Operating Segments and Geographic Area Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments

	Year Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
				(In thousands)
Net sales:
Performance Chemicals	$	1,430,652		$	1,506,960		$	1,586,246
Catalyst Solutions	1,185,764			1,238,460			1,282,759
Total net sales	$	2,616,416		$	2,745,420		$	2,869,005
Segment operating profit:
Performance Chemicals	$	324,602		$	405,764		$	435,478
Catalyst Solutions	210,229			241,624			267,147
Total segment operating profit	534,831			647,388			702,625
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments:
Performance Chemicals	8,875			6,416			7,696
Catalyst Solutions	22,854			31,651			36,259
Corporate & other	—			—			(201		)
Total equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	31,729			38,067			43,754
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Performance Chemicals	(26,663		)	(18,571		)	(28,109		)
Corporate & other	—			(20		)	26
Total net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(26,663		)	(18,591		)	(28,083		)
Segment income:
Performance Chemicals	306,814			393,609			415,065
Catalyst Solutions	233,083			273,275			303,406
Total segment income	539,897			666,884			718,471
Corporate & other(a)	81,439			(129,559		)	(185,006		)
Restructuring and other charges(b)	(33,361		)	(111,685		)	—
Interest and financing expenses	(31,559		)	(32,800		)	(37,574		)
Other (expenses) income, net	(6,923		)	1,229			357
Income tax expense	(136,322		)	(82,533		)	(104,134		)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$	413,171		$	311,536		$	392,114

(a) For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, Corporate and other includes $143.1 million, $(68.0) million and $(89.2) million, respectively, of pension and OPEB plan credits (costs) (including mark-to-market actuarial gains and losses).

(b) See Note 19, “Special Items.”

Goodwill and Identifiable Assets by Reportable Segments

	As of December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
			(In thousands)
Identifiable assets:
Performance Chemicals	$	1,132,870	$	1,113,038	$	1,014,176
Catalyst Solutions	1,692,088		1,569,851		1,499,952
Corporate & other	759,839		754,402		689,696
Total identifiable assets	$	3,584,797	$	3,437,291	$	3,203,824
Goodwill:
Performance Chemicals	$	46,635	$	46,551	$	46,130
Catalyst Solutions	237,568		230,415		227,015
Total goodwill	$	284,203	$	276,966	$	273,145

Depreciation Amortization and Capital Expenditures by Reportable Segments

	Year Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
			(In thousands)
Depreciation and amortization:
Performance Chemicals	$	47,572	$	41,831	$	42,085
Catalyst Solutions	57,610		55,275		53,333
Corporate & other	2,188		1,914		1,335
Total depreciation and amortization	$	107,370	$	99,020	$	96,753
Capital expenditures:
Performance Chemicals	$	94,506	$	156,648	$	110,035
Catalyst Solutions	60,326		122,746		65,308
Corporate & other	514		1,479		15,231
Total capital expenditures	$	155,346	$	280,873	$	190,574

Net Sales

	Year Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
			(In thousands)
Net Sales:(a)
United States	$	1,022,220	$	1,053,068	$	1,106,580
Foreign	1,594,196		1,692,352		1,762,425
Total	$	2,616,416	$	2,745,420	$	2,869,005

(a) No sales in a foreign country exceed 10% of total net sales. Also, net sales are attributed to countries based upon shipments to final destination.

Long-Lived Assets

	As of December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
			(In thousands)
Long-Lived Assets:
United States	$	748,719	$	735,269	$	652,022
Netherlands	193,775		192,540		185,799
Jordan	227,818		209,133		141,725
Brazil	78,078		85,353		83,452
Germany	86,175		72,797		70,051
China	41,858		39,542		64,449
France	34,523		32,305		28,652
Korea	86,827		81,962		25,008
United Kingdom	3,665		—		12,436
Other foreign countries	47,139		33,598		46,323
Total	$	1,548,577	$	1,482,499	$	1,309,917

Net Sales to External Customers in Each of Segments

Net sales to external customers by product category in each of the segments consists of the following:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
			(In thousands)
Performance Chemicals:
Fire Safety Solutions	$	620,972	$	665,293	$	780,541
Specialty Chemicals	520,998		519,606		515,511
Fine Chemistry Services	288,682		322,061		290,194
Total Performance Chemicals	$	1,430,652	$	1,506,960	$	1,586,246
Catalyst Solutions:
Refinery Catalyst Solutions	$	768,837	$	794,933	$	851,482
Performance Catalyst Solutions	232,769		273,015		265,381
Antioxidants	184,158		170,512		165,896
Total Catalyst Solutions	$	1,185,764	$	1,238,460	$	1,282,759