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Operating segments - Summary of Underlying EBITDA (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Underlying EBITDA | $ 18,136 | $ 18,580 | $ 13,510
Items excluded from underlying EBITDA | 5,127 | 1,912 | (687)
EBITDA | 23,263 | 20,492 | 12,823
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment charges in subsidiaries and equity accounted units | (4,691) | (5,746) | (5,466)
Taxation and finance items in equity accounted units | (372) | (272) | (241)
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 18,200 | 14,474 | 7,116
Reportable segments [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Underlying EBITDA | 19,319 | 19,534 | 14,096
Reportable segments [Member] | Iron Ore [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Underlying EBITDA | 11,325 | 11,520 | 8,526
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 11,325 | 11,520 | 8,526
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Underlying EBITDA | 3,095 | 3,423 | 2,472
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 3,095 | 3,423 | 2,472
Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Underlying EBITDA | 2,776 | 1,904 | 1,387
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 2,776 | 1,904 | 1,387
Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Underlying EBITDA | 2,193 | 2,803 | 1,806
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | 2,193 | 2,803 | 1,806
Reportable segments [Member] | Other operations [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Underlying EBITDA | (70) | (116) | (95)
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | (70) | (116) | (95)
Central Pension Costs, Share-Based Payments & Insurance [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Underlying EBITDA | (128) | (68) | (34)
Restructuring, Project and One-Off Costs [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Underlying EBITDA | (272) | (177) | (13)
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | (272) | (177) | (13)
Exploration and evaluation not attributed to product groups [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Underlying EBITDA | (231) | (218) | (175)
Central Costs [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Underlying EBITDA | (552) | (491) | (364)
Profit on ordinary activities before finance items and tax | $ (552) | $ (491) | $ (364)

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- Definition The amount of depreciation expense, amortisation expense and impairment loss (reversal of impairment loss) recognised in profit or loss. [Refer: Depreciation and amortisation expense; Impairment loss (reversal of impairment loss) recognised in profit or loss] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 112 -Subparagraph c -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_112_c&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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