CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 3,651,335	$ 2,445,548	$ 2,394,270
Cost of goods sold	2,454,463	1,674,700	1,543,799
Gross profit	1,196,872	770,848	850,471
Selling, general and administrative expenses	512,274	355,135	158,189
Research and development expenses	102,871	88,310	82,246
Restructuring and other, net	(6,804)	25,947	33,361
Acquisition and integration related costs	146,096	30,158	0
Operating profit	442,435	271,298	576,675
Interest and financing expenses	(132,722)	(41,358)	(31,559)
Other income (expenses), net	48,474	(16,761)	(6,674)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	358,187	213,179	538,442
Income tax expense	29,122	18,484	134,445
Income from continuing operations before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	329,065	194,695	403,997
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	30,999	35,742	31,729
Net income from continuing operations	360,064	230,437	435,726
(Loss) income from discontinued operations (net of tax)	0	(69,531)	4,108
Net income	360,064	160,906	439,834
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(25,158)	(27,590)	(26,663)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 334,906	$ 133,316	$ 413,171
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 3.01	$ 2.57	$ 4.88
Basic earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	(0.88)	0.05
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	3.01	1.69	4.93
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	3.00	2.57	4.85
Diluted earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	(0.88)	0.05
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 3.00	$ 1.69	$ 4.90
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—basic (in shares)	111,182	78,696	83,839
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—diluted (in shares)	111,556	79,102	84,322
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.16	$ 1.10	$ 0.96