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, 2009	$ 1,253,318	$ 915	$ 8,658	$ 139,283	$ 1,056,840	$ 1,205,696	$ 47,622
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009		91,509,099
Net income	329,417				315,778	315,778	13,639
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(64,394)			(64,394)		(64,394)
Deconsolidation of Stannica LLC	(8,121)						(8,121)
Cumulative dividend adjustment on JBC noncontrolling interest	8,017						8,017
Cash dividends declared	(52,669)				(51,184)	(51,184)	(1,485)
Stock-based compensation and other	13,995		13,995			13,995
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		494,559
Exercise of stock options	7,135	5	7,130			7,135
Shares repurchased (in shares)		(400,356)
Shares repurchased	(14,945)	(4)	(14,941)			(14,945)
Tax benefit related to stock plans	7,981		7,981			7,981
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		81,864
Issuance of common stock, net		1	(1)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(91,182)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(3,988)	(1)	(3,987)			(3,988)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2010	1,475,746	916	18,835	74,889	1,321,434	1,416,074	59,672
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010		91,593,984
Net income	420,197				392,114	392,114	28,083
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(14,765)			(14,560)		(14,560)	(205)
Cash dividends declared	(60,450)				(60,450)	(60,450)
Stock-based compensation and other	26,556		26,556			26,556
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		169,350
Exercise of stock options	2,230	2	2,228			2,230
Shares repurchased (in shares)		(3,000,000)
Shares repurchased	(178,132)	(30)	(39,870)		(138,232)	(178,132)
Tax benefit related to stock plans	10,574		10,574			10,574
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		131,713
Issuance of common stock, net		1	(1)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(53,807)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(3,129)	(1)	(3,128)			(3,129)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2011	1,678,827	888	15,194	60,329	1,514,866	1,591,277	87,550
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		88,841,240
Net income	330,127				311,536	311,536	18,591
Other comprehensive income (loss)	24,832			24,935		24,935	(103)
Cash dividends declared	(78,975)				(71,347)	(71,347)	(7,628)
Stock-based compensation and other	13,939		13,939			13,939
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	949,170	949,170
Exercise of stock options	21,148	9	21,139			21,148
Shares repurchased (in shares)		(1,092,767)
Shares repurchased	(63,575)	(11)	(53,193)		(10,371)	(63,575)
Tax benefit related to stock plans	14,809		14,809			14,809
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		341,620
Issuance of common stock, net		4	(4)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(140,054)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(9,124)	(1)	(9,123)			(9,124)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 1,932,008	$ 889	$ 2,761	$ 85,264	$ 1,744,684	$ 1,833,598	$ 98,410
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		88,899,209