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Goodwill and Other Intangibles - Changes in Goodwill by Operating Segment (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill [Roll Forward]    
Goodwill, Beginning Balance $ 284,203us-gaap_Goodwill $ 276,966us-gaap_Goodwill
Foreign currency translation adjustments (25,853)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments 7,237us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
Divestitures(a) (15,088)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit [1]  
Goodwill, Ending Balance 243,262us-gaap_Goodwill 284,203us-gaap_Goodwill
Performance Chemicals    
Goodwill [Roll Forward]    
Goodwill, Beginning Balance 43,603us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember		 43,519us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember
Foreign currency translation adjustments (1,321)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember		 84us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember
Goodwill, Ending Balance 42,282us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember		 43,603us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= alb_PerformanceChemicalsMember
Catalyst Solutions    
Goodwill [Roll Forward]    
Goodwill, Beginning Balance 240,600us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= alb_CatalystSolutionsMember		 233,447us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= alb_CatalystSolutionsMember
Foreign currency translation adjustments (24,532)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= alb_CatalystSolutionsMember		 7,153us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= alb_CatalystSolutionsMember
Divestitures(a) (15,088)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= alb_CatalystSolutionsMember		 [1]  
Goodwill, Ending Balance 200,980us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= alb_CatalystSolutionsMember		 240,600us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= alb_CatalystSolutionsMember
Antioxidant, Ibuprofen and Propofol Assets - Discontinued Operations    
Goodwill [Roll Forward]    
Divestitures(a) $ (15,088)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= alb_AntioxidantIbuprofenandPropofolAssetsMember		  
[1] In 2014 we reduced Catalyst Solutions segment goodwill by $15.1 million in connection with the sale of our antioxidant, ibuprofen and propofol businesses and assets which closed on September 1, 2014. See Note 2 “Discontinued Operations” for additional information about this transaction.