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Operating segments - Summary of capital expenditure within the reportable segments (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] |  |  |
Capital expenditure | $ 4,844 | $ 4,344 | $ 2,658
Sales of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets | 586 | 138 | 354
Capital expenditure per cash flow statement | 5,430 | 4,482 | 3,012
Reportable segments [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Capital expenditure | 5,279 | 4,691 | 3,355
Reportable segments [Member] | Iron Ore [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Capital expenditure | 1,288 | 1,201 | 868
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Capital expenditure | 1,373 | 1,436 | 916
Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Capital expenditure | 2,150 | 1,622 | 1,441
Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Capital expenditure | 456 | 467 | 141
Reportable segments [Member] | Other operations [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Capital expenditure | 12 | (35) | (11)
Other items [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Capital expenditure | 65 | 70 | (46)
Capital expenditure of equity accounted units |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Capital expenditure | $ (500) | $ (417) | $ (651)

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- Definition The cash inflow from the disposal of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets other than goodwill, investment property and other non-current assets. [Refer: Intangible assets other than goodwill; Investment property; Other non-current assets; Property, plant and equipment] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 16 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=7&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_16&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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- Definition The cash outflow for the purchase of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets other than goodwill, investment property and other non-current assets. [Refer: Intangible assets other than goodwill; Investment property; Other non-current assets; Property, plant and equipment] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 16 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=7&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_16&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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