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1109 - Disclosure - Significant Differences Between U.S. Federal Statutory Rate and Effective Income Tax Rate (Detail)
(http://www.albemarle.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureSignificantDifferencesBetweenUSFederalStatutoryRateAndEffectiveIncomeTaxRate)
TableReconciliation of Effective Income Tax Rate [Table]
Slicers (applies to each fact value in each table cell)
Reporting Entity [Axis]0000915913 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK)
Legal Entity [Axis]Entity [Domain]
Schedule Of Effective Tax Rates Line ItemsPeriod [Axis]
2012-01-01 - 2012-12-31
2011-01-01 - 2011-12-31
2010-01-01 - 2010-12-31
Federal statutory rate
.350  
.350  
.350  
State taxes, net of federal tax benefit
.014  
.006  
.012  
Change in valuation allowance
.034 3
(.003)3
(.004)3
Impact of foreign earnings, net
(.061)1
(.109)1
(.100)1
Depletion
(.013) 
(.009) 
(.010) 
Revaluation of unrecognized tax benefits/reserve requirements
(.017)2
(.001)2
.001 2
Manufacturer tax deduction
(.038)4
(.012)4
(.016)4
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries
(.049)1
(.004)1
.002 1
Other items, net
 
(.001) 
(.004) 
Effective income tax rate
.220  
 
.217  
 
.231  
 
1: In prior years, we designated the undistributed earnings of substantially all of our foreign subsidiaries as permanently reinvested. The benefit of the lower tax rates in the jurisdictions for which we made this designation have been reflected in our effective income tax rate. During 2012, 2011 and 2010, we received distributions of $56.9 million, $33.8 million and $68.7 million, respectively, from various foreign subsidiaries and joint ventures and realized a (benefit) expense, net of foreign tax credits, of $(1.8) million, $5.4 million and $2.7 million, respectively, related to the repatriation of these high taxed earnings. We have asserted for all periods being reported, permanent reinvestment of our share of the income of JBC, a Free Zones company under the laws of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The applicable provisions of the Jordanian law, and applicable regulations thereunder, do not have a termination provision and the exemption is permanent. As a Free Zones company, JBC is not subject to income taxes on the profits of products exported from Jordan, and currently, substantially all of the profits are from exports. Undistributed foreign subsidiary earnings were primarily impacted by a $17.4 million change related to the planned shut-down of our Avonmouth, United Kingdom site in connection with our exit of the phosphorus flame retardants business.
2: During 2012, we released various tax reserves primarily related to the expiration of the applicable U.S. federal statute of limitations for 2008 which provided a net benefit of $5.2 million.
3: During 2012, a valuation allowance was established for $15.9 million as a result of the planned shut-down of our Avonmouth, United Kingdom site in connection with our exit of the phosphorus flame retardants business. See Note 19, "Special Items."
4: During 2012, we amended the calculation of the manufacturer tax deduction for the year 2010 and filed the 2011 tax return. As a result, in 2012 we recognized tax benefits of $1.5 million and $3.0 million related to the 2010 and 2011 tax years, respectively.