Segment Information Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017		Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 722,063		$ 657,211
Adjusted EBITDA		(211,376)		(192,033)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		(51,213)		(228,186)
Depreciation and amortization		45,070		60,552
Gain on acquisition		(7,433)		0
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net		0		(121,324)
Acquisition and integration related costs		0		18,558
Interest and financing expenses		68,513		15,114
Income tax expense		11,971		25,485
Income from discontinued operations (net of tax)		0		(17,312)
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		32,419		72,089
Adjusted EBITDA		(5,156)		(8,464)
Reportable Segments | Lithium and Advanced Materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		284,375		216,173
Adjusted EBITDA		(120,022)		(86,474)
Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		219,191		196,553
Adjusted EBITDA		(68,488)		(61,608)
Reportable Segments | Refining Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		185,412		170,579
Adjusted EBITDA		(49,579)		(55,074)
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		666		1,817
Adjusted EBITDA		31,869		19,587
Continuing Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		211,376		192,033
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		51,213		228,186
Depreciation and amortization		45,070		43,609
Utilization of inventory markup	[1]	10,606
Restructuring and other, net	[2]	12,905
Gain on acquisition	[3]	(7,433)
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net	[4]			(121,324)
Acquisition and integration related costs	[5]	14,281		18,558
Interest and financing expenses		68,513	[6]	15,114
Income tax expense		11,971		25,485
Income from discontinued operations (net of tax)				(17,312)
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		(1,063)		(283)
Other	[7]	5,313
Continuing Operations | All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		5,156		8,464
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		3,246		130,709
Depreciation and amortization		1,910		612
Utilization of inventory markup	[1]	0
Restructuring and other, net	[2]	0
Gain on acquisition	[3]	0
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net	[4]			(122,857)
Acquisition and integration related costs	[5]	0		0
Interest and financing expenses		0	[6]	0
Income tax expense		0		0
Income from discontinued operations (net of tax)				0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		0		0
Other	[7]	0
Continuing Operations | Reportable Segments | Lithium and Advanced Materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		120,022		86,474
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		94,106		63,327
Depreciation and amortization		22,743		23,147
Utilization of inventory markup	[1]	10,606
Restructuring and other, net	[2]	0
Gain on acquisition	[3]	(7,433)
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net	[4]			0
Acquisition and integration related costs	[5]	0		0
Interest and financing expenses		0	[6]	0
Income tax expense		0		0
Income from discontinued operations (net of tax)				0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		0		0
Other	[7]	0
Continuing Operations | Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		68,488		61,608
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		58,694		51,853
Depreciation and amortization		9,794		9,755
Utilization of inventory markup	[1]	0
Restructuring and other, net	[2]	0
Gain on acquisition	[3]	0
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net	[4]			0
Acquisition and integration related costs	[5]	0		0
Interest and financing expenses		0	[6]	0
Income tax expense		0		0
Income from discontinued operations (net of tax)				0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		0		0
Other	[7]	0
Continuing Operations | Reportable Segments | Refining Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		49,579		55,074
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		40,474		46,314
Depreciation and amortization		9,105		8,760
Utilization of inventory markup	[1]	0
Restructuring and other, net	[2]	0
Gain on acquisition	[3]	0
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net	[4]			0
Acquisition and integration related costs	[5]	0		0
Interest and financing expenses		0	[6]	0
Income tax expense		0		0
Income from discontinued operations (net of tax)				0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		0		0
Other	[7]	0
Continuing Operations | Reportable Segments | Reportable Segments Total
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		238,089		203,156
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		193,274		161,494
Depreciation and amortization		41,642		41,662
Utilization of inventory markup	[1]	10,606
Restructuring and other, net	[2]	0
Gain on acquisition	[3]	(7,433)
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net	[4]			0
Acquisition and integration related costs	[5]	0		0
Interest and financing expenses		0	[6]	0
Income tax expense		0		0
Income from discontinued operations (net of tax)				0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		0		0
Other	[7]	0
Continuing Operations | Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		(31,869)		(19,587)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		(145,307)		(64,017)
Depreciation and amortization		1,518		1,335
Utilization of inventory markup	[1]	0
Restructuring and other, net	[2]	12,905
Gain on acquisition	[3]	0
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net	[4]			1,533
Acquisition and integration related costs	[5]	14,281		18,558
Interest and financing expenses		68,513	[6]	15,114
Income tax expense		11,971		25,485
Income from discontinued operations (net of tax)				(17,312)
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		(1,063)		$ (283)
Other	[7]	$ 5,313

[1] In connection with the acquisition of Jiangli New Materials, the Company valued inventory purchased from Jiangli New Materials at fair value, which resulted in a markup of the underlying net book value of the inventory totaling approximately $23.0 million. The inventory markup is being expensed over the estimated remaining selling period. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2017, $10.6 million was included in Cost of goods sold related to the utilization of the inventory markup.

[2] During the first quarter of 2017, we initiated action to reduce costs at several locations, primarily at our Lithium site in Germany. Based on the restructuring plans, we have recorded expenses of $2.9 million in Cost of goods sold, $4.2 million in Selling, general and administrative expenses and $5.8 million in Research and development expenses, primarily related to severance, expected to be incurred. The unpaid balance is recorded in Accrued expenses at March 31, 2017, with the expectation that the majority of this plan will be completed by the end of 2017.

[3] Gain recorded in Other (expenses) income, net related to the acquisition of the remaining 50% interest in Salmag. See Note 2, “Acquisitions,” for additional information.

[4] See Note 3, “Divestitures,” for additional information.

[5] See Note 2, “Acquisitions,” for additional information.

[6] Included in Interest and financing expenses is a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $52.8 million. See Note 10, “Long-term Debt,” for additional information.

[7] Included in Other (expenses) income, net are $3.2 million of asset retirement obligation charges related to the revision of an estimate at a site formerly owned by Albemarle and a loss of $2.1 million associated with the previous disposal of a business.