Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales		$ 1,430,385	$ 2,370,190	$ 2,791,121	$ 4,950,442
Cost of goods sold	[1]	1,440,963	1,811,703	2,762,761	3,115,415
Gross (loss) profit		(10,578)	558,487	28,360	1,835,027
Selling, general and administrative expenses		168,948	397,070	346,660	551,376
Capital project assets write-off		292,315	0	309,515	0
Research and development expenses		20,770	21,419	44,302	41,890
Operating (loss) profit		(492,611)	139,998	(672,117)	1,241,761
Interest and financing expenses		(35,187)	(25,577)	(73,156)	(52,354)
Other income, net		33,666	53,954	83,567	136,446
(Loss) income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments		(494,132)	168,375	(661,706)	1,325,853
Income tax (benefit) expense		(30,660)	42,987	(34,381)	319,950
(Loss) income before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments		(463,472)	125,388	(627,325)	1,005,903
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)		286,878	551,051	467,378	947,239
Net (loss) income		(176,594)	676,439	(159,947)	1,953,142
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(11,604)	(26,396)	(25,803)	(64,519)
Net (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		(188,198)	650,043	(185,750)	1,888,623
Mandatory convertible preferred stock dividends		(41,688)	0	(53,272)	0
Net (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation common shareholders		$ (229,886)	$ 650,043	$ (239,022)	$ 1,888,623
Basic (loss) earnings per share attributable to common shareholders (in dollars per share)		$ (1.96)	$ 5.54	$ (2.03)	$ 16.10
Diluted (loss) earnings per share attributable to common shareholders (in dollars per share)		$ (1.96)	$ 5.52	$ (2.03)	$ 16.03
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)		117,528	117,332	117,489	117,282
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)		117,528	117,769	117,489	117,805

[1] Included purchases from related unconsolidated affiliates of $582.2 million and $421.0 million for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $1.1 billion and $774.2 million for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.