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Operating segments - Summary of tax charge within the reportable segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Taxation | $ (4,147) | $ (4,242) | $ (3,965)
Reportable segments [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Taxation | (4,834) | (3,929) | (4,030)
Reportable segments [Member] | Iron ore [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Taxation | (4,198) | (2,830) | (2,872)
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Taxation | (211) | (532) | (543)
Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Taxation | (65) | (118) | (48)
Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Taxation | (411) | (500) | (651)
Reportable segments [Member] | Other operations [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Taxation | 51 | 51 | 84
Inter-segment transactions [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Taxation | 2 | 0 | 0
Product group [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Taxation | (4,832) | (3,929) | (4,030)
Other items [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Taxation | 67 | 276 | 261
Exploration and evaluation not attributed to product groups [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Taxation | 83 | 38 | 36
Finance costs [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Taxation | 144 | 174 | 364
Underlying earnings [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Taxation | (4,538) | (3,441) | (3,369)
Tax charge excluded from underlying earnings [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Taxation | $ 391 | $ (801) | $ (596)

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