Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016		Mar. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales		$ 865,398		$ 884,404
Cost of goods sold		528,000		625,938
Gross profit		337,398		258,466
Selling, general and administrative expenses		139,157		135,765
Research and development expenses		23,401		26,492
Gain on sales of businesses, net		(121,324)	[1]	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	[2]	21,356		59,523
Operating profit		274,808		36,686
Interest and financing expenses		(25,251)		(35,746)
Other income, net		410		49,957
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments		249,967		50,897
Income tax expense		30,985		14,140
Income before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments		218,982		36,757
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)		16,566		10,392
Net income		235,548		47,149
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(7,362)		(4,034)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		$ 228,186		$ 43,115
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)		$ 2.03		$ 0.40
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)		$ 2.02		$ 0.40
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)		112,260		108,130
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)		112,770		108,464
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock (in dollars per share)		$ 0.305		$ 0.29

[1] See Note 3, “Divestitures.”

[2] See Note 2, “Acquisitions.”