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Borrowings and other financial liabilities - Summary of detailed information about borrowings (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 14,624 | $ 16,913
Current borrowings including overdrafts | 552 | 717
Total borrowings | $ 15,176 | 17,630
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 9.0% 2019 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing |  | 1,235
Total borrowings |  | $ 1,235
Borrowings, interest rate | 9.00% | 9.00%
Borrowing maturity | 2019 | 2019
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 3.5% 2020 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing |  | $ 464
Total borrowings |  | $ 464
Borrowings, interest rate | 3.50% | 3.50%
Borrowing maturity | 2020 | 2020
Rio Tinto Finance plc Euro Bonds 2.0% due 2020 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 921 | $ 817
Total borrowings | $ 921 | $ 817
Borrowings, interest rate | 2.00% | 2.00%
Borrowing maturity | 2020 | 2020
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 4.125% 2021 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 428 | $ 573
Total borrowings | $ 428 | $ 573
Borrowings, interest rate | 4.125% | 4.125%
Borrowing maturity | 2021 | 2021
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 3.750% 2021 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 347 | $ 621
Total borrowings | $ 347 | $ 621
Borrowings, interest rate | 3.75% | 3.75%
Borrowing maturity | 2021 | 2021
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) plc Bonds 3.5% 2022 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 227 | $ 459
Total borrowings | $ 227 | $ 459
Borrowings, interest rate | 3.50% | 3.50%
Borrowing maturity | 2022 | 2022
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) plc Bonds 2.875% 2022 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 377 | $ 509
Total borrowings | $ 377 | $ 509
Borrowings, interest rate | 2.875% | 2.875%
Borrowing maturity | 2022 | 2022
Rio Tinto Finance plc Euro Bonds 2.875% due 2024 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 644 | $ 577
Total borrowings | $ 644 | $ 577
Borrowings, interest rate | 2.875% | 2.875%
Borrowing maturity | 2024 | 2024
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 3.75% 2025 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 1,192 | $ 1,195
Total borrowings | $ 1,192 | $ 1,195
Borrowings, interest rate | 3.75% | 3.75%
Borrowing maturity | 2025 | 2025
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 7.125% 2028 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 965 | $ 980
Total borrowings | $ 965 | $ 980
Borrowings, interest rate | 7.125% | 7.125%
Borrowing maturity | 2028 | 2028
Alcan Inc. Debentures 7.25% due 2028 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 105 | $ 105
Total borrowings | $ 105 | $ 105
Borrowings, interest rate | 7.25% | 7.25%
Borrowing maturity | 2028 | 2028
Rio Tinto Finance plc Sterling Bonds 4.0% due 2029 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 669 | $ 609
Total borrowings | $ 669 | $ 609
Borrowings, interest rate | 4.00% | 4.00%
Borrowing maturity | 2029 | 2029
Alcan Inc. Debentures 7.25% due 2031 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 422 | $ 425
Total borrowings | $ 422 | $ 425
Borrowings, interest rate | 7.25% | 7.25%
Borrowing maturity | 2031 | 2031
Alcan Inc. Global Notes 6.125% due 2033 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 740 | $ 741
Total borrowings | $ 740 | $ 741
Borrowings, interest rate | 6.125% | 6.125%
Borrowing maturity | 2033 | 2033
Alcan Inc. Global Notes 5.75% due 2035 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 287 | $ 287
Total borrowings | $ 287 | $ 287
Borrowings, interest rate | 5.75% | 5.75%
Borrowing maturity | 2035 | 2035
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 5.2% 2040 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 1,102 | $ 1,103
Total borrowings | $ 1,102 | $ 1,103
Borrowings, interest rate | 5.20% | 5.20%
Borrowing maturity | 2040 | 2040
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) plc Bonds 4.75% 2042 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 467 | $ 466
Total borrowings | $ 467 | $ 466
Borrowings, interest rate | 4.75% | 4.75%
Borrowing maturity | 2042 | 2042
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) plc Bonds 4.125% 2042 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 691 | $ 690
Total borrowings | $ 691 | $ 690
Borrowings, interest rate | 4.125% | 4.125%
Borrowing maturity | 2042 | 2042
Oyu Tolgoi LLC Secured Loan due 2027 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 2,262 | $ 2,259
Total borrowings | $ 2,262 | $ 2,259
Borrowing maturity | 2027 | 2027
Oyu Tolgoi LLC Secured Loan due 2028 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 255 | $ 247
Total borrowings | $ 255 | $ 247
Borrowing maturity | 2028 | 2028
Oyu Tolgoi LLC Secured Loan due 2029 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 869 | $ 866
Total borrowings | $ 869 | $ 866
Borrowing maturity | 2029 | 2029
Oyu Tolgoi LLC Secured Loan due 2030 [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | $ 761 | $ 754
Total borrowings | $ 761 | $ 754
Borrowing maturity | 2030 | 2030
Loans from equity accounting units [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Current borrowings including overdrafts | $ 31 | $ 49
Total borrowings | 31 | 49
Other secured loans [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | 451 | 530
Current borrowings including overdrafts | 79 | 127
Total borrowings | 530 | 657
Other unsecured loans [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | 393 | 377
Current borrowings including overdrafts | 435 | 508
Total borrowings | 828 | 885
Finance leases [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Non-current borrowing | 49 | 24
Current borrowings including overdrafts | 4 | 21
Total borrowings | 53 | 45
Bank overdrafts [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Current borrowings including overdrafts | 3 | 12
Total borrowings | $ 3 | $ 12

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