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Operating segments - Reconciliation of net earnings/(losses) to underlying earnings (Parenthetical) (Detail) $ in Millions |  |  |  |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 7 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 21, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 14, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 06, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 06, 2018 AUD ($) | Aug. 01, 2018 USD ($) | May 10, 2018 USD ($) | Nov. 30, 2018 USD ($) | Aug. 01, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net earnings, Pre-tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 18,167,000,000 | $ 12,816,000,000 | $ 6,343,000,000
(Loss)/profit after tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13,925,000,000 | 8,851,000,000 | 4,776,000,000
Post-tax foreign exchange gains |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 936,000,000 |  |
Post-tax foreign exchange loss |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 386,000,000 |  |
Impairment loss excluded from underlying earnings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 134,000,000 |  |
Reversal of impairment loss |  |  | $ 242,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax gains on disposals of property, plant and equipment |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 549,000,000 |  | 586,000,000 | 138,000,000 | $ 354,000,000
Other income |  |  |  |  |  |  | 53,000,000 |  |  |  |
Total impact |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 569,000,000 |  |  |  |
Discount rate used in net present value of expected future cash flows for the port and rail capacity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.00%
Post-tax onerous contract charge |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 329,000,000
Underlying earnings [member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
(Loss)/profit after tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 93,000,000 |  |
Increased closure provision |  |  |  | $ 296 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
US Dollar Net Debt [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Post-tax foreign exchange gains |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 420,000,000 | 123,000,000
Intragroup balances [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Post-tax foreign exchange gains |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 393,000,000
Post-tax foreign exchange loss |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 908,000,000 |
Carbone savoie [Member] | Disposal of subsidiaries [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage in subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00%
Energy Resources of Australia Limited [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
(Loss)/profit after tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (241,000,000) | $ (29,000,000) |
Ownership percentage in subsidiary |  |  | 68.00% | 68.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Elysis |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax gain on consolidation |  |  |  |  |  | $ 171,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Post-tax gain on consolidation |  |  |  |  |  | $ 141,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Hail Creek [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net earnings, Pre-tax |  |  |  |  | $ 1,141,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
(Loss)/profit after tax |  |  |  |  | 836,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of ownership interest exchanged in joint venture |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 82.00% |  |  |
Kestrel Underground Coal Mine [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net earnings, Pre-tax |  |  |  |  | 1,010,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
(Loss)/profit after tax |  |  |  |  | $ 724,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of ownership interest exchanged in joint venture |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 80.00% |  |  |
Dunkerque Aluminium Smelter [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net earnings, Pre-tax |  | $ 128,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
(Loss)/profit after tax |  | $ 122,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Grasberg expansion [member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net earnings, Pre-tax | $ 2,146,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax payable | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Bengalla joint venture [Member] | Disposal of joint ventures [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of ownership interest exchanged in joint venture |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 40.00%

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