Acquisitions	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisitions	Acquisitions: On December 31, 2016, we completed the acquisition of all equity interests in the lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate conversion business of Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd. (“Jiangli New Materials”) for a cash purchase price of approximately $145 million. This includes manufacturing assets located in both Jiangxi and Sichuan, China focused on the production of battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide. This acquisition will enable us to supply premium lithium salts to an expanded global customer base while solidifying our leading position in the lithium industry. The aggregate purchase price was allocated to the major categories of assets and liabilities acquired based upon their estimated fair values as of December 31, 2016, which were based, in part, upon outside preliminary appraisals for certain assets. The preliminary estimated fair values of the assets and liabilities acquired were primarily related to Property, plant and equipment of $29.0 million, Other intangibles of $32.0 million and Deferred tax liabilities of $3.7 million. In addition, the estimated fair value of net working capital acquired was $6.2 million, however, an equal liability was recorded in Accrued expenses, as it will be repaid to the previous owners of the acquired business. The excess of the purchase price over the preliminary estimated fair value of the net assets acquired was approximately $87.7 million and was recorded as goodwill. The allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including the residual amount allocated to goodwill, is based upon preliminary information and is subject to change within the measurement period (up to one year from the acquisition date) as additional information concerning final asset and liability valuations is obtained. The primary areas of the preliminary purchase price allocation that are not yet finalized relate to the property, plant and equipment, other intangible assets, deferred income taxes, as well as various working capital accounts. The fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on management’s preliminary estimates and assumptions, as well as other information compiled by management, including valuations that utilize customary valuation procedures and techniques. While the Company believes that such preliminary estimates provide a reasonable basis for estimating the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, it will evaluate any necessary information prior to finalization of the amounts. During the measurement period, the Company will adjust assets or liabilities if new information is obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date that, if known, would have resulted in revised estimated values of those assets or liabilities as of that date. During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017, the Company purchased inventory with a fair value of $37.1 million in connection with the Jiangli New Materials acquisition. The fair value included the markup of the underlying book value of $23.1 million. The inventory markup was expensed over the estimated remaining selling period, with $0.6 million and $23.1 million recorded in the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017, respectively. Goodwill arising from this acquisition consists largely of the anticipated synergies and economies of scale from the combined assets and the overall strategic importance of the acquired assets to Albemarle. The goodwill attributable to the acquisition will not be amortizable or deductible for tax purposes. The weighted-average amortization periods for the other intangible assets acquired are 20 years for patents and technology, 18 years for customer lists and relationships and 3 years for other. The weighted-average amortization period for all definite-lived intangible assets acquired is 17 years. On February 1, 2017, the Company acquired the remaining 50% interest in the Sales de Magnesio Ltda. (“Salmag”) joint venture in Chile from SQM Salar S.A. for approximately $8.3 million, net of cash acquired. In connection with the acquisition, the Company recorded a gain of $6.0 million, calculated based on the difference between the purchase price and the book value of the investment in Other (expenses) income, net on the consolidated statements of income for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017. In the third quarter of 2017, the Company recorded an adjustment to reduce the previously reported gain by $1.4 million in Other (expenses) income, net on the consolidated statements of income. The calculation of the gain and the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on management’s preliminary estimates and assumptions. While the Company believes that such preliminary estimates provide a reasonable basis for estimating the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, it will evaluate any necessary information prior to finalization of the amounts. Acquisition and integration related costs for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 of $1.8 million and $12.5 million were included in Cost of goods sold, respectively, and $3.8 million and $13.9 million were included in Selling, general and administrative expenses, respectively, on our consolidated statements of income. These acquisition and integration related costs relate to various significant projects, including the Jiangli New Materials acquisition, which contains unusual compensation related costs negotiated specifically as a result of this acquisition that are outside of the Company’s normal compensation arrangements. Included in Acquisition and integration related costs on our consolidated statements of income for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 were $6.3 million and $42.4 million, respectively, of integration costs resulting from the acquisition of Rockwood Holdings, Inc. (mainly consisting of professional services fees, costs to achieve synergies, relocation costs, and other integration costs) and $0.4 million and $1.9 million, respectively, of costs in connection with other significant projects.

