XML 198 R171.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.21.1

Employee benefits - Evolution of assets fair value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019
Overfunded pension plans |  |
Evolution of assets fair value |  |
Fair value of plan assets as at beginning of the year | $ (1,298) | $ (1,220)
Interest income | 74 | 110
Translation adjustment | 1,172 | (91)
Fair value of plan assets as at end of the year | (2,266) | (1,298)
Overfunded pension plans | Fair value of assets |  |
Evolution of assets fair value |  |
Fair value of plan assets as at beginning of the year | 5,304 | 4,737
Interest income | 298 | 416
Employer contributions | (39) | 27
Benefits paid | (368) | (433)
Return on plan assets (excluding interest income) | (114) | 757
Translation adjustment | (1,112) | (200)
Fair value of plan assets as at end of the year | 3,969 | 5,304
Underfunded pension plans |  |
Evolution of assets fair value |  |
Fair value of plan assets as at beginning of the year | (695) |
Fair value of plan assets as at end of the year | (641) | (695)
Underfunded pension plans | Fair value of assets |  |
Evolution of assets fair value |  |
Fair value of plan assets as at beginning of the year | 3,726 | 3,273
Interest income | 109 | 123
Employer contributions | 54 | 56
Benefits paid | (248) | (247)
Return on plan assets (excluding interest income) | 305 | 382
Translation adjustment | 46 | 139
Fair value of plan assets as at end of the year | 3,992 | 3,726
Other benefits |  |
Evolution of assets fair value |  |
Fair value of plan assets as at beginning of the year | (1,504) |
Fair value of plan assets as at end of the year | (1,733) | (1,504)
Other benefits | Fair value of assets |  |
Evolution of assets fair value |  |
Employer contributions | 53 | 62
Benefits paid | $ (53) | $ (62)

X
- Definition The decrease (increase) in net defined benefit liability (asset) resulting from contributions to a defined benefit plan by the employer. [Refer: Net defined benefit liability (asset); Defined benefit plans [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2020-01-01 -Paragraph 141 -Subparagraph f -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2020-en-r&anchor=para_141_f&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2020-01-01 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ContributionsToPlanByEmployerNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes of the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The increase (decrease) in the net defined benefit liability (asset) resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates. [Refer: Net defined benefit liability (asset)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2020-01-01 -Paragraph 141 -Subparagraph e -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2020-en-r&anchor=para_141_e&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2020-01-01 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_IncreaseDecreaseThroughChangesInForeignExchangeRatesNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The increase (decrease) in the net defined benefit liability (asset) resulting from the passage of time. [Refer: Interest expense; Net defined benefit liability (asset)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2020-01-01 -Paragraph 141 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2020-en-r&anchor=para_141_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2020-01-01 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_InterestExpenseIncomeNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of deficit or surplus in a defined benefit plan, adjusted for any effect of limiting a net defined benefit asset to the asset ceiling. [Refer: Defined benefit plans [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2020-01-01 -Paragraph 140 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2020-en-r&anchor=para_140_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2020-01-01 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_LiabilityAssetOfDefinedBenefitPlans
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The decrease (increase) in the net defined benefit liability (asset) resulting from payments from the plan. [Refer: Net defined benefit liability (asset)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2020-01-01 -Paragraph 141 -Subparagraph g -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2020-en-r&anchor=para_141_g&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2020-01-01 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_PaymentsFromPlanNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The decrease (increase) in the net defined benefit liability (asset) resulting from the return on plan assets, excluding amounts included in interest income or expense. The return on plans assets is interest, dividends and other revenue derived from the plan assets, together with realised and unrealised gains or losses on the plan assets, less any costs of managing plan assets and less any tax payable by the plan itself, other than tax included in the actuarial assumptions used to measure the present value of the defined benefit obligation. [Refer: Plan assets [member]; Net defined benefit liability (asset); Actuarial assumptions [member]; Interest expense (income), net defined benefit liability (asset)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2020-01-01 -Paragraph 141 -Subparagraph c -Clause i -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2020-en-r&anchor=para_141_c_i&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2020-01-01 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ReturnOnPlanAssetsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DefinedBenefitPlansAxis=vale_OverfundedPensionPlansMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_NetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetAxis=ifrs-full_PlanAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DefinedBenefitPlansAxis=vale_UnderfundedPensionPlansMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DefinedBenefitPlansAxis=vale_OtherBenefitsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |