Quarterly Financial Summary (Unaudited) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Quarterly Financial Summary

	First Quarter			Second Quarter			Third Quarter			Fourth Quarter
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
2018
Net sales	$	821,629		$	853,874		$	777,748		$	921,699
Gross profit	$	304,979		$	311,356		$	280,537		$	320,384
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net(a)	$	—		$	(218,705	)	$	—		$	8,277
Net income	$	138,925		$	310,686		$	143,479		$	146,049
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,165		)	(8,225		)	(13,734		)	(16,453		)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$	131,760		$	302,461		$	129,745		$	129,596
Basic earnings per share	$	1.19		$	2.76		$	1.21		$	1.22
Shares used to compute basic earnings per share	110,681			109,671			107,315			106,042
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.18		$	2.73		$	1.20		$	1.21
Shares used to compute diluted earnings per share	111,867			110,659			108,302			107,005

	First Quarter			Second Quarter			Third Quarter			Fourth Quarter
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
2017
Net sales	$	722,063		$	737,258		$	754,866		$	857,789
Gross profit	$	254,956		$	271,960		$	275,657		$	303,703
Net income (loss)	$	62,657		$	113,689		$	130,193		$	(207,071	)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(11,444		)	(10,356		)	(11,523		)	(11,295		)
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$	51,213		$	103,333		$	118,670		$	(218,366	)
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$	0.46		$	0.93		$	1.07		$	(1.98	)
Shares used to compute basic earnings per share	111,986			110,686			110,476			110,510
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$	0.45		$	0.92		$	1.06		$	(1.95	)
Shares used to compute diluted earnings per share	113,289			112,105			111,975			112,152

(a) Represents the gain (loss) on the Polyolefin Catalysts Divestiture. See Note 3, “Divestitures,” for additional information.