Acquisitions:

On December 31, 2016, we completed the acquisition of all equity interests in the lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate conversion business of Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd. (“Jiangli New Materials”) for a cash purchase price of approximately $145 million. This includes manufacturing assets located in both Jiangxi and Sichuan, China focused on the production of battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide. This acquisition will enable us to supply premium lithium salts to an expanded global customer base while solidifying our leading position in the lithium industry.

The aggregate purchase price was allocated to the major categories of assets and liabilities acquired based upon their estimated fair values as of December 31, 2016, which were based, in part, upon outside preliminary appraisals for certain assets. The preliminary estimated fair values of the assets and liabilities acquired were primarily related to Property, plant and equipment of $29.0 million, Other intangibles of $32.0 million and Deferred tax liabilities of $3.7 million. In addition, the estimated fair value of net working capital acquired was $6.2 million, however, an equal liability was recorded in Accrued expenses, as it will be repaid to the previous owners of the acquired business. The excess of the purchase price over the preliminary estimated fair value of the net assets acquired was approximately $87.7 million and was recorded as goodwill. The allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including the residual amount allocated to goodwill, is based upon preliminary information and is subject to change within the measurement period (up to one year from the acquisition date) as additional information concerning final asset and liability valuations is obtained. The primary areas of the preliminary purchase price allocation that are not yet finalized relate to the property, plant and equipment, other intangible assets, deferred income taxes, as well as various working capital accounts. The fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on management’s preliminary estimates and assumptions, as well as other information compiled by management, including valuations that utilize customary valuation procedures and techniques. While the Company believes that such preliminary estimates provide a reasonable basis for estimating the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, it will evaluate any necessary information prior to finalization of the amounts. During the measurement period, the Company will adjust assets or liabilities if new information is obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date that, if known, would have resulted in revised estimated values of those assets or liabilities as of that date.

During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017, the Company purchased inventory with a fair value of $37.1 million in connection with the Jiangli New Materials acquisition. The fair value included the markup of the underlying book value of $23.1 million. The inventory markup was expensed over the estimated remaining selling period, with $0.6 million and $23.1 million recorded in the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017, respectively.

Goodwill arising from this acquisition consists largely of the anticipated synergies and economies of scale from the combined assets and the overall strategic importance of the acquired assets to Albemarle. The goodwill attributable to the acquisition will not be amortizable or deductible for tax purposes. The weighted-average amortization periods for the other intangible assets acquired are 20 years for patents and technology, 18 years for customer lists and relationships and 3 years for other. The weighted-average amortization period for all definite-lived intangible assets acquired is 17 years.

On February 1, 2017, the Company acquired the remaining 50% interest in the Sales de Magnesio Ltda. (“Salmag”) joint venture in Chile from SQM Salar S.A. for approximately $8.3 million, net of cash acquired. In connection with the acquisition, the Company recorded a gain of $6.0 million, calculated based on the difference between the purchase price and the book value of the investment in Other (expenses) income, net on the consolidated statements of income for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017. In the third quarter of 2017, the Company recorded an adjustment to reduce the previously reported gain by $1.4 million in Other (expenses) income, net on the consolidated statements of income. The calculation of the gain and the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on management’s preliminary estimates and assumptions. While the Company believes that such preliminary estimates provide a reasonable basis for estimating the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, it will evaluate any necessary information prior to finalization of the amounts.

Acquisition and integration related costs for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 of $1.8 million and $12.5 million were included in Cost of goods sold, respectively, and $3.8 million and $13.9 million were included in Selling, general and administrative expenses, respectively, on our consolidated statements of income. These acquisition and integration related costs relate to various significant projects, including the Jiangli New Materials acquisition, which contains unusual compensation related costs negotiated specifically as a result of this acquisition that are outside of the Company’s normal compensation arrangements. Included in Acquisition and integration related costs on our consolidated statements of income for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 were $6.3 million and $42.4 million, respectively, of integration costs resulting from the acquisition of Rockwood Holdings, Inc. (mainly consisting of professional services fees, costs to achieve synergies, relocation costs, and other integration costs) and $0.4 million and $1.9 million, respectively, of costs in connection with other significant projects.