XML 56 R42.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Goodwill and Other Intangibles - Changes in Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |
Goodwill classified as assets held for sale | $ 14,400 | $ 14,400
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Balance at beginning of period | 1,610,355 |
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | 33,391 |
Balance at end of period | 1,643,746 |
Reportable Segments | Lithium |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Balance at beginning of period | 1,389,089 |
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | 26,110 |
Balance at end of period | 1,415,199 |
Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Balance at beginning of period | 20,319 |
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | 0 |
Balance at end of period | 20,319 |
Reportable Segments | Catalysts |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Balance at beginning of period | 194,361 |
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | 7,281 |
Balance at end of period | 201,642 |
Reportable Segments | All Other |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Balance at beginning of period | 6,586 |
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | 0 |
Balance at end of period | $ 6,586 |

X
- Definition Amount classified as goodwill attributable to disposal group held for sale or disposed of. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65878427&loc=SL51721533-107759 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65878427&loc=d3e1107-107759 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5B -Subparagraph (e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=SL51721673-107760 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84176398&loc=d3e2941-110230 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationGoodwill1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77989000&loc=SL49117168-202975 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of foreign currency translation gain (loss) which increases (decreases) an asset representing future economic benefits from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLoss
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_GoodwillLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
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_GoodwillRollForward
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=alb_LithiumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=alb_BromineSpecialtiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=alb_CatalystsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |