XML 99 R78.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.20.4

Goodwill and Other Intangibles Changes in Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Goodwill, Beginning Balance | $ 1,578,785 | $ 1,567,169
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | 82,150 | (20,146)
Goodwill, Ending Balance | 1,665,520 | 1,578,785
All Other |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Goodwill, Beginning Balance | 6,586 | 6,586
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | 0 | 0
Goodwill, Ending Balance | 6,586 | 6,586
Reportable Segments | Lithium |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Goodwill, Beginning Balance | 1,370,846 | 1,354,779
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | 66,350 | (15,695)
Goodwill, Ending Balance | 1,441,781 | 1,370,846
Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Goodwill, Beginning Balance | 20,319 | 20,319
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | 0 | 0
Goodwill, Ending Balance | 20,319 | 20,319
Reportable Segments | Catalysts |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Goodwill, Beginning Balance | 181,034 | 185,485
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | 15,800 | (4,451)
Goodwill, Ending Balance | 196,834 | 181,034
Reportable Segments | Refining Solutions |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Goodwill, Ending Balance | 189,800 |
Reportable Segments | PCS |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Goodwill, Ending Balance | 7,000 |
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Acquisitions | 4,585 | 31,762
Goodwill, Ending Balance | 36,347 |
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | All Other |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Acquisitions | 0 | 0
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | Reportable Segments | Lithium |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Acquisitions | 4,585 | 31,762
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Acquisitions | 0 | 0
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | Reportable Segments | Catalysts |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Acquisitions | $ 0 | $ 0

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/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(10)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120320667&loc=SL49117168-202975 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99380562&loc=d3e13770-109266 + 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://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121556970&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) from adjustments after acquisition date under purchase accounting of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 16 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116868678&loc=d3e961-128460 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121556970&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillPurchaseAccountingAdjustments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
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_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_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=alb_RefiningSolutionsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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

X
- Details
Name: | srt_OwnershipAxis=alb_MineralResourcesLimitedWodginaProjectMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |