CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Retained Earnings	Total Albemarle Shareholders' Equity	Non-controlling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 1,475,746	$ 916	$ 18,835	$ (164,196)	$ 1,560,519	$ 1,416,074	$ 59,672
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010		91,593,984
Net income	237,461				220,739	220,739	16,722
Other comprehensive income (loss)	101,251			101,554		101,554	(303)
Cash dividends declared	(30,260)				(30,260)	(30,260)
Stock-based compensation and other	12,917		12,917			12,917
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		86,850
Exercise of stock options	1,082		1,082			1,082
Tax benefit related to stock plans	5,694		5,694			5,694
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		86,713
Issuance of common stock, net		1	(1)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances, in shares		(29,557)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances, value	(1,772)		(1,772)			(1,772)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2011	1,802,119	917	36,755	(62,642)	1,750,998	1,726,028	76,091
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2011		91,737,990
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	1,678,827	888	15,194	(222,922)	1,798,117	1,591,277	87,550
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		88,841,240
Net income	153,652				145,775	145,775	7,877
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(8,562)			(8,717)		(8,717)	155
Cash dividends declared	(43,343)				(35,715)	(35,715)	(7,628)
Stock-based compensation and other	10,004		10,004			10,004
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		656,235
Exercise of stock options	13,430	7	13,423			13,430
Shares repurchased, in shares	(215,000)	(215,000)
Shares repurchased	(13,695)	(2)	(13,693)			(13,695)
Tax benefit related to stock plans	12,329		12,329			12,329
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		339,620
Issuance of common stock, net		3	(3)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances, in shares		(137,759)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances, value	(8,998)	(1)	(8,997)			(8,998)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2012	$ 1,793,644	$ 895	$ 28,257	$ (231,639)	$ 1,908,177	$ 1,705,690	$ 87,954
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2012		89,484,336