v2.4.0.6
Shareholders' Equity (Details 4) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Dec. 31, 2008
May 27, 2010
Fosfertil
Dec. 31, 2010
Joint venture to build and operate a grain terminal in Longview, Washington, U.S.
Dec. 31, 2009
Joint venture to build and operate a grain terminal in Longview, Washington, U.S.
Mar. 31, 2010
AGRI-Bunge, LLC.
Dec. 31, 2010
AGRI-Bunge, LLC.
Dec. 31, 2010
Private investment fund
Dec. 31, 2009
Private investment fund
Dec. 31, 2008
Private investment fund
Dec. 31, 2010
Inactive joint venture
Dec. 31, 2009
Brazilian sugar subsidiaries
Dec. 31, 2008
Brazilian sugar subsidiaries
Noncontrolling Interest.                            
Percentage of direct and indirect ownership interest in voting common shares (as a percent)       54.00%                    
Percentage of ownership interest in nonvoting preferred shares (as a percent)       36.00%                    
Percentage of ownership interest (as a percent)                 39.00% 31.00% 16.00%      
Percentage of controlling interest (as a percent)         51.00%                  
Percentage of ownership interest in earnings (as a percent)       42.00%                    
Percentage of voting power (as a percent)               50.00%            
Ownership percentage of noncontrolling interest holders (as a percent)         49.00%                  
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest $ 61 $ 87 $ 26   $ 61 $ 35             $ 52 $ 25
Percentage of interest in the equity and earnings (as a percent)               34.00%            
Derecognized noncontrolling interest 588     588                    
Percentage of noncontrolling ownership interest in earnings (as a percent)       58.00%                    
Noncontrolling equity interest recorded upon consolidation of joint venture             3              
Value of shares redeemed 11 44             9 44   2    
Percentage of outstanding shares in consolidated subsidiary redeemed from third party investors (as a percent)                 30.00% 51.00%        
Percentage of third-party's ownership interest in the consolidated subsidiary redeemed by parent entity (as a percent)                   100.00%        
Dividends received by third party investors 9 17 154           4 8   8    
Initial noncontrolling equity interest           5                
Capital contribution related to exchange of subsidiaries stock in connection with merger of subsidiaries     $ (21)                     $ 13
Percent of stock in subsidiaries exchanged for interest in other subsidiaries, to consolidate (as a percent)                           18.00%
Number of subsidiaries stock exchanged by Bunge                           1