<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001648210-16-000043.txt : 20161207
<SEC-HEADER>0001648210-16-000043.hdr.sgml : 20161207
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20161207173228
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001648210-16-000043
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20161206
FILED AS OF DATE:		20161207
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20161207

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALBEMARLE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000915913
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PLASTICS, MATERIALS, SYNTH RESINS & NONVULCAN ELASTOMERS [2821]
		IRS NUMBER:				541692118
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4350 CONGRESS STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 700
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28209
		BUSINESS PHONE:		980-299-5700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4350 CONGRESS STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 700
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28209

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ECHEM INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19931208

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NARWOLD KAREN G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001095670

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12658
		FILM NUMBER:		162039990

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ALBEMARLE CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		451 FLORIDA STREET
		CITY:			BATON ROUGE
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			707801
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-12-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000915913</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALBEMARLE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001095670</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NARWOLD KAREN G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ALBEMARLE CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4350 CONGRESS STREET, SUITE 700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28209</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Chief Admin Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-12-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>42.13</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>31108</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-12-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>86.11</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21108</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>42.13</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-12-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2013-09-13</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-09-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Based upon a weighted average purchase price. Shares were sold at various prices ranging from $86.00 to $86.265. Information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price will be made available upon request by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the issuer, or a security holder of the issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Brian Webb, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-12-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>v454638_ex24.htm
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
     <TITLE></TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">

<p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">POWER OF ATTORNEY</p>

<p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby constitutes
and appoints each of Terrence G. Hammons, Jr., Brian Webb and Sarah Marshik, or any of them acting singly and with full power of
substitution, the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:</p>

<p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's
capacity as an officer and/or director of Albemarle Corporation (the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;), Forms 3, 4 and 5&nbsp; in accordance
with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules thereunder;</p>

<p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">(2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned
that may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such Form 3, 4 or 5, complete and execute any amendment or amendments
thereto, and timely file such form with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock exchange or similar
authority; and</p>

<p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">(3)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with
the foregoing that, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally required
by, the undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant
to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve
in such attorney-in-fact's discretion.</p>

<p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact
full power and authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary or proper to be done in
the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact,
or such attorney-in-fact's substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney
and the rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such
capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities
to comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</p>

<p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect
until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions
in securities issued by the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.</p>

<p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of
Attorney to be executed as of this 11th day of July, 2016.</p>

<p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></p>

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%">
<tr style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left">
    <td style="width: 55%">&nbsp;</td>
    <td style="width: 30%; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">/s/ Karen G. Narwold</td>
    <td style="width: 15%">&nbsp;</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left">
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>Karen G. Narwold</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
</table>

<p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</p>

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<p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</p>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
