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Rio Tinto financial information by business unit - Schedule of financial information by business unit (Detail) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Employee | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Employee | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Employee
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 40,030 | $ 33,781 | $ 34,829
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 14,474 | 7,116 | 3,976
Depreciation & amortisation in subsidiaries excluding capitalised depreciation | (4,302) | (4,691) | (4,553)
Impairment charges, net of reversals | (796) | (249) | (2,791)
Net earnings | 8,762 | 4,617 | (866)
Capital expenditure | 4,344 | 2,658 | 4,588
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 4,375 | 4,794 | 4,645
Operating assets | $ 48,556 | $ 48,877 | $ 51,132
Employees | Employee | 46,807 | 51,029 | 54,938
Sales of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets | $ 138 | $ 354 | $ 97
Capital expenditure per cash flow statement | 4,482 | 3,012 | 4,685
Less: Net debt | (3,845) | (9,587) | (13,783)
Equity attributable to owners of Rio Tinto (see Group balance sheet) | 44,711 | 39,290 | 37,349
Assets and liabilities classified as held for sale [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Operating assets | 370 | (7) | 182
Diamonds [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 706 | 613 | 698
Reportable segments [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 41,872 | 35,329 | 36,819
Capital expenditure | 4,691 | 3,355 | 5,382
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 4,980 | 5,269 | 5,039
Reportable segments [Member] | Iron Ore [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 18,251 | 14,605 | 13,952
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 11,520 | 8,526 | 7,675
Net earnings | 6,692 | 4,611 | 3,940
Capital expenditure | 1,201 | 868 | 1,608
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 1,645 | 1,645 | 1,744
Operating assets | $ 16,537 | $ 16,359 | $ 16,872
Employees | Employee | 10,159 | 10,424 | 11,097
Reportable segments [Member] | Iron Ore [Member] | Evaluation projects/other [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 108 | $ 75 | $ 66
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 137 | (32) | (55)
Net earnings | 116 | (51) | (73)
Operating assets | 2 | 2 | 2
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 11,005 | 9,458 | 10,117
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 3,423 | 2,472 | 2,742
Net earnings | 1,583 | 947 | 1,118
Capital expenditure | 1,436 | 916 | 1,682
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 1,199 | 1,250 | 1,172
Operating assets | $ 16,346 | $ 15,782 | $ 15,949
Employees | Employee | 13,345 | 14,037 | 15,419
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Intrasegment [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ (790) | $ (786) | $ (849)
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | (25) |  |
Net earnings | (17) |  |
Operating assets | (18) |  |
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Intersegment & Other [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | (2,321) | (1,822) | (1,876)
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | (19) | (50) | 132
Net earnings | (12) | (13) | 92
Capital expenditure | 5 | 1 | (10)
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 6 | 25 | 12
Operating assets | $ 772 | $ 171 | $ 677
Employees | Employee | 222 | 231 | 210
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Evaluation projects/other [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 109 | $ 76 | $ 81
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 126 | 167 | 143
Net earnings | 115 | 154 | 128
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Bauxite [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 2,019 | 1,913 | 2,057
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 804 | 848 | 937
Net earnings | 463 | 493 | 542
Capital expenditure | 825 | 343 | 159
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 123 | 110 | 112
Operating assets | $ 1,897 | $ 1,278 | $ 1,050
Employees | Employee | 2,534 | 2,592 | 2,603
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Alumina [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 2,661 | $ 2,118 | $ 2,145
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 454 | 27 | (47)
Net earnings | 180 | (121) | (187)
Capital expenditure | 108 | 87 | 158
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 209 | 206 | 207
Operating assets | $ 2,733 | $ 2,588 | $ 2,698
Employees | Employee | 2,012 | 2,139 | 2,287
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Bauxite & Alumina [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 3,890 | $ 3,245 | $ 3,353
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 1,233 | 875 | 890
Net earnings | 626 | 372 | 355
Capital expenditure | 933 | 430 | 317
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 332 | 316 | 319
Operating assets | $ 4,612 | $ 3,866 | $ 3,748
Employees | Employee | 4,546 | 4,731 | 4,890
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Primary Metal [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 5,808 | $ 4,913 | $ 4,931
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 1,762 | 1,258 | 1,245
Net earnings | 778 | 402 | 446
Capital expenditure | 389 | 394 | 1,249
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 665 | 716 | 629
Operating assets | $ 9,946 | $ 10,701 | $ 10,326
Employees | Employee | 6,404 | 6,799 | 7,980
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Pacific Aluminium [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 2,305 | $ 1,971 | $ 2,254
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 453 | 264 | 408
Net earnings | 176 | 62 | 147
Capital expenditure | 109 | 91 | 126
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 196 | 193 | 212
Operating assets | $ 1,016 | $ 1,044 | $ 1,198
