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Rio Tinto financial information by business unit - Schedule of financial information by business unit (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Jan. 01, 2018
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 19,914 | $ 19,319 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 6,784 | 6,163 |  |
Depreciation & amortisation in subsidiaries excluding capitalised depreciation | (2,019) | (2,102) |  |
Impairment charges, net of reversals | (123) | (357) |  |
Net earnings | 4,380 | 3,305 |  |
Add back: Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment and intangibles | 18 | 79 |  |
Total capital expenditure per cash flow statement | 2,363 | 1,758 |  |
Less: Net debt | (5,229) |  | $ (3,845) |
Equity attributable to owners of Rio Tinto (see Group balance sheet) | 42,333 |  | 44,711 | $ 44,542
Assets of disposal groups held for sale [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Operating assets | 2,333 |  | 370 |
Diamonds [member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 323 | 340 |  |
Reportable segments [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Capital expenditure | 2,345 | 1,679 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 2,049 | 2,117 |  |
Operating assets | 47,562 |  | 48,556 |
Reportable segments [Member] | Iron Ore [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 9,170 | 8,763 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 5,656 | 5,607 |  |
Net earnings | 3,222 | 3,255 |  |
Capital expenditure | 485 | 528 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 869 | 784 |  |
Operating assets | 15,778 |  | 16,537 |
Reportable segments [Member] | Iron Ore [Member] | Evaluation projects/other [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 57 | 40 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 30 | 21 |  |
Net earnings | 20 | 10 |  |
Operating assets | 2 |  | 2 |
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 6,148 | 5,368 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 1,831 | 1,666 |  |
Net earnings | 871 | 759 |  |
Capital expenditure | 885 | 521 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 558 | 603 |  |
Operating assets | 15,957 |  | 16,346 |
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Intrasegment [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | (447) | (388) |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | (3) | (22) |  |
Net earnings | (2) | (15) |  |
Operating assets | (19) |  | (18) |
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Intersegment & Other [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | (1,450) | (1,166) |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | (40) | 1 |  |
Net earnings | (33) | 3 |  |
Capital expenditure |  | 2 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated |  | 1 |  |
Operating assets | 767 |  | 772 |
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Evaluation projects/other [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 51 | 58 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 85 | 84 |  |
Net earnings | 75 | 78 |  |
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Bauxite [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 1,207 | 957 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 452 | 377 |  |
Net earnings | 246 | 215 |  |
Capital expenditure | 480 | 291 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 78 | 60 |  |
Operating assets | 2,161 |  | 1,897 |
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Alumina [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 1,605 | 1,303 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 435 | 253 |  |
Net earnings | 222 | 111 |  |
Capital expenditure | 79 | 33 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 97 | 104 |  |
Operating assets | 2,535 |  | 2,733 |
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Bauxite & Alumina [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 2,365 | 1,872 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 884 | 608 |  |
Net earnings | 466 | 311 |  |
Capital expenditure | 559 | 324 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 175 | 164 |  |
Operating assets | 4,677 |  | 4,612 |
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Primary Metal [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 3,328 | 2,833 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 917 | 803 |  |
Net earnings | 437 | 322 |  |
Capital expenditure | 272 | 154 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 311 | 341 |  |
Operating assets | 9,443 |  | 9,946 |
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Pacific Aluminium [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 1,265 | 1,104 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 151 | 231 |  |
Net earnings | 55 | 92 |  |
Capital expenditure | 54 | 41 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 72 | 97 |  |
Operating assets | 1,070 |  | 1,016 |
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Integrated Operations [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 5,508 | 4,643 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 1,912 | 1,643 |  |
Net earnings | 925 | 728 |  |
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Other Product Group Items [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 589 | 667 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | (166) | (61) |  |
Net earnings | (129) | (47) |  |
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] | Product group operations [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 6,097 | 5,310 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 1,746 | 1,582 |  |
Net earnings | 796 | 681 |  |
Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 3,032 | 1,922 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 1,360 | 771 |  |
Net earnings | 450 | (69) |  |
Capital expenditure | 969 | 665 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 679 | 679 |  |
Operating assets | 12,122 |  | 11,743 |
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 | (102) | (68) |  |
Net earnings | (53) | (35) |  |
Capital expenditure | 1 | (1) |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 3 | 2 |  |
Operating assets | 135 |  | 135 |
Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] | Product group operations [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 3,032 | 1,922 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 1,462 | 839 |  |
Net earnings | 503 | (34) |  |
Capital expenditure | 968 | 666 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 676 | 677 |  |
Operating assets | 11,987 |  | 11,608 |
Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] | Diamonds [member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 323 | 340 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 132 | 97 |  |
Net earnings | 55 | 19 |  |
Capital expenditure | 38 | 44 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 50 | 61 |  |
Operating assets | 436 |  | 441 |
Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 2,864 | 3,855 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 1,037 | 1,434 |  |
Net earnings | 473 | 652 |  |
