Long-Term Debt (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Commercial paper notes	$ 461,717us-gaap_CommercialPaper	$ 367,178us-gaap_CommercialPaper
Fixed rate foreign borrowings	10,679alb_FixedRateForeignBorrowings	1,958alb_FixedRateForeignBorrowings
Variable-rate foreign bank loans	38,390alb_VariableRateForeignBorrowings	25,139alb_VariableRateForeignBorrowings
Variable rate domestic bank loans	59,880alb_VariableRateDomesticBorrowings	0alb_VariableRateDomesticBorrowings
Capital lease obligations	21,994us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations	0us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations
Miscellaneous	88us-gaap_OtherLongTermDebt	189us-gaap_OtherLongTermDebt
Total long-term debt	4,013,121	2,934,131
Less amounts due within one year	471,809	711,096
Long-term debt, less current portion	3,541,312	2,223,035
1.875% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes	758,438	844,315
3.00% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes	249,709	249,694
4.15% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes	423,597	423,561
4.50% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes	348,207	348,129
4.625% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes	1,291,442	0
5.10% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes	0	324,997
5.45% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes	$ 348,980	$ 348,971

Fixed Rate Foreign Borrowings

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- Definition

Variable Rate Domestic Borrowings

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Loans from foreign banks at variable interest rates.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date.

+ References

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- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of short-term borrowings using unsecured obligations issued by banks, corporations and other borrowers to investors. The maturities of these money market securities generally do not exceed 270 days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 7

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(a)(3))

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.13(2))

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- Definition

Amount of long-term debt and capital lease obligation due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 6

-Section H

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Amount of long-term debt and capital leases due within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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- Definition

Amount of long-term debt and capital lease obligations including current maturities.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Including both current and noncurrent portions, carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of other forms of debt not elsewhere specified in the taxonomy with initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 20, 22

-Article 5

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Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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