Segment Information Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 884,404		$ 599,843
Adjusted EBITDA	265,628		136,030
Depreciation and amortization	(63,986)		(27,809)
Utilization of inventory markup	(48,200)
Restructuring and other charges, net	0		(17,000)
Acquisition and integration related costs	(59,523)		0
Interest and financing expenses	(35,746)		(8,773)
Income tax expense	(14,140)		(13,190)
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)	0		(1,769)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	43,115		56,583
Performance Chemicals
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	388,366		275,897
Adjusted EBITDA	130,528		73,385
Refining Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	179,166		194,661
Adjusted EBITDA	42,193		61,034
Chemetall Surface Treatment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	192,091		0
Adjusted EBITDA	46,004		0
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	122,369		129,285
Adjusted EBITDA	13,564		20,695
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	2,412		0
Adjusted EBITDA	33,339		(19,084)
Continuing Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	265,628		136,030
Depreciation and amortization	(63,986)		(24,644)	[1]
Utilization of inventory markup	(48,186)	[2]
Restructuring and other charges, net			(17,000)	[3]
Acquisition and integration related costs	(59,523)	[4]
Interest and financing expenses	(35,746)		(8,773)
Income tax expense	(14,140)		(13,190)
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)			(1,769)
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	3,509		(14,071)
Other	(4,441)	[5]
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	43,115		56,583
Continuing Operations [Member] | Performance Chemicals
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	130,528		73,385
Depreciation and amortization	(30,283)		(12,056)	[1]
Utilization of inventory markup	(28,582)	[2]
Restructuring and other charges, net			0	[3]
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	[4]
Interest and financing expenses	0		0
Income tax expense	0		0
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)			0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0		0
Other	0	[5]
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	71,663		61,329
Continuing Operations [Member] | Refining Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	42,193		61,034
Depreciation and amortization	(8,110)		(8,680)	[1]
Utilization of inventory markup	0	[2]
Restructuring and other charges, net			0	[3]
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	[4]
Interest and financing expenses	0		0
Income tax expense	0		0
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)			0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0		0
Other	0	[5]
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	34,083		52,354
Continuing Operations [Member] | Chemetall Surface Treatment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	46,004		0
Depreciation and amortization	(18,196)		0	[1]
Utilization of inventory markup	(16,953)	[2]
Restructuring and other charges, net			0	[3]
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	[4]
Interest and financing expenses	0		0
Income tax expense	0		0
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)			0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0		0
Other	0	[5]
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	10,855		0
Continuing Operations [Member] | Reportable Segment Subtotal
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	218,725		134,419
Depreciation and amortization	(56,589)		(20,736)	[1]
Utilization of inventory markup	(45,535)	[2]
Restructuring and other charges, net			0	[3]
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	[4]
Interest and financing expenses	0		0
Income tax expense	0		0
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)			0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0		0
Other	0	[5]
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	116,601		113,683
Continuing Operations [Member] | All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	13,564		20,695
Depreciation and amortization	(5,498)		(3,364)	[1]
Utilization of inventory markup	(2,651)	[2]
Restructuring and other charges, net			0	[3]
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	[4]
Interest and financing expenses	0		0
Income tax expense	0		0
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)			0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0		0
Other	0	[5]
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	5,415		17,331
Continuing Operations [Member] | Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	33,339		(19,084)
Depreciation and amortization	(1,899)		(544)	[1]
Utilization of inventory markup	0	[2]
Restructuring and other charges, net			(17,000)	[3]
Acquisition and integration related costs	(59,523)	[4]
Interest and financing expenses	(35,746)		(8,773)
Income tax expense	(14,140)		(13,190)
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)			(1,769)
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	3,509		(14,071)
Other	(4,441)	[5]
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ (78,901)		$ (74,431)

[1] Excludes discontinued operations.

[2] In connection with the acquisition of Rockwood, the Company valued Rockwood’s existing inventory at fair value as of the Acquisition Closing Date, which resulted in a markup of the underlying net book value of the inventory totaling approximately $103 million. The inventory markup is being expensed over the estimated remaining selling period. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, $40.3 million was included in Cost of goods sold, and Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments was reduced by $7.9 million, related to the utilization of the inventory markup.

[3] See Note 15, “Restructuring and Other.”

[4] See Note 2, “Acquisitions.”

[5] Financing-related fees expensed in the 2015 period in connection with the acquisition of Rockwood.