Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 234,490		$ 2,489,768	$ 653,120		$ 477,239
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts (2015 – $2,486; 2014 – $1,563)	618,301		385,212
Other accounts receivable	76,271		49,423
Inventories	629,393		358,361
Other current assets	162,460		66,086
Total current assets	1,720,915		3,348,850
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	4,096,921		2,620,670
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	1,496,069		1,388,802
Net property, plant and equipment	2,600,852		1,231,868
Investments	453,869		194,042
Other assets	191,349		160,956
Goodwill	2,811,086		243,262
Other intangibles, net of amortization	1,896,993		44,125
Total assets	9,675,064		5,223,103
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	371,649		231,705
Accrued expenses	566,932		166,174
Current portion of long-term debt	284,368		711,096
Dividends payable	32,295		21,458
Income taxes payable	67,304		9,453
Total current liabilities	1,322,548		1,139,886
Long-term debt	3,558,964		2,223,035
Postretirement benefits	55,401		56,424
Pension benefits	451,056		170,534
Other noncurrent liabilities	250,737		87,705
Deferred income taxes	$ 761,844		$ 56,884
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 2, 10)
Albemarle Corporation shareholders’ equity:
Common stock, $.01 par value, issued and outstanding – 112,202 in 2015 and 78,031 in 2014	$ 1,122		$ 780
Additional paid-in capital	2,056,082		10,447
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(386,413)	$ (316,406)	(62,413)	(1,651)	$ 99,644	116,245
Retained earnings	1,473,698		1,410,651
Total Albemarle Corporation shareholders’ equity	3,144,489		1,359,465
Noncontrolling interests	130,025		129,170
Total equity	3,274,514		1,488,635	$ 1,587,271		$ 1,742,776
Total liabilities and equity	$ 9,675,064		$ 5,223,103