Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 931,485		$ 604,721	$ 1,815,889		$ 1,204,564
Cost of goods sold	630,919		397,358	1,256,857		801,602
Gross profit	300,566		207,363	559,032		402,962
Selling, general and administrative expenses	147,712		67,011	283,477		145,115
Research and development expenses	25,336		21,937	51,828		44,509
Restructuring and other charges, net	0		3,332	0		20,332
Acquisition and integration related costs	24,166		4,843	83,689		4,843
Operating profit	103,352		110,240	140,038		188,163
Interest and financing expenses	(33,182)		(8,733)	(68,928)		(17,506)
Other income (expenses), net	541		(979)	50,498		164
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	70,711		100,528	121,608		170,821
Income tax expense	17,139		21,773	31,279		34,963
Income from continuing operations before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	53,572		78,755	90,329		135,858
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	5,794		10,649	16,186		19,550
Net income from continuing operations	59,366		89,404	106,515		155,408
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)	0		(60,025)	0		(61,794)
Net income	59,366		29,379	106,515		93,614
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,219)		(6,932)	(11,253)		(14,584)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 52,147		$ 22,447	$ 95,262		$ 79,030
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.46		$ 1.05	$ 0.86		$ 1.78
Basic earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00		(0.76)	0.00		(0.78)
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.46		0.29	0.86		1.00
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.46		1.04	0.86		1.77
Diluted earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00		(0.76)	0.00		(0.78)
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.46		$ 0.28	$ 0.86		$ 0.99
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	112,189	[1]	78,662	110,160	[1]	79,199
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	112,607	[1]	79,091	110,536	[1]	79,602
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.29		$ 0.275	$ 0.58		$ 0.550

[1] 2015 includes the impact of 34,113 shares issued in connection with the Rockwood acquisition.