v2.4.0.6

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009
Derivative |  |  |
Maximum period of commodity contracts for sale of agricultural commodity | one future crop cycle |  |
Options | Exchange traded net (short) and long |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Delta amount of open foreign exchange positions | $ (6) |  |
Options | Non-exchange traded (short) position |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Delta amount of open foreign exchange positions | (278) |  |
Options | Non-exchange traded long position |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Delta amount of open foreign exchange positions | 159 |  |
Forwards | Exchange traded net (short) and long |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Notional amounts of open foreign exchange positions | 81 |  |
Forwards | Non-exchange traded (short) position |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Notional amounts of open foreign exchange positions | (4,227) |  |
Forwards | Non-exchange traded long position |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Notional amounts of open foreign exchange positions | 11,660 |  |
Swaps | Non-exchange traded (short) position |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Notional amounts of open foreign exchange positions | (96) |  |
Swaps | Non-exchange traded long position |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Notional amounts of open foreign exchange positions | 42 |  |
Interest rate swap |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Reduction in interest expense | 6 | 9 | 8
Reclassification of loss from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to interest expense |  | 6 | 2
Commodities |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Maximum period of commodity contracts for sale of agricultural commodity | one future crop cycle |  |
Commodities | Futures | Exchange traded net (short) and long |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of derivatives | (8,589,982) |  |
Commodities | Options | Exchange traded net (short) and long |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of derivatives | (197,149) |  |
Commodities | Forwards | Non-exchange traded (short) position |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of derivatives | (20,448,160) |  |
Commodities | Forwards | Non-exchange traded long position |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of derivatives | 25,790,377 |  |
Commodities | Swaps | Non-exchange traded (short) position |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of derivatives | (260,816) |  |
Freight | Options | Exchange cleared net (short) and long |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of derivatives | (80) |  |
Freight | Forwards | Exchange cleared net (short) and long |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of derivatives | (2,329) |  |
Natural Gas | Futures | Exchange traded net (short) and long |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of derivatives | (1,620,000) |  |
Natural Gas | Options | Exchange traded net (short) and long |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of derivatives | 2,825,515 |  |
Natural Gas | Swaps | Non-exchange cleared long position |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of derivatives | 960,758 |  |
Energy - other | Futures | Exchange traded net (short) and long |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of derivatives | 41,320 |  |
Energy - other | Options | Exchange traded net (short) and long |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of derivatives | 537,794 |  |
Energy - other | Options | Non-exchange cleared (short) position |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of derivatives | (150,187) |  |
Energy - other | Options | Non-exchange cleared long position |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of derivatives | 123,594 |  |
Energy - other | Forwards | Non-exchange cleared (short) position |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of derivatives | (864,372) |  |
Energy - other | Forwards | Non-exchange cleared long position |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of derivatives | 8,786,147 |  |
Energy - other | Swaps | Non-exchange cleared (short) position |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of derivatives | (45,461) |  |
Energy - other | Swaps | Non-exchange cleared long position |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of derivatives | 15,622 |  |
Discontinued hedge relationship | Interest rate swap |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |
Reduction of interest expense due to amortization of deferred gains on termination of interest rate swap agreements | $ 13 | $ 11 | $ 11

X
- Definition This element represents delta equivalent amount of foreign currency derivatives. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | bg_DeltaAmountOfForeignCurrencyDerivatives
Namespace Prefix: | bg_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This element represents the reduction in interest expense, relating to outstanding interest rate swap agreements. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | bg_ReductionInInterestExpense
Namespace Prefix: | bg_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Aggregate notional amount of derivative expressed in nonmonetary units. For example, the number of barrels specified in a fuel oil forward purchase contract. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 12 + Details
Name: | invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix: | invest_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount of expense charged against earnings by an Entity to record deferred gains and losses on hedge instruments. Examples include gain on economic hedges, amortization of gain on designated fair value hedge and so forth. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 28 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AmortizationOfDeferredHedgeGains
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of losses on a cash flow hedge reclassified in the period to interest expense from accumulated other comprehensive income. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph b(1) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4C -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=SL5624171-113959 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CashFlowHedgeLossReclassifiedToInterestExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The high end of the range of time remaining until maturity when a range is presented for a group of derivatives. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeHigherRemainingMaturityRange
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Aggregate notional amount of foreign currency exchange rate derivatives. Notional amount refers to the number of currency units specified in the foreign currency derivative contract. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Notional Amount -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6519104 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfForeignCurrencyDerivatives
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant