XML 12 R5.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.8.0.1
Group cash flow statement - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract]      
Cash flows from consolidated operations $ 16,670 $ 11,368 $ 12,102
Dividends from equity accounted units 817 253 210
Cash flows from operations 17,487 11,621 12,312
Net interest paid (897) (1,294) (827)
Dividends paid to holders of non-controlling interests in subsidiaries (399) (341) (310)
Tax paid (2,307) (1,521) (1,792)
Net cash generated from operating activities 13,884 8,465 9,383
Cash flows from investing activities      
Purchases of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (4,482) (3,012) (4,685)
Disposals of subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates 2,675 761 (38)
Purchases of financial assets (723) (789) (49)
Sales of financial assets 40 582 65
Sales of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets 138 354 97
Net funding of equity accounted units (3) (12) 11
Acquisitions of subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates     (3)
Other investing cash flows (18) 12 2
Net cash used in investing activities (2,373) (2,104) (4,600)
Cash flows before financing activities 11,511 6,361 4,783
Cash flows from financing activities      
Equity dividends paid to owners of Rio Tinto (4,250) (2,725) (4,076)
Proceeds from additional borrowings 18 4,413 1,837
Repayment of borrowings (2,795) (9,361) (3,518)
Proceeds from issue of equity to non-controlling interests 170 101 103
Own shares purchased from owners of Rio Tinto (2,083)   (2,028)
Purchase of non-controlling interests (194) (23)  
Other financing cash flows (7) 104 12
Net cash flows used in financing activities (9,141) (7,491) (7,670)
Effects of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents (12) (35) (159)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 2,358 (1,165) (3,046)
Opening cash and cash equivalents less overdrafts 8,189 9,354 12,400
Closing cash and cash equivalents less overdrafts $ 10,547 $ 8,189 $ 9,354