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Financial instruments and risk management - Summary of derivative financial instruments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Disclosure Of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Total net derivative instruments | $ (264) | $ 9
Derivative financial instruments | 267 | 532
Non-current derivative financial instruments | 238 | 508
Current derivative financial instruments | 29 | 24
– current liabilities | (50) | (6)
– non-current liabilities | (481) | (517)
Total net derivatives instruments, detailed above | (264) | 9
Fair value hedges [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments | 267 | 532
Derivative financial liabilities | (531) | (523)
Derivatives designated as hedges [member] | Fair value hedges [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments | 99 | 109
Derivative financial liabilities | (276) | (516)
Derivatives not designated as hedges [member] | Fair value hedges [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments | 168 | 423
Derivative financial liabilities | (255) | (7)
Interest rate swaps [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments | 99 | 108
Interest rate swaps [member] | Derivatives designated as hedges [member] | Fair value hedges [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments | 99 | 108
Derivative financial liabilities | (127) | (134)
Cross currency interest rate swaps [member] | Derivatives designated as hedges [member] | Fair value hedges [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial liabilities | (149) | (382)
Currency forward contracts, options and swaps [member] | Derivatives designated as hedges [member] | Fair value hedges [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments |  | 1
Currency forward contracts, options and swaps [member] | Derivatives not designated as hedges [member] | Fair value hedges [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments | 7 | 1
Derivative financial liabilities | (2) |
Aluminium forward contracts [member] | Derivatives not designated as hedges [member] | Fair value hedges [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments | 21 | 6
Derivative financial liabilities | (9) | (2)
Aluminium embedded derivatives [member] | Derivatives not designated as hedges [member] | Fair value hedges [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments | 140 | 411
Derivative financial liabilities | (238) | (3)
Other embedded derivatives [member] | Derivatives not designated as hedges [member] | Fair value hedges [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments |  | 5
Derivative financial liabilities | (5) |
Other commodity contracts [member] | Derivatives not designated as hedges [member] | Fair value hedges [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial liabilities | (1) | (2)
Due within 1 year [member] | Fair value hedges [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments | 29 | 24
Derivative financial liabilities | (50) | (6)
Pre 2021 [Member] | Fair value hedges [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments | 31 | 110
Derivative financial liabilities | (233) | (194)
More than 5 years [member] | Fair value hedges [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments | 207 | 398
Derivative financial liabilities | $ (248) | $ (323)

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