Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales		$ 1,360,736	$ 2,580,252
Cost of goods sold	[1]	1,321,798	1,303,712
Gross profit		38,938	1,276,540
Selling, general and administrative expenses		194,912	154,306
Research and development expenses		23,532	20,471
Operating (loss) profit		(179,506)	1,101,763
Interest and financing expenses		(37,969)	(26,777)
Other income, net		49,901	82,492
(Loss) income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments		(167,574)	1,157,478
Income tax (benefit) expense		(3,721)	276,963
(Loss) income before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments		(163,853)	880,515
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)		180,500	396,188
Net income		16,647	1,276,703
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(14,199)	(38,123)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		2,448	1,238,580
Mandatory convertible preferred stock dividends		(11,584)	0
Net (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation common shareholders		$ (9,136)	$ 1,238,580
Basic (loss) earnings per share attributable to common shareholders (in dollars per share)		$ (0.08)	$ 10.57
Diluted (loss) earnings per share attributable to common shareholders (in dollars per share)		$ (0.08)	$ 10.51
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)		117,451	117,232
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)		117,451	117,841

[1] Included purchases from related unconsolidated affiliates of $540.7 million and $353.2 million for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.