Employees | Employee | 2,173 | 2,276 | 2,339
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Integrated Operations [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 9,682 | $ 8,307 | $ 8,662
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 3,429 | 2,347 | 2,675
Net earnings | 1,568 | 823 | 1,040
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Other Product Group Items [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 1,214 | 1,075 | 1,374
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | (132) | (42) | (76)
Net earnings | (100) | (30) | (50)
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Product group operations [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 10,896 | 9,382 | 10,036
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 3,297 | 2,305 | 2,599
Net earnings | 1,468 | 793 | 990
Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 4,842 | 4,524 | 5,592
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 1,904 | 1,387 | 1,833
Net earnings | 263 | (18) | 370
Capital expenditure | 1,622 | 1,441 | 1,576
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 1,452 | 1,601 | 1,261
Operating assets | $ 11,743 | $ 11,530 | $ 11,551
Employees | Employee | 8,354 | 9,489 | 9,896
Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] | Evaluation projects/other [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | $ (205) | $ (190) | $ (141)
Net earnings | (99) | (95) | (57)
Capital expenditure | 1 | (2) | 3
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 5 | 4 | 6
Operating assets | $ 135 | $ 166 | $ 155
Employees | Employee | 142 | 127 | 160
Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] | Product group operations [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 4,842 | $ 4,524 | $ 5,592
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 2,109 | 1,577 | 1,974
Net earnings | 362 | 77 | 427
Capital expenditure | 1,621 | 1,443 | 1,573
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 1,447 | 1,597 | 1,255
Operating assets | $ 11,608 | $ 11,364 | $ 11,396
Employees | Employee | 8,212 | 9,362 | 9,736
Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] | Diamonds [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 706 | $ 613 | $ 698
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 287 | 239 | 293
Net earnings | 92 | 47 | 79
Capital expenditure | 85 | 97 | 124
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 132 | 164 | 159
Operating assets | $ 441 | $ 655 | $ 857
Employees | Employee | 922 | 907 | 1,118
Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 7,764 | $ 6,734 | $ 7,140
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 2,803 | 1,806 | 1,237
Net earnings | 1,242 | 612 | 177
Capital expenditure | 467 | 141 | 552
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 652 | 739 | 830
Operating assets | $ 6,313 | $ 7,049 | $ 7,381
Employees | Employee | 10,864 | 13,453 | 14,457
Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] | Evaluation projects/other [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 43 | $ 22 | $ 55
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | (9) | (31) | (55)
Net earnings | (7) | (25) | (43)
Capital expenditure |  | 4 | 4
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated |  | 1 | 5
Operating assets | $ 41 | $ 38 | $ 39
Employees | Employee | 25 | 763 | 855
Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] | Product group operations [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 7,721 | $ 6,712 | $ 7,085
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 2,825 | 1,939 | 1,379
Net earnings | 1,255 | 684 | 261
Capital expenditure | 467 | 137 | 457
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 652 | 738 | 824
Operating assets | $ 6,255 | $ 6,998 | $ 7,352
Employees | Employee | 10,829 | 12,055 | 12,690
Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] | Uranium [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 417 | $ 456 | $ 474
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 15 | 54 | 1
Net earnings | (26) | 10 | (42)
Capital expenditure | 21 | 30 | 39
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 37 | 25 | 65
Operating assets | $ (327) | $ (143) | $ (216)
Employees | Employee | 1,307 | 1,303 | 1,329
Reportable segments [Member] | Other operations [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 10 | $ 8 | $ 18
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | (116) | (95) | (83)
Net earnings | (138) | (88) | (90)
Capital expenditure | (35) | (11) | (36)
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 32 | 34 | 32
Operating assets | $ (328) | $ 203 | $ (33)
Employees | Employee | 203 | 249 | 299
Inter-segment transactions [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ (15) | $ (11) | $ (34)
Operating assets | 206 | 142 | 242
Product group [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 41,857 | 35,318 | 36,785
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 19,534 | 14,096 | 13,404
Net earnings | 9,642 | 6,064 | 5,515
Capital expenditure | 4,691 | 3,355 | 5,382
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 4,980 | 5,269 | 5,039
Operating assets | $ 50,611 | $ 50,923 | $ 51,720
Employees | Employee | 42,925 | 47,652 | 51,168
Other items [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | $ (736) | $ (411) | $ (546)
Net earnings | (483) | (241) | (375)
Capital expenditure | 70 | (46) | 65
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 42 | 51 | 68
Operating assets | $ (2,631) | $ (2,181) | $ (1,012)
Employees | Employee | 3,882 | 3,377 | 3,770
Exploration and evaluation [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | $ (218) | $ (175) | $ (237)
Net earnings | (178) | (147) | (211)
Net interest [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Net earnings | (354) | (576) | (389)
Underlying earnings [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 18,580 | 13,510 | 12,621
