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Significant events in the current year (Details) R$ in Millions |  | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Oct. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Aug. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Jul. 31, 2020 BRL (R$) | Jul. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2020 BRL (R$) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related concession grants liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,791,000,000 |  | $ 1,667,000,000
Impairment and disposals of non-current assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,243,000,000 | 5,074,000,000 | $ 899,000,000 |
Stockholders remuneration paid |  |  |  |  | R$ 18,637 | $ 3,350,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of divestment of shares |  | 8.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash consideration from divestment of shares in associate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 241,000,000
Percentage of total share held |  | 29.60% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss from divestiture of shares in associate |  | $ 172,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment and disposal of non-current assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,243,000,000 | 5,074,000,000 | 899,000,000 |
Notional amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,296,000,000
Guaranteed notes due July 2030 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notional amount |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,500,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,500.000
PTVI |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of divestment of shares |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14.90% |  |  |  |  |
Cash consideration from divestment of shares in subsidiary |  |  | $ 278,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss from divestiture of shares in subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 179,000,000 |  |  |
Discontinued operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment loss |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 124,000,000 |
VLI S.A. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of divestment of shares |  | 8.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash consideration from divestment of shares in associate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | R$ 1,223 |  |  |  | 241,000,000
Percentage of total share held |  | 29.60% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss from divestiture of shares in associate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 172,000,000 |  |  |
Vale Nouvelle Caledonie S.A.S. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount of liability that will be recognized at completion of transaction |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 500,000,000
Impairment and disposals of non-current assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 882,000,000 |  |  |
Impairment and disposal of non-current assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 882,000,000 |  |  |
Samarco |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from debt used for working capital |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 166,000,000 | $ 102,000,000 |  |
Ningbo Zhoushan Port |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Term of joint venture |  |  | 3 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ningbo Zhoushan Port | Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital contribution |  |  | $ 110,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ningbo Zhoushan Port | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital contribution |  |  | $ 160,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Biopalma |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain from disposals of non-current assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 125,000,000 |  |  |
Henan Longyu |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash received from disposal of non-current assets held for sale |  |  |  | $ 156,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reclassification of gain related to the cumulative translation adjustments on to income statements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 116,000,000 |  |  |
Simoes Filho plant |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment and disposals of non-current assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 76,000,000 |  |  |
Impairment and disposal of non-current assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 76,000,000 |  |  |
Renova Foundation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Provision |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,069,000,000 |  |  |
Nacala Corridor |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of loans and receivables |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 798,000,000 |  |  |
Held for sale |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment loss |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 382,000,000 |  |  |
Railways concessions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extension term for concessions |  | 30 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Intangible asset recognized, which represents its right to use |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12,016 |  |  |  | 2,312,000,000
Related concession grants liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,312,000,000
De-characterization of upstream structures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Provision recognized |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 369,000,000 |  |  |
De-characterization of other structures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Provision recognized |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 248,000,000 |  |  |
Judicial Settlement for Integral Reparation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss to repair the environmental and social damage resulting from the Dam I rupture |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | R$ 19,924 | 3,872,000,000 |  |  |
Heads of Agreement | Nacala Corridor | Mitsui & Co., Ltd |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding balance of project finance | $ 2,500,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,500,000,000 |  |  |

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