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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, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Disclosure Of Equity Accounted Units [Line Items] |  |  |
Sales revenue: Rio Tinto share | $ 43,165 | $ 40,522 | $ 40,030
Operating costs | (27,307) | (27,115) | (26,983)
Finance items | (648) | (33) | (1,658)
Profit before taxation | 11,119 | 18,167 | 12,816
Taxation | (4,147) | (4,242) | (3,965)
Rio Tinto |  |  |
Disclosure Of Equity Accounted Units [Line Items] |  |  |
Sales revenue: Rio Tinto share | 2,358 | 2,497 | 1,960
Operating costs | (1,812) | (1,656) | (1,400)
Profit before finance items and taxation | 546 | 841 | 560
Finance items | (65) | (69) | (47)
Share of profit after tax of equity accounted units | 10 | 14 | 17
Profit before taxation | 491 | 786 | 530
Taxation | (190) | (273) | (191)
Profit for the year (Rio Tinto share) | $ 301 | $ 513 | $ 339

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