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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RQ3Kr1cDFlzt+qrTLc+db7JObg1YOzSp0HS9eeQgL4bvkCovsW4Yh2CFDI9EaBiR
 tjW2+iIssc+d1dGCDKUSMw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000915913-03-000014.txt : 20030701
<SEC-HEADER>0000915913-03-000014.hdr.sgml : 20030701
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030701144847
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000915913-03-000014
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030701
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030701

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALBEMARLE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000915913
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PLASTICS, MATERIALS, SYNTH RESINS & NONVULCAN ELASTOMERS [2821]
		IRS NUMBER:				541692118
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		330 SOUTH FOURTH STREET
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 1335
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23218
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8047886000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		330 SOUTH FOURTH STREET
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1335
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23218

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ECHEM INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19931208

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GOTTWALD FLOYD D JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000919560
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12658
		FILM NUMBER:		03767677

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		330 SOUTH FOURTH STREET
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23219
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8047885000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		330 SOUTH FOURTH STREET
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23219
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-01</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000915913</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALBEMARLE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALB</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000919560</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GOTTWALD FLOYD D JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice Chairman of the Board</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9324</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>27.97</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>878891</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value
/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1"> Indirect Owership:  122,495 Shares held by estate of late wife Elisabeth S. Gottwald;  36,953 Shares held by Westham Partners, L.P., of which the reporting person is a general partner</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>George P. Manson, Jr. -- attorney in fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-01</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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