Consolidated Statements of Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 634,197	$ 684,894		$ 1,275,822	$ 1,396,598
Cost of goods sold	437,558	435,606		879,593	896,330
Gross profit	196,639	249,288		396,229	500,268
Selling, general and administrative expenses	62,900	61,735		127,650	135,739
Research and development expenses	21,565	20,911		41,518	39,960
Restructuring and other charges, net		94,703	[1]		94,703	[1]
Operating profit	112,174	71,939		227,061	229,866
Interest and financing expenses	(7,608)	(8,486)		(12,839)	(17,220)
Other expenses, net	(1,697)	(688)		(5,906)	(806)
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	102,869	62,765		208,316	211,840
Income tax expense	21,450	21,882		47,642	60,910
Income before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	81,419	40,883		160,674	150,930
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	9,709	12,712		19,970	21,298
Net income	91,128	53,595		180,644	172,228
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(8,389)	(3,506)		(13,918)	(7,877)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	82,739	50,089		166,726	164,351
Basic earnings per share	$ 0.98	$ 0.56		$ 1.93	$ 1.84
Diluted earnings per share	$ 0.98	$ 0.56		$ 1.92	$ 1.83
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic	84,028	89,414		86,374	89,206
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted	84,489	90,051		86,862	89,999
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock	$ 0.24	$ 0.20		$ 0.48	$ 0.40
As Previously Reported
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Net sales		684,894			1,396,598
Cost of goods sold		442,209			906,026
Gross profit		242,685			490,572
Selling, general and administrative expenses		74,624			155,316
Research and development expenses		20,911			39,960
Restructuring and other charges, net		94,703			94,703
Operating profit		52,447			200,593
Interest and financing expenses		(8,486)			(17,220)
Other expenses, net		(688)			(806)
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments		43,273			182,567
Income tax expense		14,747			50,213
Income before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments		28,526			132,354
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)		12,712			21,298
Net income		41,238			153,652
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(3,506)			(7,877)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		37,732			145,775
Basic earnings per share		$ 0.42			$ 1.63
Diluted earnings per share		$ 0.42			$ 1.62
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic		89,414			89,206
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted		90,051			89,999
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock		$ 0.20			$ 0.40
Effect of Accounting Change
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cost of goods sold		(6,603)			(9,696)
Gross profit		6,603			9,696
Selling, general and administrative expenses		(12,889)			(19,577)
Operating profit		19,492			29,273
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments		19,492			29,273
Income tax expense		7,135			10,697
Income before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments		12,357			18,576
Net income		12,357			18,576
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		$ 12,357			$ 18,576
Basic earnings per share		$ 0.14			$ 0.21
Diluted earnings per share		$ 0.14			$ 0.21

[1] See Note 13, "Restructuring and Other."