XML 146 R128.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.6.0.2

Restructuring and Other Restructuring and Other Reported in Consolidated Statements of Income (Footnote) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Contract Termination |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring items related to exit of business or contract |  | $ 6,500 | $ 14,000 | $ 0 |  | $ 23,521 | [1]
Restructuring items related to exit of business or contract, net of tax |  | $ 4,300 | 9,300 |  |  |  |
Asset impairment charges |  |  | 3,000 |  |  |  |
Asset impairment charges, net of tax |  |  | $ 1,900 |  |  |  |
Phosphorus Flame Retardant Business Exit |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Exit of phosphorus flame retardants business | $ 6,800 |  |  | $ 6,804 | [2] | $ 0 |
Exit of phosphorus flame retardants business, net of tax | $ 5,400 |  |  |  |  |  |
[1] | In 2014, we initiated action to reduce high cost supply capacity of certain aluminum alkyl products, primarily through the termination of a third party manufacturing contract. Based on the contract termination, we estimated costs of approximately $14.0 million ($9.3 million after income taxes) in the first quarter and $6.5 million ($4.3 million after income taxes) in the fourth quarter for contract termination and volume commitments. Additionally, in the first quarter of 2014 we recorded an impairment charge of $3.0 million ($1.9 million after income taxes) for certain capital project costs also related to aluminum alkyls capacity which we do not expect to recover.
[2] | In the third quarter of 2015, a gain of $6.8 million ($5.4 million after income taxes) was recognized upon the sale of land in Avonmouth, U.K., which was utilized by the phosphorus flame retardants business we exited in 2012. In 2012, charges in connection with our exit of the phosphorus flame retardants business were recorded in Restructuring and other, net, on our consolidated statements of income.

X
- Definition Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement, net of income taxes. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_AssetImpairmentChargesNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Business exit costs net of tax. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_BusinessExitCostsNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Other Nonrecurring Income, Net of Tax + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_OtherNonrecurringIncomeNetofTax
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68055307&loc=d3e2420-110228 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Includes, but is not limited to, one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, and relocating employees, and termination benefits associated with an ongoing benefit arrangement. Excludes expenses associated with special or contractual termination benefits, a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140864-122747 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.4(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessExitCosts1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of other income that is infrequent in occurrence or unusual in nature. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64828382&loc=d3e15138-107781 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherNonrecurringIncome
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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_RestructuringCostAndReserveLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=us-gaap_ContractTerminationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis=alb_PhosphorusFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |