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Share of profit after tax of equity accounted units - Summary of share of profit after tax of equity accounted units (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Disclosure Of Equity Accounted Units [Line Items] |  |  |
Sales revenues | $ 40,030 | $ 33,781 | $ 34,829
Operating costs | (26,983) | (26,799) | (27,919)
Finance items | (1,658) | (773) | (4,702)
Profit/(loss) before taxation | 12,816 | 6,343 | (726)
Taxation | (3,965) | (1,567) | (993)
Rio Tinto [member] |  |  |
Disclosure Of Equity Accounted Units [Line Items] |  |  |
Sales revenues | 1,960 | 1,727 | 2,149
Operating costs | (1,400) | (1,237) | (1,609)
Profit before finance items and taxation | 560 | 490 | 540
Finance items | (47) | (33) | (37)
Share of profit after tax of equity accounted units | 17 | 20 | 35
Profit/(loss) before taxation | 530 | 477 | 538
Taxation | (191) | (156) | (177)
Profit for the year (Rio Tinto share) | $ 339 | $ 321 | $ 361

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