Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 738,845	$ 832,064
Cost of goods sold	496,827	548,578
Gross profit	242,018	283,486
Selling, general and administrative expenses	101,877	113,355
Research and development expenses	16,097	14,977
Operating profit	124,044	155,154
Interest and financing expenses	(16,885)	(12,586)
Other income, net	8,314	11,291
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	115,473	153,859
Income tax expense	18,442	37,514
Income before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	97,031	116,345
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	26,604	35,181
Net income	123,635	151,526
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(16,431)	(17,957)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 107,204	$ 133,569
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.01	$ 1.26
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.01	$ 1.26
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	106,227	105,799
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	106,512	106,356