Net earnings | 8,627 | 5,100 | 4,540
Items excluded from underlying earnings [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 10 | 18 | (1)
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 1,912 | (687) | (563)
Net earnings | 135 | (483) | (5,406)
E B I T D A And Net Earnings |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 20,492 | 12,823 | 12,058
Net earnings | 8,762 | 4,617 | (866)
Share of equity accounted units and adjustments [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Adjustment for equity accounted units revenue | (1,837) | (1,555) | (1,955)
Depreciation and amortisation in equity accounted units | (648) | (526) | (462)
Taxation and finance items in equity accounted units | (272) | (241) | (276)
Capital expenditure | (417) | (651) | (859)
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | (647) | (526) | (462)
Oyu Tolgoi & Turquoise Hill [Member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 940 | 1,203 | 1,636
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 256 | 436 | 501
Net earnings | 36 | 52 | 57
Capital expenditure | 901 | 322 | 92
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 344 | 450 | 416
Operating assets | $ 4,725 | $ 3,804 | $ 3,597
Employees | Employee | 2,835 | 2,728 | 2,798
Grasberg joint venture [Member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 33 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | (3) | $ (17) | $ (17)
Net earnings | (169) | (64) | (34)
Capital expenditure | 138 | 174 | 179
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 42 | 89 | 43
Operating assets | $ 1,137 | $ 1,151 | $ 1,016
Employees | Employee | 1,642 | 2,859 | 2,868
Pilbara [member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Iron Ore [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 18,143 | $ 14,530 | $ 13,886
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 11,383 | 8,558 | 7,730
Net earnings | 6,576 | 4,662 | 4,013
Capital expenditure | 1,201 | 868 | 1,608
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 1,645 | 1,645 | 1,744
Operating assets | $ 16,535 | $ 16,357 | $ 16,870
Employees | Employee | 10,159 | 10,424 | 11,097
Rio Tinto Kennecott [Member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Rio Tinto interest | 100.00% |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 1,352 | $ 1,243 | $ 1,403
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 539 | 126 | 437
Net earnings | 78 | (228) | 44
Capital expenditure | 249 | 333 | 408
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 422 | 530 | 344
Operating assets | $ 1,936 | $ 2,189 | $ 2,441
Employees | Employee | 1,734 | 1,638 | 1,793
Escondida [Member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Rio Tinto interest | 30.00% |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 1,811 | $ 1,465 | $ 1,855
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 1,030 | 793 | 760
Net earnings | 325 | 270 | 281
Capital expenditure | 248 | 517 | 770
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 507 | 364 | 293
Operating assets | $ 3,369 | $ 3,565 | $ 3,485
Employees | Employee | 1,079 | 1,230 | 1,159
Rio Tinto Coal Australia [Member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 2,829 | $ 2,634 | $ 2,757
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 1,223 | 893 | 497
Net earnings | 716 | 382 | 48
Capital expenditure | 84 | (107) | 108
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 152 | 297 | 336
Operating assets | $ 1,040 | $ 1,807 | $ 2,137
Employees | Employee | 1,924 | 3,049 | 3,157
Iron Ore Company of Canada [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 1,867 | $ 1,324 |
Net earnings | 221 | 64 |
Equity attributable to owners of Rio Tinto (see Group balance sheet) | $ 1,153 | 1,080 |
Iron Ore Company of Canada [member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Rio Tinto interest | 58.70% |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 1,867 | 1,324 | $ 1,353
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 770 | 335 | 197
Net earnings | 235 | 64 | 12
Capital expenditure | 202 | 75 | 118
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 157 | 151 | 162
Operating assets | $ 988 | $ 1,018 | $ 1,152
Employees | Employee | 2,382 | 2,308 | 2,316
Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium [Member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 1,763 | $ 1,419 | $ 1,571
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 546 | 370 | 435
Net earnings | 201 | 86 | 116
Capital expenditure | 119 | 97 | 150
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 219 | 189 | 194
Operating assets | $ 3,881 | $ 3,662 | $ 3,554
Employees | Employee | 4,048 | 4,094 | 4,507
Rio Tinto Borates [Member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Rio Tinto interest | 100.00% |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 630 | $ 620 | $ 624
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 244 | 213 | 178
Net earnings | 126 | 117 | 103
Capital expenditure | 28 | 31 | 28
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 65 | 53 | 45
Operating assets | $ 523 | $ 508 | $ 585
Employees | Employee | 936 | 984 | 987
Dampier Salt [member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Rio Tinto interest | 68.40% |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 215 | $ 259 | $ 306
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 27 | 74 | 71
Net earnings | 3 | 25 | 24
Capital expenditure | 13 | 11 | 14
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 22 | 23 | 22
Operating assets | $ 150 | $ 146 | $ 140
Employees | Employee | 232 | 317 | 394
Simandou iron ore project [Member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | $ (13) | $ (102) | $ (87)
Net earnings | (6) | (47) | (41)
Capital expenditure |  |  | 91
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated |  |  | 1
Operating assets | $ 17 | $ 13 | $ (10)
Employees | Employee | 10 | 635 | 912

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