XML 99 R81.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.6.0.2

Investments Ownership Positions in Significant Unconsolidated (Details) | Dec. 31, 2016 | Feb. 01, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Windfield Holdings |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage | 49.00% |  |  | 49.00% | 0.00%
Nippon Aluminum Alkyls |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage | 50.00% |  |  | 50.00% | 50.00%
Magnifin Magnesiaprodukte GmbH & Co. KG |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage | 0.00% | [1] | 50.00% | 50.00% | 50.00%
Nippon Ketjen Company Limited |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage | 50.00% |  |  | 50.00% | 50.00%
Eurecat S.A. |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage | 50.00% |  |  | 50.00% | 50.00%
Fabrica Carioca de Catalisadores S.A. |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage | 50.00% |  |  | 50.00% | 50.00%
[1] | On February 1, 2016, we sold our investment in Magnifin as part of the sale of the minerals-based flame retardants and specialty chemicals business. Refer to Note 3, “Divestitures,” for additional information.

X
- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=alb_JointVentureWindfieldHoldingsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=alb_JointVentureNipponAluminumAlkylsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=alb_JointVentureMagnifinMagnesiaprodukteGmbhAndCompanyKgMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=alb_JointVentureNipponKetjenCompanyLimitedMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=alb_JointVentureEurecatSAMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=alb_JointVentureFabricaCariocaDeCatalisadoresMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |