Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 669,327	$ 718,290	$ 1,326,538	$ 1,410,603
Cost of goods sold	421,223	506,259	835,900	1,007,188
Gross profit	248,104	212,031	490,638	403,415
Selling, general and administrative expenses	86,055	88,010	168,686	171,660
Research and development expenses	20,500	21,925	40,372	45,421
Gain on sales of businesses, net	(974)	0	(122,298)	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	19,030	22,832	37,588	80,657
Operating profit	123,493	79,264	366,290	105,677
Interest and financing expenses	(15,800)	(20,599)	(30,914)	(42,899)
Other (expenses) income, net	(2,297)	286	(2,250)	50,110
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	105,396	58,951	333,126	112,888
Income tax expense	23,656	14,851	49,141	28,636
Income from continuing operations before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	81,740	44,100	283,985	84,252
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	13,846	5,118	29,837	14,219
Net income from continuing operations	95,586	49,218	313,822	98,471
(Loss) income from discontinued operations (net of tax)	(398,340)	10,122	(381,028)	8,024
Net (loss) income	(302,754)	59,340	(67,206)	106,495
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(12,067)	(7,193)	(19,429)	(11,233)
Net (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ (314,821)	$ 52,147	$ (86,635)	$ 95,262
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.74	$ 0.37	$ 2.62	$ 0.79
Basic (loss) earnings per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(3.54)	0.09	(3.39)	0.07
Basic (loss) earnings per share (in dollars per share)	(2.80)	0.46	(0.77)	0.86
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.74	0.37	2.61	0.79
Diluted (loss) earnings per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(3.52)	0.09	(3.38)	0.07
Diluted (loss) earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ (2.78)	$ 0.46	$ (0.77)	$ 0.86
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	112,339	112,189	112,300	110,160
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	113,175	112,607	112,973	110,536
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.305	$ 0.29	$ 0.61	$ 0.58