Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 821,629	$ 722,063
Cost of goods sold	516,650	467,107
Gross profit	304,979	254,956
Selling, general and administrative expenses	101,370	108,928
Research and development expenses	20,986	24,323
Operating profit	182,623	121,705
Interest and financing expenses	(13,538)	(68,513)
Other (expenses) income, net	(30,476)	265
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	138,609	53,457
Income tax expense	20,361	11,971
Income before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	118,248	41,486
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	20,677	21,171
Net income	138,925	62,657
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,165)	(11,444)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 131,760	$ 51,213
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.19	$ 0.46
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.18	$ 0.45
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	110,681	111,986
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	111,867	113,289
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.335	$ 0.32