XML 71 R59.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.7.0.1

Segment Information Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Footnote) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Feb. 01, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |  | $ 52,801 | $ 0 |
Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd. |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Inventory markup | $ 23,000 | 23,000 |  |
Sales de Magnesio Ltda. |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Percentage of equity interests acquired |  |  |  | 50.00%
Cost of goods sold |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other, net |  | 2,900 |  |
Cost of goods sold | Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd. |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Utilization of inventory markup | 11,900 | 22,500 |  |
Selling, general and administrative expenses |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other, net | 4,200 | 8,400 |  |
Reversal of purchase accounting accrual | 1,000 | 1,000 |  |
Research and development expenses |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other, net |  | 5,800 |  |
Other expenses, net |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Final settlement claims on previous business disposal | 2,000 | 2,000 |  |
Revision of tax indemnification expense | $ 1,200 | 1,200 |  |
Asset retirement obligation charges |  | 3,200 |  |
Loss on sale of properties |  | $ 2,100 |  |

X
- Definition Inventory markup + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_Inventorymarkup
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Reversal of purchase accounting accrual + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_Reversalofpurchaseaccountingaccrual
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Revision of tax indemnification expense + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_Revisionoftaxindemnificationexpense
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Utilization of Inventory Markup + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_UtilizationofInventoryMarkup
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in the asset retirement obligation from changes in the amount or timing of the estimated cash flows associated with the settlement of the obligation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 35 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392603&loc=d3e7123-110846 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage of voting equity interests acquired at the acquisition date in the business combination. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The difference between the carrying value and the sale price of real estate or properties that were intended to be sold or held for capital appreciation or rental income. This element refers to the gain (loss) included in earnings and not to the cash proceeds of the sale. This element is a noncash adjustment to net income when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfProperties
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 50 -Section 40 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12317-112629 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=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 50 -Section 40 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12355-112629 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of cash paid for the settlement of litigation or for other legal issues during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3536-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PaymentsForLegalSettlements
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of restructuring charges, remediation cost, and asset impairment loss. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
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_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=alb_JiangxiJiangliNewMaterialsScienceandTechnologyCo.Ltd.Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=alb_SalesdeMagnesioLtda.Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |