-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 HqaS1m8ytBW4E9jbWspJG/D7IquhYXPrQh3YVZRAPSqOZ2iT9TfkIE9ojzjyBxCb
 rfSvhpqHuF4vF5uEm8xAUQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000915913-07-000116.txt : 20070618
<SEC-HEADER>0000915913-07-000116.hdr.sgml : 20070618
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070618165218
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000915913-07-000116
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070524
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070618
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070618

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Parnell Anthony Stephen
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001384128

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12658
		FILM NUMBER:		07926302

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		225-388-7225

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		451 FLORIDA STREET
		CITY:			BATON ROUGE
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70801

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-05-24</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000915913</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALBEMARLE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001384128</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Parnell Anthony Stephen</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ALBEMARLE CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>451 FLORIDA STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BATON ROUGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>LA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>70801</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP-Global Sales,Svce&amp;Ops Plnng</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12491</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Albemarle Corporation Savings Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-05-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>42.15</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Portion of share increase due to periodic purchases by Albemarle Corporation Savings Plan trustee.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Portion of share increase due to recent 2-1 stock split.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Nicole C. Daniel, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-06-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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