Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Current operating lease liability	$ 21,299	$ 0
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	465,274	555,320
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts (2019 – $4,486; 2018 – $4,460)	603,542	605,712
Other accounts receivable	57,019	52,059
Inventories	756,193	700,540
Other current assets	105,148	84,790
Total current assets	1,987,176	1,998,421
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	4,983,385	4,799,063
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	1,813,195	1,777,979
Net property, plant and equipment	3,170,190	3,021,084
Investments	563,030	528,722
Other assets	211,073	80,135
Goodwill	1,561,092	1,567,169
Other intangibles, net of amortization	378,501	386,143
Total assets	7,871,062	7,581,674
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	482,433	522,516
Accrued expenses	263,868	257,323
Current portion of long-term debt	425,684	307,294
Dividends payable	38,716	35,169
Income taxes payable	46,191	60,871
Total current liabilities	1,278,191	1,183,173
Long-term debt	1,393,904	1,397,916
Postretirement benefits	45,862	46,157
Pension benefits	282,082	285,396
Other noncurrent liabilities	616,007	526,942
Deferred income taxes	390,977	382,982
Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)
Albemarle Corporation shareholders’ equity:
Common stock, $.01 par value, issued and outstanding – 105,950 in 2019 and 105,616 in 2018	1,059	1,056
Additional paid-in capital	1,368,069	1,368,897
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(357,538)	(350,682)
Retained earnings	2,660,684	2,566,050
Total Albemarle Corporation shareholders’ equity	3,672,274	3,585,321
Noncontrolling interests	191,765	173,787
Total equity	3,864,039	3,759,108
Total liabilities and equity	$ 7,871,062	$ 7,581,674