Segment and Geographic Area Information - Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 9,617,203	$ 7,320,104	$ 3,327,957
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	(429,944)	(300,841)	(254,000)
Interest and Debt Expense	(116,072)	(122,973)	(61,476)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(430,277)	(390,588)	(29,446)
(Gain) loss on change in interest in properties/sale of business, net	71,190	(8,400)	295,971
Acquisition and integration related costs	(26,767)	(16,259)	(12,670)
Goodwill impairment	(6,765)	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	7,971	57,032	78,814
Mark-to-market (loss) gain on public equity securities	(44,732)	4,319	0
Legal Accrual	(218,510)	0	(657,412)
Albemarle Foundation contribution	0	0	(20,000)
Indemnification adjustments	0	0	(39,381)
Other	1,097	(8,331)	(47,702)
Net income attributable to joint venture	1,573,476	2,689,816	123,672
Reportable Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	9,617,203	7,320,104	3,252,862
Adjusted EBITDA	2,809,771	3,588,310	947,161
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	(421,132)	(294,860)	(241,541)
Reportable Segments | Energy Storage
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	7,078,998	4,660,945	1,067,430
Adjusted EBITDA	2,407,393	3,032,260	371,384
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	(258,436)	(175,738)	(123,295)
Goodwill impairment	0
Reportable Segments | Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,482,425	1,759,587	1,424,197
Adjusted EBITDA	298,506	527,318	468,836
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	(86,673)	(67,705)	(66,658)
Goodwill impairment	0
Reportable Segments | Ketjen
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,055,780	899,572	761,235
Adjusted EBITDA	103,872	28,732	106,941
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	(76,023)	(51,417)	(51,588)
Goodwill impairment	(6,765)
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	75,095
Adjusted EBITDA	0	0	29,858
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	0	0	(1,870)
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	(43,486)	(112,453)	(106,045)
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	$ (8,812)	$ (5,981)	$ (10,589)