CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 3,374,950	$ 3,071,976	$ 2,677,203
Cost of goods sold	2,157,694	1,965,700	1,706,897
Gross profit	1,217,256	1,106,276	970,306
Selling, general and administrative expenses	446,090	450,286	353,765
Research and development expenses	70,054	84,330	80,475
Gain on sales of businesses, net	(210,428)	0	(122,298)
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0	57,384
Operating profit	911,540	571,660	600,980
Interest and financing expenses	(52,405)	(115,350)	(65,181)
Other expenses, net	(64,434)	(9,512)	(20,535)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	794,701	446,798	515,264
Income tax expense	144,826	431,817	96,263
Income from continuing operations before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	649,875	14,981	419,001
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	89,264	84,487	59,637
Net income from continuing operations	739,139	99,468	478,638
Income from discontinued operations (net of tax)	0	0	202,131
Net income	739,139	99,468	680,769
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(45,577)	(44,618)	(37,094)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 693,562	$ 54,850	$ 643,675
Basic earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 6.40	$ 0.49	$ 3.93
Basic earnings per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	1.80
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	6.40	0.49	5.73
Diluted earnings per share:
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	6.34	0.49	3.90
Diluted earnings per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	1.78
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 6.34	$ 0.49	$ 5.68
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—basic (in shares)	108,427	110,914	112,379
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—diluted (in shares)	109,458	112,380	113,239