Restructuring and Other Charges Reported in Consolidated Statements of Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2010
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Defined benefit pension plan curtailment gain, net					$ (4,507)	[1]
Employer contribution to defined contribution plan					10,081	[1]
Other					5,334	[2]	6,958	[2]
Total Restructuring and other charges, net	16,982	[3]	94,703	[3],[4]	111,685	[3]	6,958	[3]
Phosphorous Flame Retardant Business Exit
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Exit of phosphorus flame retardants business	6,100		94,700		100,777	[5]
Other					$ 3,000

[1] In the fourth quarter of 2012 we recorded a net curtailment gain of $4.5 million ($2.9 million after income taxes) and a one-time employer contribution to the Company's defined contribution plan of $10.1 million ($6.4 million after income taxes), both in connection with various amendments to certain of our U.S. pension and defined contribution plans that were approved by our Board of Directors in the fourth quarter of 2012. See Note 17, "Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits."

[2] In the fourth quarter of 2012 we recorded charges amounting to $5.3 million ($4.3 million after income taxes) related to changes in product sourcing and other items. The year ended December 31, 2010 included charges amounting to $7.0 million ($4.6 million after income taxes) that related principally to reductions in force at our Bergheim, Germany site.

[3] See Note 19, "Special Items."

[4] As a result of our change in method of accounting relating to our global pension and OPEB plans in the fourth quarter of 2012, second quarter 2012 results were retrospectively adjusted resulting in increases to Gross profit of $6.6 million, Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation of $12.4 million, Basic earnings per share of $0.14 and Diluted earnings per share of $0.14.

[5] In the second quarter of 2012 we recorded net charges amounting to $94.7 million ($73.6 million after income taxes), and in the fourth quarter we recorded net charges amounting to $6.1 million ($2.5 million after income taxes), in connection with our exit of the phosphorus flame retardants business, whose products were sourced mainly at our Avonmouth, United Kingdom and Nanjing, China manufacturing sites. The charges are comprised mainly of non-cash items consisting of net asset write-offs of approximately $57 million and write-offs of foreign currency translation adjustments of approximately $12 million, as well as accruals for future cash costs associated with related severance programs of approximately $22 million, estimated site remediation costs of approximately $9 million, other estimated exit costs of approximately $3 million, partly offset by a gain of approximately $2 million related to the sale of our Nanjing, China manufacturing site. Payments under this restructuring plan are expected to occur through 2014.