontinued operations (net of tax) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0 |
Non-operating pension and OPEB items |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
Other | [8] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  |  |
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 103,095 | 0 |  | 0 |
Continuing Operations | Operating Segments | Reportable Segments Total |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 935,143 | 563,057 |  | 555,100 |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (233,190) | (84,377) | [4] | (79,805) | [4]
Utilization of inventory markup | [5] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (100,007) |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other, net | [6] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
Acquisition and integration related costs | [7] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  |  |
Interest and financing expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
(Loss) income from discontinued operations (net of tax) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0 |
Non-operating pension and OPEB items |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
Other | [8] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,971) | 0 |  |  |
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 599,975 | $ 478,680 |  | $ 475,295 |
[1] | See Note 21, “Restructuring and Other.”
[2] | See Note 2, “Acquisitions.”
[3] | Included in Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax) for the year ended December 31, 2014 is ($65.7) million related to the loss on the sale of our antioxidant, ibuprofen and propofol businesses and assets, the majority of which was recorded in the second quarter. See Note 3, “Divestitures.”
[4] | Excludes discontinued operations.
[5] | In connection with the acquisition of Rockwood, the Company valued Rockwood’s existing inventory at fair value as of the Acquisition Closing Date, which resulted in a markup of the underlying net book value of the inventory totaling approximately $103 million. The inventory markup was expensed over the estimated remaining selling period. For the year ended December 31, 2015, $75.9 million was included in Cost of goods sold, and Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments was reduced by $27.1 million related to the utilization of the inventory markup.
[6] | See Note 21, “Restructuring and Other.”
[7] | See Note 2, “Acquisitions.”
[8] | For the year ended December 31, 2015, Refining Solutions includes an impairment charge of approximately $2.0 million related to our unconsolidated investment in Fábrica Carioca de Catalisadores SA. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, Corporate includes approximately $4.4 million and $17.5 million, respectively, of financing-related fees expensed in connection with the acquisition of Rockwood.

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