Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Net sales	$ 604,721	$ 576,842	$ 1,204,564	$ 1,163,439
Cost of goods sold	397,358	385,172	801,602	775,858
Gross profit	207,363	191,670	402,962	387,581
Selling, general and administrative expenses	67,011	61,725	145,115	125,300
Research and development expenses	21,937	21,565	44,509	41,518
Restructuring and other charges, net (Note 13)	8,175	0	25,175	0
Operating profit	110,240	108,380	188,163	220,763
Interest and financing expenses	(8,733)	(7,608)	(17,506)	(12,839)
Other (expenses) income, net	(979)	(1,585)	164	(5,779)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	100,528	99,187	170,821	202,145
Income tax expense	21,773	20,396	34,963	45,934
Income from continuing operations before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	78,755	78,791	135,858	156,211
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	10,649	9,709	19,550	19,970
Net income from continuing operations	89,404	88,500	155,408	176,181
(Loss) income from discontinued operations (net of tax)	(60,025)	2,628	(61,794)	4,463
Net income	29,379	91,128	93,614	180,644
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6,932)	(8,389)	(14,584)	(13,918)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 22,447	$ 82,739	$ 79,030	$ 166,726
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations	$ 1.05	$ 0.95	$ 1.78	$ 1.88
Basic earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.76)	$ 0.03	$ (0.78)	$ 0.05
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.29	$ 0.98	$ 1.00	$ 1.93
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.04	$ 0.95	$ 1.77	$ 1.87
Diluted earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.76)	$ 0.03	$ (0.78)	$ 0.05
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.28	$ 0.98	$ 0.99	$ 1.92
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	78,662	84,028	79,199	86,374
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	79,091	84,489	79,602	86,862
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.275	$ 0.240	$ 0.550	$ 0.480