8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) April 26, 2006

ALBEMARLE CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)

Virginia	1-12658	54-1692118
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission file number)	(IRS employer identification no.)

330 South Fourth Street, Richmond, Virginia	23219
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (804) 788-6000

Not applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Section 8 — Other Events

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On April 26, 2006, Albemarle Corporation (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing, among other things, that Albemarle PPC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, has initiated the consultation process required by French law with the Works Council representing employees at Albemarle PPC’s facility in Thann, France, regarding the potential closure of the facility. A copy of the press release issued by the Company on April 26, 2006 is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Section 9 — Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits.

99.1 Press release, dated April 26, 2006, issued by the Company.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: April 26, 2006

ALBEMARLE CORPORATION
By:	/s/ Luther C. Kissam, IV
	Luther C. Kissam, IV
	Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Exhibit
99.1	Press release, dated April 26, 2006, issued by the Company.

EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

Albemarle Announces Initiation of Consultation Process with Works Council at its Facility

in Thann, France

RICHMOND, Virginia—April 26, 2006—Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) announced today that Albemarle PPC, a wholly owned affiliate of Albemarle Corporation, has initiated the consultation process required by French law with the Works Council at its facility in Thann, France related to the potential shutdown of that facility. Under French law, a final decision concerning the potential shutdown of a facility can be made only after the consultation process is completed.

“We are working towards a year-end shutdown,” said Lloyd Crasto, President of Albemarle PPC.

Upon completion of the process, Albemarle would expect to take a pre-tax charge in the range of one hundred million dollars, exclusive of any costs related to environmental matters.

Albemarle Corporation, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is a leading global developer, manufacturer and marketer of bromine, bromine derivatives, and other highly engineered specialty chemicals for consumer electronics; petroleum and petrochemical processing; transportation and industrial products; pharmaceuticals; agricultural products; and construction and packaging materials. The Company operates in three business segments—Polymer Additives, Catalysts and Fine Chemicals, and serves customers in approximately 100 countries. Learn more about Albemarle at http://www.albemarle.com.

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For more information:

Albemarle Corporation, Mr. Stéphane Leclef at +32 475 63 02 27 or stephane_leclef@albemarle.com or Mr. René Milligan at +1 (225) 388-7106 or rene_milligan@albemarle.com

Some of the information presented in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although we believe our expectations as reflected are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of our knowledge of our business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations include, without limitation: the costs associated with any redevelopment or remediation activities at the Thann site that may be required by the French government. Additional factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2005.

Albemarle Corporation

330 South Fourth Street

Richmond, Virginia, USA

Tel: +1 804 788 6096