XML 136 R116.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Income Taxes Reconciliation of Total Gross Liability Related to Uncertain Tax Positions (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Beginning Balance | $ 25,384 | $ 95,715 | $ 24,969
Acquisition of Rockwood | 0 | 0 | 124,758
Divestitures | 0 | (55,881) | 0
Additions for tax positions related to prior years | 0 | 548 | 4,329
Reductions for tax positions related to prior years | (1,933) | (1,253) | (46,211)
Additions for tax positions related to current year | 1,132 | 1,271 | 202
Lapses in statutes of limitations/settlements | (4,198) | (12,591) | (6,736)
Foreign currency translation adjustment | 1,053 | (2,425) | (5,596)
Ending Balance | $ 21,438 | $ 25,384 | $ 95,715

X
- Definition Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decrease Resulting from Divestitures + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreaseResultingfromDivestitures
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Increase (Decrease) Resulting from Foreign Currency Translation + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreaseDecreaseResultingfromForeignCurrencyTranslation
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ReconciliationOfUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsExcludingAmountsPertainingToExaminedTaxReturnsRollForward
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of unrecognized tax benefits. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions taken in prior period tax returns. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of increase in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from acquisitions. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromAcquisition
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of increase in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions that have been or will be taken in current period tax return. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of increase in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions taken in prior period tax returns. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from lapses of applicable statutes of limitations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a)(4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration