| INVENTORIES |
INVENTORIES Inventories by segment are presented below. Readily marketable inventories (“RMI”) are agricultural commodity inventories, such as soybeans, soybean meal, soybean oil, corn, and wheat carried at fair value because of their commodity characteristics, widely available markets, and international pricing mechanisms. All other inventories are carried at lower of cost or net realizable value. | | | | | | | | | | (US$ in millions) | | September 30,
2018 | | December 31,
2017 | Agribusiness (1) | | $ | 5,762 |
| | $ | 4,022 |
| Edible Oil Products (2) | | 733 |
| | 458 |
| Milling Products | | 240 |
| | 196 |
| Sugar and Bioenergy (3) | | 352 |
| | 333 |
| Fertilizer | | 96 |
| | 65 |
| Total | | $ | 7,183 |
| | $ | 5,074 |
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| | (1) | Includes RMI of $5,534 million and $3,865 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Of these amounts, $4,466 million and $2,694 million can be attributable to merchandising activities at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. |
| | (2) | Includes RMI of bulk soybean and canola oil in the aggregate amount of $97 million and $115 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. |
| | (3) | Includes RMI of $75 million and $76 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Of these amounts, $67 million and $73 million can be attributable to merchandising activities at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. |
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