Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 777,748	$ 754,866	$ 2,453,251	$ 2,214,187
Cost of goods sold	497,211	479,210	1,556,379	1,411,614
Gross profit	280,537	275,656	896,872	802,573
Selling, general and administrative expenses	100,167	106,471	325,174	331,984
Research and development expenses	16,610	21,763	53,670	63,423
Gain on sale of business	0	0	(218,705)	0
Operating profit	163,760	147,422	736,733	407,166
Interest and financing expenses	(12,988)	(15,792)	(39,834)	(98,895)
Other income (expenses), net	3,793	(1,986)	(31,906)	(3,399)
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	154,565	129,644	664,993	304,872
Income tax expense	33,167	18,495	133,630	53,596
Income before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	121,398	111,149	531,363	251,276
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	22,081	19,044	61,727	55,263
Net income	143,479	130,193	593,090	306,539
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(13,734)	(11,523)	(29,124)	(33,323)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 129,745	$ 118,670	$ 563,966	$ 273,216
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.21	$ 1.07	$ 5.16	$ 2.46
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.20	$ 1.06	$ 5.11	$ 2.43
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	107,315	110,476	109,223	111,049
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	108,302	111,975	110,276	112,456
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.335	$ 0.32	$ 1.005	$ 0.96