Capital expenditure | 214 | 145 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 261 | 306 |  |
Operating assets | 3,848 |  | 6,313 |
Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] | Evaluation projects/other [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 27 |  |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | (18) | (5) |  |
Net earnings | (17) | (2) |  |
Operating assets | 37 |  | 41 |
Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] | Product group operations [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 2,837 | 3,855 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 1,061 | 1,444 |  |
Net earnings | 493 | 656 |  |
Capital expenditure | 214 | 145 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 261 | 306 |  |
Operating assets | 3,794 |  | 6,255 |
Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] | Uranium [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 201 | 193 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 14 | 25 |  |
Net earnings | 6 | 13 |  |
Capital expenditure | 3 | 12 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 2 | 16 |  |
Operating assets | (271) |  | (327) |
Reportable segments [Member] | Other operations [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 9 | 3 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | (27) |  |  |
Net earnings | (67) | (34) |  |
Capital expenditure | 8 | (42) |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 17 | 19 |  |
Operating assets | (224) |  | (328) |
Inter-segment transactions [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | (6) | (5) |  |
Operating assets | 211 |  | 206 |
Product group [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 21,217 | 19,906 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 9,857 | 9,478 |  |
Net earnings | 4,949 | 4,563 |  |
Capital expenditure | 2,561 | 1,817 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 2,384 | 2,391 |  |
Operating assets | 47,481 |  | 50,611 |
Other items [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | (559) | (351) |  |
Net earnings | (329) | (226) |  |
Capital expenditure | 23 | 6 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 19 | 20 |  |
Operating assets | (2,463) |  | (2,631) |
Exploration and evaluation [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | (100) | (85) |  |
Net earnings | (86) | (76) |  |
Net interest [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Net earnings | (118) | (320) |  |
Underlying earnings [member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 9,198 | 9,042 |  |
Net earnings | 4,416 | 3,941 |  |
Items excluded from underlying earnings [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | (10) | 2 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 325 | (70) |  |
Net earnings | (36) | (636) |  |
E B I T D A And Net Earnings |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 9,523 | 8,972 |  |
Net earnings | 4,380 | 3,305 |  |
Share of equity accounted units and adjustments [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Adjustment for equity accounted units revenue | (1,293) | (589) |  |
Depreciation and amortisation in equity accounted units | (354) | (294) |  |
Taxation and finance items in equity accounted units | (243) | (56) |  |
Capital expenditure | (239) | (144) |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | (354) | (294) |  |
Oyu Tolgoi & Turquoise Hill [Member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 587 | 441 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 202 | 143 |  |
Net earnings | 38 | 1 |  |
Capital expenditure | 593 | 347 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 114 | 166 |  |
Operating assets | 5,334 |  | 4,725 |
Grasberg joint venture [Member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | (5) | (28) |  |
Net earnings | (13) | (170) |  |
Capital expenditure | 20 | 81 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 20 | 16 |  |
Operating assets | 1,126 |  | 1,137 |
Pilbara [member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Iron Ore [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 9,113 | 8,723 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 5,626 | 5,586 |  |
Net earnings | 3,202 | 3,245 |  |
Capital expenditure | 485 | 528 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 869 | 784 |  |
Operating assets | $ 15,776 |  | 16,535 |
Rio Tinto Kennecott [Member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00% |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 851 | 564 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 343 | 346 |  |
Net earnings | 107 | 77 |  |
Capital expenditure | 158 | 114 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 205 | 209 |  |
Operating assets | $ 1,968 |  | 1,936 |
Escondida [Member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 30.00% |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 1,271 | 577 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 790 | 281 |  |
Net earnings | 316 | 39 |  |
Capital expenditure | 159 | 80 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 287 | 225 |  |
Operating assets | 3,123 |  | 3,369 |
Rio Tinto Coal Australia [Member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 837 | 1,540 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 560 | 668 |  |
Net earnings | 342 | 395 |  |
Capital expenditure | 42 | 28 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 34 | 71 |  |
Operating assets | $ (1,225) |  | 1,040 |
Iron Ore Company of Canada [member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 58.70% |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 495 | 871 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 122 | 366 |  |
Net earnings | 16 | 112 |  |
Capital expenditure | 59 | 40 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 79 | 75 |  |
Operating assets | 982 |  | 988 |
Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium [Member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | 857 | 829 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 229 | 250 |  |
Net earnings | 60 | 79 |  |
Capital expenditure | 86 | 46 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 107 | 107 |  |
Operating assets | $ 3,632 |  | 3,881 |
Rio Tinto Minerals [Member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00% |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 324 | 325 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 107 | 120 |  |
Net earnings | 60 | 55 |  |
Capital expenditure | 21 | 15 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 29 | 26 |  |
Operating assets | $ 532 |  | 523 |
Dampier Salt [member] | Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 68.40% |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue | $ 123 | 97 |  |
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 29 | 15 |  |
Net earnings | 9 | 2 |  |
Capital expenditure | 3 | 4 |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 10 | 11 |  |
Operating assets | 144 |  | 150 |
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 | (6) | (5) |  |
Net earnings | (3) | $ (2) |  |
Operating assets | $ 17 |  | $ 17 |
Gove Alumina Refinery and Rio Tinto Marine [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00% |  |  |

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