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Operating segments - Summary of tax charge within the reportable segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax charge | $ 3,965 | $ 1,567 | $ 993
Reportable segments [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax charge | 4,030 | 2,114 | 2,022
Reportable segments [Member] | Iron Ore [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax charge | 2,871 | 2,005 | 1,747
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax charge | 543 | 171 | 303
Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax charge | 48 | (320) | (77)
Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax charge | 652 | 331 | 122
Reportable segments [Member] | Other operations [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax charge | (84) | (73) | (73)
Other items [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax charge | (261) | (191) | (192)
Exploration and evaluation not attributed to product groups [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax charge | (36) | (27) | (25)
Finance costs [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax charge | (364) | (484) | (245)
Underlying earnings [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax charge | 3,369 | 1,412 | 1,560
Tax charge/ (credit) excluded from underlying earnings [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax charge | $ 596 | $ 155 | $ (567)

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