Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,310,596	$ 2,091,805	$ 7,261,038	$ 4,699,126
Cost of goods sold	2,255,662	1,047,991	5,371,077	2,625,858
Gross profit	54,934	1,043,814	1,889,961	2,073,268
Selling, general and administrative expenses	173,866	134,479	725,242	375,989
Research and development expenses	21,082	18,358	62,972	51,827
Loss on sale of interest in properties	0	0	0	8,400
Operating (loss) profit	(140,014)	890,977	1,101,747	1,637,052
Interest and financing expenses	(29,332)	(29,691)	(81,686)	(98,934)
Other income, net	11,182	7,974	147,628	32,237
(Loss) income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	(158,164)	869,260	1,167,689	1,570,355
Income tax (benefit) expense	(8,551)	196,938	311,399	366,486
(Loss) income before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	(149,613)	672,322	856,290	1,203,869
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	470,306	258,884	1,417,545	449,476
Net income	320,693	931,206	2,273,835	1,653,345
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(18,160)	(33,991)	(82,679)	(95,974)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 302,533	$ 897,215	$ 2,191,156	$ 1,557,371
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 2.58	$ 7.66	$ 18.68	$ 13.30
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 2.57	$ 7.61	$ 18.60	$ 13.23
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	117,349	117,136	117,304	117,106
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	117,783	117,869	117,797	117,749