Segment and Geographic Area Information Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 7,320,104	$ 3,327,957	$ 3,128,909
Adjusted EBITDA	3,475,857	870,974	818,738
Net income attributable to joint venture	2,689,816	123,672	375,764
Depreciation and amortization	300,841	254,000	231,984
Restructuring and other		3,027	19,597
Loss (gain) on sale of business/interest in properties, net	8,400	(295,971)	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	16,259	12,670	17,263
Interest and financing expenses	122,973	61,476	73,116
Income tax expense	390,588	29,446	54,425
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(57,032)	(78,814)	40,668
Legal accrual		657,412
Albemarle Foundation contribution		20,000
Indemnification adjustments		39,381
Other	4,012	44,675	5,921
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring and other			19,200
Acquisition and integration related costs	16,300	12,700	17,300
Gain on sale of property	(4,300)
Reportable Segments | Lithium
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	5,008,850	1,363,284	1,144,778
Adjusted EBITDA	3,102,662	479,538	393,093
Net income attributable to joint venture	2,903,076	192,244	277,711
Depreciation and amortization	189,347	138,772	112,854
Restructuring and other		0	0
Loss (gain) on sale of business/interest in properties, net	8,400	(132,400)
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0	0
Legal accrual		0
Albemarle Foundation contribution		0
Indemnification adjustments		0
Other	1,839	16,122	2,528
Reportable Segments | Bromine
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,411,682	1,128,343	964,962
Adjusted EBITDA	456,916	360,682	323,605
Net income attributable to joint venture	402,820	309,501	274,495
Depreciation and amortization	54,096	51,181	50,310
Restructuring and other		0	0
Loss (gain) on sale of business/interest in properties, net	0	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0	0
Legal accrual		0
Albemarle Foundation contribution		0
Indemnification adjustments		0
Other	0	0	(1,200)
Reportable Segments | Catalysts
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	899,572	761,235	797,914
Adjusted EBITDA	28,732	106,941	130,134
Net income attributable to joint venture	(27,104)	55,353	80,149
Depreciation and amortization	51,417	51,588	49,985
Restructuring and other		0	0
Loss (gain) on sale of business/interest in properties, net	0	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0	0
Legal accrual		0
Albemarle Foundation contribution		0
Indemnification adjustments		0
Other	4,419	0	0
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	75,095	221,255
Adjusted EBITDA	0	29,858	84,821
Net income attributable to joint venture	0	27,988	76,323
Depreciation and amortization	0	1,870	8,498
Restructuring and other		0	0
Loss (gain) on sale of business/interest in properties, net	0	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0	0
Legal accrual		0
Albemarle Foundation contribution		0
Indemnification adjustments		0
Other	0	0	0
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	(112,453)	(106,045)	(112,915)
Net income attributable to joint venture	(588,976)	(461,414)	(332,914)
Depreciation and amortization	5,981	10,589	10,337
Restructuring and other		3,027	19,597
Loss (gain) on sale of business/interest in properties, net	0	428,371
Acquisition and integration related costs	16,259	12,670	17,263
Interest and financing expenses	122,973	61,476	73,116
Income tax expense	390,588	29,446	54,425
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(57,032)	(78,814)	40,668
Legal accrual		657,412
Albemarle Foundation contribution		20,000
Indemnification adjustments		39,381
Other	$ (2,246)	$ 28,553	$ 4,593
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | Stamp duty tax
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Acquisition and integration related costs				$ 61,500