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Operating segments - Summary of capital expenditure 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] |  |  |
Capital expenditure | $ 4,344 | $ 2,658 | $ 4,588
Sales of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets | 138 | 354 | 97
Capital expenditure per cash flow statement | 4,482 | 3,012 | 4,685
Reportable segments [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Capital expenditure | 4,691 | 3,355 | 5,382
Reportable segments [Member] | Iron Ore [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Capital expenditure | 1,201 | 868 | 1,608
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Capital expenditure | 1,436 | 916 | 1,682
Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Capital expenditure | 1,622 | 1,441 | 1,576
Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Capital expenditure | 467 | 141 | 552
Reportable segments [Member] | Other operations [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Capital expenditure | (35) | (11) | (36)
Other items [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Capital expenditure | 70 | (46) | 65
Share of equity accounted units and adjustments [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Capital expenditure | $ (417) | $ (651) | $ (859)

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- Definition The cash inflow from the disposal of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets other than goodwill, investment property and other non-current assets. [Refer: Intangible assets other than goodwill; Investment property; Other non-current assets; Property, plant and equipment] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 16 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=7&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_16&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
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- Definition The cash outflow for the purchase of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets other than goodwill, investment property and other non-current assets. [Refer: Intangible assets other than goodwill; Investment property; Other non-current assets; Property, plant and equipment] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 16 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=7&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_16&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
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