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Share of profit after tax of equity accounted units - Summary of share of profit after tax of equity accounted units (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Disclosure Of Equity Accounted Units [Line Items] |  |  |
Sales revenue: Rio Tinto share | $ 40,522 | $ 40,030 | $ 33,781
Operating costs | (27,115) | (26,983) | (26,799)
Finance items | (33) | (1,658) | (773)
Profit before taxation | 18,167 | 12,816 | 6,343
Taxation | (4,242) | (3,965) | (1,567)
Rio Tinto [member] |  |  |
Disclosure Of Equity Accounted Units [Line Items] |  |  |
Sales revenue: Rio Tinto share | 2,497 | 1,960 | 1,727
Operating costs | (1,656) | (1,400) | (1,237)
Profit before finance items and taxation | 841 | 560 | 490
Finance items | (69) | (47) | (33)
Share of profit after tax of equity accounted units | 14 | 17 | 20
Profit before taxation | 786 | 530 | 477
Taxation | (273) | (191) | (156)
Profit for the year (Rio Tinto share) | $ 513 | $ 339 | $ 321

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