Brumadinho dam failure (Details) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2024 USD ($)
IfrsStatementLineItems [Line Items]
Balance at the beginning	$ 3,060
Revision to estimates	(20)
Monetary and present value adjustments	143
Disbursements	(400)
Translation adjustment	(371)
Balance at the ending	2,412
Judicial Settlement For Brumadinho [Member]
IfrsStatementLineItems [Line Items]
Balance at the beginning	1,997
Revision to estimates	(51)
Monetary and present value adjustments	91
Disbursements	(247)
Translation adjustment	(239)
Balance at the ending	1,551
Judicial Settlement For Brumadinho [Member] \| Payment Obligations [Member]
IfrsStatementLineItems [Line Items]
Balance at the beginning	562
Revision to estimates	(8)
Monetary and present value adjustments	28
Disbursements	(100)
Translation adjustment	(66)
Balance at the ending	416
Judicial Settlement For Brumadinho [Member] \| Provision For Socio Economic Reparation And Others [Member]
IfrsStatementLineItems [Line Items]
Balance at the beginning	592
Revision to estimates	(11)
Monetary and present value adjustments	37
Disbursements	(92)
Translation adjustment	(70)
Balance at the ending	456
Judicial Settlement For Brumadinho [Member] \| Provision For Social And Environmental Reparation [Member]
IfrsStatementLineItems [Line Items]
Balance at the beginning	843
Revision to estimates	(32)
Monetary and present value adjustments	26
Disbursements	(55)
Translation adjustment	(103)
Balance at the ending	679
Other Obligations [Member]
IfrsStatementLineItems [Line Items]
Balance at the beginning	1,063
Revision to estimates	31
Monetary and present value adjustments	52
Disbursements	(153)
Translation adjustment	(132)
Balance at the ending	861
Other Obligations [Member] \| Tailings Containment And Geotechnical Safety [Member]
IfrsStatementLineItems [Line Items]
Balance at the beginning	684
Revision to estimates	(12)
Monetary and present value adjustments	28
Disbursements	(69)
Translation adjustment	(84)
Balance at the ending	547
Other Obligations [Member] \| Individual Indemnification [Member]
IfrsStatementLineItems [Line Items]
Balance at the beginning	83
Revision to estimates
Monetary and present value adjustments	6
Disbursements	(44)
Translation adjustment	(7)
Balance at the ending	38
Other Obligations [Member] \| Other Commitments [Member]
IfrsStatementLineItems [Line Items]
Balance at the beginning	296
Revision to estimates	43
Monetary and present value adjustments	18
Disbursements	(40)
Translation adjustment	(41)
Balance at the ending	$ 276

The increase (decrease) in other provisions resulting from foreign currency exchange rate changes on provisions measured in a currency different from the entity's presentation currency. [Refer: Other provisions]

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IAS
-Number 37
-IssueDate 2023-01-01
-Paragraph 84
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=37&code=ifrs-tx-2023-en-r&anchor=para_84&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2023-03-23

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_IncreaseDecreaseThroughNetExchangeDifferencesOtherProvisions
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of provisions other than provisions for employee benefits. [Refer: Provisions]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 37
-IssueDate 2023-01-01
-Paragraph 84
-Subparagraph a
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=37&code=ifrs-tx-2023-en-r&anchor=para_84_a&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2023-03-23

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2023-01-01
-Paragraph 78
-Subparagraph d
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2023-en-r&anchor=para_78_d&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2023-03-23

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_OtherProvisions
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount used (ie incurred and charged against the provision) for other provisions. [Refer: Other provisions]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 37
-IssueDate 2023-01-01
-Paragraph 84
-Subparagraph c
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=37&code=ifrs-tx-2023-en-r&anchor=para_84_c&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2023-03-23

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ProvisionUsedOtherProvisions
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vale_IfrsStatementLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vale_IncreaseThroughAdjustmentsArisingFromPassageOfTimeAndOtherOtherProvisions
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vale_RevisionToEstimatesAndNewProvisions
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfContingentLiabilitiesAxis=vale_JudicialSettlementForBrumadinhoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfProvisionsAxis=vale_PaymentObligationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfProvisionsAxis=vale_ProvisionForSocioEconomicReparationAndOthersMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfProvisionsAxis=vale_ProvisionForSocialAndEnvironmentalReparationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfContingentLiabilitiesAxis=vale_OtherObligationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfProvisionsAxis=vale_TailingsContainmentAndGeotechnicalSafetyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfProvisionsAxis=vale_IndividualIndemnificationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfProvisionsAxis=vale_OtherCommitmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: