XML 75 R58.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.10.0.1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions |  | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jan. 01, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Jan. 01, 2019
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Out-of-period adjustments |  |  | $ 5.1 |  |
Trade accounts receivable arising from contracts with customers |  | $ 590.3 |  |  |
Reduction in federal statutory rate | 21.00% | 21.00% | 35.00% | 35.00% |
Foreign exchange transaction (losses) gains |  | $ (10.5) | $ (11.1) | $ 2.4 |
Maximum remaining expiration period for foreign currency forward contracts |  | 1 year |  |  |
Minimum |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Payment terms |  | 30 days |  |  |
Timing between shipment and delivery |  | 1 day |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  | 2 years |  |  |
Definite-lived intangible assets useful life |  | 5 years |  |  |
Maximum |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Payment terms |  | 90 days |  |  |
Timing between shipment and delivery |  | 45 days |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  | 60 years |  |  |
Definite-lived intangible assets useful life |  | 25 years |  |  |
Planned Major Maintenance Activities |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  | 12 months |  |  |
Accounting Standards Update 2016-16 | Retained Earnings |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative effect of new accounting principle adopted | $ 11.2 |  |  |  |
Accounting Standards Update 2018-02 | Retained Earnings |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative effect of new accounting principle adopted | $ 6.9 |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Additional right-of-use assets |  |  |  |  | $ 135.0

X
- Definition Revenue, Performance Obligation, Payment Terms + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_RevenuePerformanceObligationPaymentTerms
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Revenue, Performance Obligation, Timing Between Shipment And Delivery + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_RevenuePerformanceObligationTimingBetweenShipmentAndDelivery
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount, after allowance for credit loss, of right to consideration in exchange for good or service transferred to customer when right is conditioned on something other than passage of time, classified as current. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913815&loc=SL49130531-203044 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913815&loc=SL49130533-203044 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetNetCurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount after tax of increase (decrease) to equity or (increase) decrease to net assets, resulting from the cumulative effect adjustment of a new accounting principle applied in the period of adoption. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Percentage of domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable to pretax income (loss). + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34349781&loc=d3e330036-122817 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32687-109319 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 13 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32698-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of lessee's right to use underlying asset under finance lease. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 842 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888419&loc=SL77918627-209977 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAsset
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount before tax of foreign currency transaction realized and unrealized gain (loss) recognized in the income statement. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450222&loc=d3e30840-110895 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109240200&loc=d3e30700-110894 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109240200&loc=d3e30690-110894 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Maximum amount of time remaining before foreign currency exchange rate derivatives mature or expire, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_MaximumRemainingMaturityOfForeignCurrencyDerivatives1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of other income tax expense (benefit). + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32639-109319 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32672-109319 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherTaxExpenseBenefit
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=alb_PlannedMajorMaintenanceActivitiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201616Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=alb_AccountingStandardsUpdate201802Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201602Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |