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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, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales | $ 857,789 | $ 754,866 | $ 737,258 | $ 722,063 | $ 696,655 | $ 654,010 | $ 669,327 | $ 657,211 | $ 3,071,976 | $ 2,677,203 | $ 2,826,429
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 885,480 | 758,217 | 756,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation | $ 218,366 | $ (118,670) | $ (103,333) | $ (51,213) | (602,090) | (128,220) | 314,821 | (228,186) | (54,850) | (643,675) | (334,906)
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 196,928 | 226,169 | 260,076
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | (974) | (121,324) | 0 | (122,298) | 0
Restructuring and other, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | (6,804)
Gain on acquisition |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (6,221) | 0 | 0
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  |  |  | 13,047 | 6,749 | 19,030 | 18,558 | 0 | 57,384 | 132,299
Interest and financing expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 115,350 | 65,181 | 81,650
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 431,817 | 96,263 | 11,134
Income from discontinued operations (net of tax) |  |  |  |  | $ (559,974) | $ (23,185) | $ 398,340 | $ (17,312) | 0 | (202,131) | (32,476)
Note receivable reserve |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 28,700 |  |
Lithium and Advanced Materials |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,308,153 | 968,216 | 834,590
All Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 128,914 | 180,988 | 471,434
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13,878 | 14,772 | 53,993
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8,357 | 7,302 | 18,183
Reportable Segments | Lithium and Advanced Materials |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,308,153 | 968,216 | 834,590
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 518,530 | 363,360 | 312,867
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 102,389 | 101,966 | 84,069
Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 855,143 | 792,425 | 775,729
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 258,901 | 226,926 | 222,653
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 40,062 | 39,562 | 36,179
Reportable Segments | Refining Solutions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 778,304 | 732,137 | 729,261
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 212,005 | 238,963 | 197,595
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 39,958 | 36,089 | 34,039
Corporate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,462 | 3,437 | 15,415
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (117,834) | (85,804) | (31,108)
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,162 | 6,056 | 8,703
Continuing Operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 885,480 | 758,217 | 756,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 54,850 | 643,675 | 334,906
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 196,928 | 190,975 | 181,173
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (122,298) |
Utilization of inventory markup |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 23,095 |  | 83,006
Restructuring and other, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17,056 |  | (6,804)
Gain on acquisition |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (6,221) |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 33,954 | 57,384 | 132,299
Interest and financing expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 115,350 | 65,181 | 81,650
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 431,817 | 96,263 | 11,134
Income from discontinued operations (net of tax) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (202,131) | (32,476)
Non-operating pension and OPEB items |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (16,125) | 25,589 | (35,300)
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,887 |  |
Note receivable reserve |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 28,730 |  |
Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,841) | 3,579 | 6,412
Continuing Operations | All Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13,878 | 14,772 | 53,993
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5,521 | 131,301 | 32,781
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8,357 | 7,302 | 18,183
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (123,831) |
Utilization of inventory markup |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 3,029
Restructuring and other, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0
Gain on acquisition |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Interest and financing expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Income from discontinued operations (net of tax) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Note receivable reserve |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Continuing Operations | Reportable Segments | Lithium and Advanced Materials |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 518,530 | 363,360 | 312,867
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 400,360 | 261,394 | 148,821
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 102,389 | 101,966 | 84,069
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |
Utilization of inventory markup |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 23,095 |  | 79,977
Restructuring and other, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0
Gain on acquisition |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (6,221) |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Interest and financing expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Income from discontinued operations (net of tax) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Note receivable reserve |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,093) | 0 | 0
Continuing Operations | Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 258,901 | 226,926 | 222,653
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 218,839 | 187,364 | 186,474
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 40,062 | 39,562 | 36,179
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |
Utilization of inventory markup |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0
Restructuring and other, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0
Gain on acquisition |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Interest and financing expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Income from discontinued operations (net of tax) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Note receivable reserve |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Continuing Operations | Reportable Segments | Refining Solutions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 212,005 | 238,963 | 197,595
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 173,297 | 202,874 | 161,585
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 39,958 | 36,089 | 34,039
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |
Utilization of inventory markup |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0
Restructuring and other, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0
Gain on acquisition |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Interest and financing expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Income from discontinued operations (net of tax) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Note receivable reserve |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,250) | 0 | 1,971
Continuing Operations | Reportable Segments | Reportable Segments Total |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 989,436 | 829,249 | 733,115
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 792,496 | 651,632 | 496,880
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 182,409 | 177,617 | 154,287
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |
Utilization of inventory markup |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 23,095 |  | 79,977
Restructuring and other, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0
Gain on acquisition |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (6,221) |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Interest and financing expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Income from discontinued operations (net of tax) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Note receivable reserve |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2,343) | 0 | 1,971
Continuing Operations | Corporate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (117,834) | (85,804) | (31,108)
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (743,167) | (139,258) | (194,755)
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,162 | 6,056 | 8,703
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,533 |
Utilization of inventory markup |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0
Restructuring and other, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17,056 |  | (6,804)
Gain on acquisition |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 33,954 | 57,384 | 132,299
Interest and financing expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 115,350 | 65,181 | 81,650
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 431,817 | 96,263 | 11,134
Income from discontinued operations (net of tax) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (202,131) | (32,476)
Non-operating pension and OPEB items |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (16,125) | 25,589 | (35,300)
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,887 |  |
Note receivable reserve |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 28,730 |  |
Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 502 | $ 3,579 | $ 4,441

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