Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisitions	Acquisitions: Sales de Magnesio, Ltda. 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 $6.2 million, calculated based on the difference between the purchase price and the book value of the investment in Other expenses, net on the consolidated statements of income for the year ended December 31, 2017. Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd. 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 has enabled 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 allocation of the Jiangli New Materials acquisition was finalized in the fourth quarter of 2017. The fair values of the assets and liabilities acquired were primarily related to Accounts receivable of $0.6 million, Property, plant and equipment of $24.1 million, Other intangibles of $46.3 million, Accounts payable of $2.8 million and Deferred tax liabilities of $6.3 million. In addition, the estimated fair value of the remaining 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 estimated fair value of the net assets acquired was approximately $83.1 million and was recorded as goodwill. During the year ended December 31, 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, which was expensed in Cost of goods sold during the year ended December 31, 2017, the estimated remaining selling period. Goodwill arising from the 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, 13 years for customer lists and relationships and 20 years for other. The weighted-average amortization period for all definite-lived intangible assets acquired is 17 years. Acquisition and integration related costs for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 of $3.7 million and $14.3 million, respectively, were included in Cost of goods sold and $15.7 million and $19.6 million, respectively, were included in Selling, general and administrative expenses 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 non-routine compensation related costs negotiated specifically as a result of this acquisition that are outside of the Company’s ordinary compensation arrangements. Included in Acquisition and integration related costs on our consolidated statements of income for the year ended December 31, 2016 is $52.1 million of integration costs resulting from the acquisition of Rockwood Holdings, Inc. (“Rockwood”) (mainly consisting of professional services fees, costs to achieve synergies, relocation costs, and other integration costs) and $5.3 million of costs in connection with other significant projects.

Acquisitions:

Sales de Magnesio, Ltda.

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 $6.2 million, calculated based on the difference between the purchase price and the book value of the investment in Other expenses, net on the consolidated statements of income for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd.

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 has enabled 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 allocation of the Jiangli New Materials acquisition was finalized in the fourth quarter of 2017. The fair values of the assets and liabilities acquired were primarily related to Accounts receivable of $0.6 million, Property, plant and equipment of $24.1 million, Other intangibles of $46.3 million, Accounts payable of $2.8 million and Deferred tax liabilities of $6.3 million. In addition, the estimated fair value of the remaining 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 estimated fair value of the net assets acquired was approximately $83.1 million and was recorded as goodwill.

During the year ended December 31, 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, which was expensed in Cost of goods sold during the year ended December 31, 2017, the estimated remaining selling period.

Goodwill arising from the 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, 13 years for customer lists and relationships and 20 years for other. The weighted-average amortization period for all definite-lived intangible assets acquired is 17 years.

Acquisition and integration related costs for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 of $3.7 million and $14.3 million, respectively, were included in Cost of goods sold and $15.7 million and $19.6 million, respectively, were included in Selling, general and administrative expenses 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 non-routine compensation related costs negotiated specifically as a result of this acquisition that are outside of the Company’s ordinary compensation arrangements. Included in Acquisition and integration related costs on our consolidated statements of income for the year ended December 31, 2016 is $52.1 million of integration costs resulting from the acquisition of Rockwood Holdings, Inc. (“Rockwood”) (mainly consisting of professional services fees, costs to achieve synergies, relocation costs, and other integration costs) and $5.3 million of costs in connection with other significant projects.