CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues		$ 5,377,526	$ 9,617,203	$ 7,320,104
Cost of goods sold	[1]	5,314,987	8,431,294	4,245,517
Gross profit		62,539	1,185,909	3,074,587
Selling, general and administrative expenses		618,048	910,002	524,145
Restructuring charges and asset write-offs		1,134,316	9,491
Research and development expenses		86,720	85,725	71,981
(Gain) loss on change in interest in properties/sale of business, net		0	(71,190)	8,400
Operating (loss) profit		(1,776,545)	251,881	2,470,061
Interest and financing expenses		(165,619)	(116,072)	(122,973)
Other income, net		178,339	110,929	86,356
(Loss) income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments		(1,763,825)	246,738	2,433,444
Income tax expense		87,085	430,277	390,588
(Loss) income before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments		(1,850,910)	(183,539)	2,042,856
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)		715,433	1,854,082	772,275
Net (loss) income		(1,135,477)	1,670,543	2,815,131
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(43,972)	(97,067)	(125,315)
Net (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		(1,179,449)	1,573,476	2,689,816
Mandatory convertible preferred stock dividends		(136,647)	0	0
Net (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation common shareholders, basic		(1,316,096)	1,573,476	2,689,816
Net (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation common shareholders, diluted		$ (1,316,096)	$ 1,573,476	$ 2,689,816
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders (in dollars per share)		$ (11.20)	$ 13.41	$ 22.97
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders (in dollars per share)		$ (11.20)	$ 13.36	$ 22.84
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—basic (in shares)		117,516	117,317	117,120
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—diluted (in shares)		117,516	117,766	117,793

[1] Included purchases from related unconsolidated affiliates of $1.7 billion, $2.3 billion and $656.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.