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Segment and Geographic Area Information Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Net sales | $ 3,327,957,000 | $ 3,128,909,000 | $ 3,589,427,000
Adjusted EBITDA | 870,974,000 | 818,738,000 | 1,036,781,000
Net income attributable to joint venture | 123,672,000 | 375,764,000 | 533,228,000
Depreciation and amortization | 254,000,000 | 231,984,000 | 213,484,000
Restructuring and other | 3,027,000 | 19,597,000 | 5,877,000
Gain on sale of business/interest in properties, net | (295,971,000) | 0 | 0
Acquisition and integration related costs | 12,670,000 | 17,263,000 | 20,684,000
Gain on sale of property | 0 | 0 | (14,411,000)
Interest and financing expenses | 61,476,000 | 73,116,000 | 57,695,000
Income tax expense | 29,446,000 | 54,425,000 | 88,161,000
Non-operating pension and OPEB items | (78,814,000) | 40,668,000 | 26,970,000
Windfield tax settlement |  |  | 17,292,000
Legal accrual | 657,412,000 |  |
Albemarle Foundation contribution | 20,000,000 |  |
Indemnification adjustments | 39,381,000 |  |
Other | 44,675,000 | 5,921,000 | 23,035,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Restructuring and other |  | 19,200,000 |
Acquisition and integration related costs | 12,700,000 | 17,300,000 | 20,700,000
Gain on sale of property |  | (3,300,000) |
Reportable Segments |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA | 947,161,000 | 846,832,000 | 1,124,015,000
Net income attributable to joint venture | 557,098,000 | 632,355,000 | 841,398,000
Depreciation and amortization | 241,541,000 | 213,149,000 | 197,179,000
Restructuring and other | 0 | 0 | 0
Gain on sale of business/interest in properties, net | 132,400,000 |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs | 0 | 0 | 0
Gain on sale of property |  |  | 0
Interest and financing expenses | 0 | 0 | 0
Income tax expense | 0 | 0 | 0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items | 0 | 0 | 0
Windfield tax settlement |  |  | 17,292,000
Legal accrual | 0 |  |
Albemarle Foundation contribution | 0 |  |
Indemnification adjustments | 0 |  |
Other | 16,122,000 | 1,328,000 | 3,380,000
Reportable Segments | Lithium |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Net sales | 1,363,284,000 | 1,144,778,000 | 1,358,170,000
Adjusted EBITDA | 479,538,000 | 393,093,000 | 524,934,000
Net income attributable to joint venture | 192,244,000 | 277,711,000 | 341,767,000
Depreciation and amortization | 138,772,000 | 112,854,000 | 99,424,000
Restructuring and other | 0 | 0 | 0
Gain on sale of business/interest in properties, net | 132,400,000 |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs | 0 | 0 | 0
Gain on sale of property |  |  | 0
Interest and financing expenses | 0 | 0 | 0
Income tax expense | 0 | 0 | 0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items | 0 | 0 | 0
Windfield tax settlement |  |  | 17,292,000
Legal accrual | 0 |  |
Albemarle Foundation contribution | 0 |  |
Indemnification adjustments | 0 |  |
Other | 16,122,000 | 2,528,000 | 1,685,000
Reportable Segments | Bromine |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Net sales | 1,128,343,000 | 964,962,000 | 1,004,216,000
Adjusted EBITDA | 360,682,000 | 323,605,000 | 328,457,000
Net income attributable to joint venture | 309,501,000 | 274,495,000 | 279,945,000
Depreciation and amortization | 51,181,000 | 50,310,000 | 47,611,000
Restructuring and other | 0 | 0 | 0
Gain on sale of business/interest in properties, net | 0 |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs | 0 | 0 | 0
Gain on sale of property |  |  | 0
Interest and financing expenses | 0 | 0 | 0
Income tax expense | 0 | 0 | 0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items | 0 | 0 | 0
Windfield tax settlement |  |  | 0
Legal accrual | 0 |  |
Albemarle Foundation contribution | 0 |  |
Indemnification adjustments | 0 |  |
Other | 0 | (1,200,000) | 901,000
Reportable Segments | Catalysts |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Net sales | 761,235,000 | 797,914,000 | 1,061,817,000
Adjusted EBITDA | 106,941,000 | 130,134,000 | 270,624,000
Net income attributable to joint venture | 55,353,000 | 80,149,000 | 219,686,000
Depreciation and amortization | 51,588,000 | 49,985,000 | 50,144,000
Restructuring and other | 0 | 0 | 0
Gain on sale of business/interest in properties, net | 0 |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs | 0 | 0 | 0
Gain on sale of property |  |  | 0
Interest and financing expenses | 0 | 0 | 0
Income tax expense | 0 | 0 | 0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items | 0 | 0 | 0
Windfield tax settlement |  |  | 0
Legal accrual | 0 |  |
Albemarle Foundation contribution | 0 |  |
Indemnification adjustments | 0 |  |
Other | 0 | 0 | 794,000
All Other |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Net sales | 75,095,000 | 221,255,000 | 165,224,000
Adjusted EBITDA | 29,858,000 | 84,821,000 | 49,628,000
Net income attributable to joint venture | 27,988,000 | 76,323,000 | 41,188,000
Depreciation and amortization | 1,870,000 | 8,498,000 | 8,440,000
Restructuring and other | 0 | 0 | 0
Gain on sale of business/interest in properties, net | 0 |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs | 0 | 0 | 0
Gain on sale of property |  |  | 0
Interest and financing expenses | 0 | 0 | 0
Income tax expense | 0 | 0 | 0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items | 0 | 0 | 0
Windfield tax settlement |  |  | 0
Legal accrual | 0 |  |
Albemarle Foundation contribution | 0 |  |
Indemnification adjustments | 0 |  |
Other | 0 | 0 | 0
Corporate |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA | (106,045,000) | (112,915,000) | (136,862,000)
Net income attributable to joint venture | (461,414,000) | (332,914,000) | (349,358,000)
Depreciation and amortization | 10,589,000 | 10,337,000 | 7,865,000
Restructuring and other | 3,027,000 | 19,597,000 | 5,877,000
Gain on sale of business/interest in properties, net | (428,371,000) |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs | 12,670,000 | 17,263,000 | 20,684,000
Gain on sale of property |  |  | (14,411,000)
Interest and financing expenses | 61,476,000 | 73,116,000 | 57,695,000
Income tax expense | 29,446,000 | 54,425,000 | 88,161,000
Non-operating pension and OPEB items | (78,814,000) | 40,668,000 | 26,970,000
Windfield tax settlement |  |  | 0
Legal accrual | 657,412,000 |  |
Albemarle Foundation contribution | 20,000,000 |  |
Indemnification adjustments | 39,381,000 |  |
Other | 28,553,000 | 4,593,000 | 19,655,000
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Net sales | 0 | 0 |
Net income attributable to joint venture | (32,800,000) | $ (20,100,000) | (73,000,000)
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | Stamp duty tax |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs | $ 61,500,000 |  | 64,800,000
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | Stamp duty tax | Selling, general and administrative expenses |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  | 64,766,000
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | Stamp duty tax | Reportable Segments |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  | 64,766,000
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | Stamp duty tax | Reportable Segments | Lithium |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  | 64,766,000
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | Stamp duty tax | Reportable Segments | Bromine |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  | 0
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | Stamp duty tax | Reportable Segments | Catalysts |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  | 0
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | Stamp duty tax | All Other |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  | 0
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | Stamp duty tax | Corporate |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  | $ 0

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