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Trade and other receivables - Additional information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
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Disclosure Of Trade And Other Receivables [Line Items] |  |
Trade receivables | $ 2,315 | $ 2,283
Trade and other receivables | 5,167 | 4,802
Rio Tinto plc [member] | LIBOR [Member] |  |
Disclosure Of Trade And Other Receivables [Line Items] |  |
Trade and other receivables | 9,114 | 6,007
Trade receivables past due but not impaired [Member] |  |
Disclosure Of Trade And Other Receivables [Line Items] |  |
Trade receivables | $ 145 | $ 230

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- Definition The amount of trade receivables and other receivables. [Refer: Trade receivables; Other receivables] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 54 -Subparagraph h -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_54_h&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 78 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_78_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
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- Definition The amount due from customers for goods and services sold. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 78 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_78_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
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- Details
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