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Principal joint ventures - Reconciliation of financial information for joint ventures by carrying value (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Disclosure Of Joint Ventures [Line Items] |  |
Net assets/(liabilities) | $ 51,115 | $ 45,730
Minera Escondida Limitada [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Joint Ventures [Line Items] |  |
Group interest | 30.00% | 30.00%
Net assets/(liabilities) | $ 10,230 | $ 11,689
Group's ownership interest | 3,069 | 3,507
Other adjustments | 4 | (3)
Carrying value of Group's interest | $ 3,073 | $ 3,504
Sohar Aluminium Co. L.L.C. [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Joint Ventures [Line Items] |  |
Group interest | 20.00% | 20.00%
Net assets/(liabilities) | $ 2,060 | $ 1,980
Group's ownership interest | 412 | 396
Other adjustments | (3) | (2)
Carrying value of Group's interest | $ 409 | $ 394

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- Definition The amount of investments in joint ventures. [Refer: Joint ventures [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 27 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=27&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_10&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
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- Definition The amount of assets less the amount of liabilities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Name IFRS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph IG63 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=1&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_IG63&doctype=Implementation%20Guidance -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
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- Definition The proportion of ownership interest in a joint venture attributable to the entity. [Refer: Joint ventures [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 27 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 17 -Subparagraph b -Clause iii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=27&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_17_b_iii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 27 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph b -Clause iii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=27&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_16_b_iii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 12 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph a -Clause iv -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=12&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_21_a_iv&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
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