CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Total Albemarle Shareholders’ Equity	Common Stock	Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Retained Earnings	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021			117,015,333	0
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 5,805,607	$ 5,625,266	$ 1,170	$ 0	$ 2,920,007	$ (392,450)	$ 3,096,539	$ 180,341
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	2,815,131	2,689,816					2,689,816	125,315
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(168,295)	(168,212)				(168,212)		(83)
Common stock dividends declared	(282,431)	(185,078)					(185,078)	(97,353)
Stock-based compensation	31,390	31,390			31,390
Exercise of stock options (in shares)			32,581
Exercise of stock options	2,396	2,396	$ 1		2,395
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)			186,768
Issuance of common stock, net	387	387	$ 2		385
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)			(66,316)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(13,338)	(13,338)	$ (1)		(13,337)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022			117,168,366	0
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2022	8,190,847	7,982,627	$ 1,172	$ 0	2,940,840	(560,662)	5,601,277	208,220
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	1,670,543	1,573,476					1,573,476	97,067
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	32,254	32,136				32,136		118
Common stock dividends declared	(240,224)	(187,738)					(187,738)	(52,486)
Stock-based compensation	38,957	38,957			38,957
Exercise of stock options (in shares)			3,124
Exercise of stock options	190	190			190
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)			298,781
Issuance of common stock, net	0	0	$ 3		(3)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)			(114,001)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(27,468)	(27,468)	$ (1)		(27,467)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2023			117,356,270	0
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2023	9,665,099	9,412,180	$ 1,174	$ 0	2,952,517	(528,526)	6,987,015	252,919
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(1,135,477)	(1,179,449)					(1,179,449)	43,972
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(213,469)	(213,536)				(213,536)		67
Common stock dividends declared	(244,590)	(189,227)					(189,227)	(55,363)
Mandatory convertible preferred stock cumulative dividends	(136,647)	(136,647)					(136,647)
Stock-based compensation	$ 33,062	33,062			33,062
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	6,570		6,570
Exercise of stock options	$ 374	374			374
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)			300,877
Issuance of common stock, net	11,546	11,546	$ 3		11,543
Issuance of mandatory convertible preferred stock, net (in shares)				2,300,000
Issuance of mandatory convertible preferred stock, net	2,235,105	2,235,105		$ 2,235,105
Sale of noncontrolling interest	(3,424)							(3,424)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)			(103,943)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(11,891)	(11,891)	$ (1)		(11,890)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2024			117,559,774	2,300,000
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2024	$ 10,199,688	$ 9,961,517	$ 1,176	$ 2,235,105	$ 2,985,606	$ (742,062)	$ 5,481,692	$ 238,171