Segment Information - Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Footnote) (Details) $ in Thousands, € in Millions	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 EUR (€)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017	Feb. 01, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Acquisition and integration related costs	$ 4,305	$ 5,635			$ 13,016	$ 26,395
Charitable contribution					15,000
Utilization of inventory markup		568				23,095
Restructuring and other	3,724				3,724	17,141
Repayments of long-term debt					0	753,209
Repayment of debt premium			$ 45,200
Loss on extinguishment of debt					0	52,801
Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd.
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Inventory markup		23,100				23,100
Sales de Magnesio Ltda.
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interests acquired								50.00%
Cost of goods sold
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Acquisition and integration related costs	900	1,800			2,900	12,500
Write-off of fixed assets at JBC	3,800				4,900
Utilization of inventory markup		600				23,100
Reversal of a liability from an abandoned project		1,300				1,300
Restructuring and other						2,900
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Acquisition and integration related costs	3,400	3,800			10,200	13,900
Gain related to a refund form Chilean authorities	100				1,500
Charitable contribution	1,200				1,200
Reversal of purchase accounting accrual						1,000
Restructuring and other						8,400
Other expenses, net
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revision of previously recorded expenses of a disposed business	$ 200				800	1,100
Environmental charges related to a site formerly owned by Albemarle					$ 15,600
Loss on sale of properties		(1,100)
Revision of tax indemnification expense		$ 700				1,900
Asset retirement obligation charges						3,200
Losses related to previously disposed businesses						4,100
Research and development expenses
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring and other						$ 5,800
3.00% Senior Notes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate			3.00%	3.00%
1.875% Senior Notes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate	1.875%		1.875%	1.875%	1.875%		1.875%
4.50% Senior Notes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate	4.50%		4.50%	4.50%	4.50%		4.50%
Senior Notes | 1.875% Senior Notes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Repayments of long-term debt | €				€ 307.0
Senior Notes | 4.50% Senior Notes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Repayments of long-term debt			$ 174,700