Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,580,252	$ 1,127,728
Cost of goods sold	1,303,712	678,698
Gross profit	1,276,540	449,030
Selling, general and administrative expenses	154,306	112,568
Research and development expenses	20,471	16,083
(Gain) loss on sale of business/interest in properties	0	8,400
Operating profit	1,101,763	311,979
Interest and financing expenses	(26,777)	(27,834)
Other income, net	82,492	15,496
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	1,157,478	299,641
Income tax expense	276,963	80,530
Income before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	880,515	219,111
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	396,188	62,436
Net income	1,276,703	281,547
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(38,123)	(28,164)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 1,238,580	$ 253,383
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 10.57	$ 2.16
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 10.51	$ 2.15
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	117,232	117,066
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	117,841	117,653