XML 63 R55.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.20.2

Notes to financial information by business unit (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions |  | 1 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jul. 16, 2019 | Feb. 29, 2020 | Jun. 30, 2020 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2019
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue |  |  | $ 19,362 | $ 20,722 |
EBITDA |  |  | 5,929 | 5,484 |
Net earnings |  |  | 3,316 | 4,130 |
Operating assets |  |  | $ 44,050 |  | $ 44,183
Percentage of capital expenditure in subsidiaries |  |  | 100.00% |  |
Restatement Adjustment For Legacy Alumina Contracts |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
EBITDA |  |  |  | 155 |
Net earnings |  |  |  | 122 |
Reportable segments |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Operating assets |  |  | $ 46,198 |  | 46,632
Reportable segments | Aluminium, Alumina and Bauxite |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue |  |  | 4,487 | 5,100 |
EBITDA |  |  | 925 | 1,127 |
Net earnings |  |  | 193 | 315 |
Operating assets |  |  | 14,370 |  | 16,030
Bauxite | Restatement Adjustment For Internal Shipping |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue |  |  |  | 15 |
EBITDA |  |  |  | 31 |
Net earnings |  |  |  | 21 |
Alumina | Restatement Adjustment For Internal Shipping |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue |  |  |  | 30 |
EBITDA |  |  |  | 64 |
Net earnings |  |  |  | 44 |
Intra-segment and other | Reportable segments | Aluminium, Alumina and Bauxite |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue |  |  | (1,262) | (1,686) |
EBITDA |  |  | 33 | 27 |
Net earnings |  |  | 24 | 20 |
Operating assets |  |  | 817 |  | $ 780
Intra-segment and other | Bauxite And Alumina | Reportable segments | Aluminium, Alumina and Bauxite |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Consolidated sales revenue |  |  | (364) | (425) |
EBITDA |  |  | 4 | (2) |
Net earnings |  |  | 3 | (1) |
Operating assets |  |  | $ (24) | 21 |
Hope Downs Joint Venture |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Proportion of ownership interest in joint venture (as a percent) |  |  | 50.00% |  |
Robe river iron associates |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Proportion of ownership interest in joint venture (as a percent) |  |  | 65.00% |  |
Proportion of net beneficial interest |  |  | 53.00% |  |
Robe river iron associates | Thirty Percent |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Net beneficial interest held percentage |  |  | 30.00% |  |
Net beneficial interest held percentage as owned subsidiary |  |  | 60.00% |  |
Robe river iron associates | Thirty Five Percentage |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Net beneficial interest held percentage |  |  | 35.00% |  |
Net beneficial interest held percentage as owned subsidiary |  |  | 100.00% |  |
Diavik |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Proportion of ownership interest in joint venture (as a percent) |  |  | 60.00% |  |
Hamersley |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Proportion of ownership interest in subsidiary |  |  | 100.00% |  |
Oyu Tolgoi | Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of share class held in subsidiaries |  |  | 50.80% |  |
Oyu Tolgoi | Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd | Oyo Tolgoi Copper-Gold Mine |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of share class held in subsidiaries |  |  | 66.00% |  |
Argyle |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Proportion of ownership interest in subsidiary |  |  | 100.00% |  |
Rio Tinto Fer Et Titane Inc |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Proportion of ownership interest in subsidiary |  |  | 100.00% |  |
Qit Madagascar Minerals |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Proportion of ownership interest in subsidiary |  |  | 80.00% |  |
Richards Bay Minerals |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Proportion of ownership interest in subsidiary |  |  | 74.00% |  |
Rossing Uranium Limited |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Proportion of ownership interest in subsidiary | 68.60% |  |  |  |
Energy Resources of Australia Limited |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Proportion of ownership interest in subsidiary |  | 86.30% |  |  | 68.40%
Consolidated sales revenue |  |  | $ 108 | 118 |
Net earnings |  |  | $ 21 | $ 25 |
Simfer Jersey Limited |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Proportion of ownership interest in subsidiary |  |  | 53.00% |  |
Simfer Sa |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Proportion of ownership interest in subsidiary |  |  | 85.00% |  |
Proportion of ownership interests held by non-controlling interests |  |  | 45.05% |  |
Gove Alumina Refinery And Rio Tinto Marine |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Proportion of ownership interest in subsidiary |  |  | 100.00% |  |

X
- Definition Line items represent concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes of the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfOperatingSegmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The profit (loss) from continuing and discontinued operations attributable to owners of the parent. [Refer: Profit (loss)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 81B -Subparagraph a -Clause ii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_81B_a_ii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ProfitLossAttributableToOwnersOfParent
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The proportion of ownership interest in a joint venture attributable to the entity. [Refer: Joint ventures [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 27 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 17 -Subparagraph b -Clause iii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=27&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_17_b_iii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 27 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph b -Clause iii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=27&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_16_b_iii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 12 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph a -Clause iv -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=12&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_21_a_iv&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ProportionOfOwnershipInterestInJointVenture
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The proportion of ownership interest in a subsidiary attributable to the entity. [Refer: Subsidiaries [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 27 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 17 -Subparagraph b -Clause iii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=27&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_17_b_iii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 27 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph b -Clause iii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=27&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_16_b_iii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 12 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 19B -Subparagraph c -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=12&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_19B_c&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ProportionOfOwnershipInterestInSubsidiary
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The proportion of ownership interests in a subsidiary held by non-controlling interests. [Refer: Subsidiaries [member]; Non-controlling interests] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 12 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph c -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=12&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_12_c&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ProportionOfOwnershipInterestsHeldByNoncontrollingInterests
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Expiry date 2020-01-01: The income arising in the course of an entity's ordinary activities. Income is increases in economic benefits during the accounting period in the form of inflows or enhancements of assets or decreases of liabilities that result in an increase in equity, other than those relating to contributions from equity participants. Effective 2020-01-01: The income arising in the course of an entity's ordinary activities. Income is increases in assets, or decreases in liabilities, that result in increases in equity, other than those relating to contributions from holders of equity claims. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 8 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=8&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_28_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 8 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 23 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=8&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_23_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 8 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 32 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=8&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_32&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 8 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 33 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=8&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_33_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 8 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 34 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=8&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_34&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 82 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_82_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 103 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_103&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 102 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_102&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 5 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 33 -Subparagraph b -Clause i -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=5&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_33_b_i&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 12 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph B12 -Subparagraph b -Clause v -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=12&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_B12_b_v&doctype=Appendix&subtype=B -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Name IFRS -Number 12 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph B10 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=12&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_B10_b&doctype=Appendix&subtype=B -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_Revenue
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Net beneficial interest held percentage. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_NetBeneficialInterestHeldPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Net beneficial interest held percentage as owned subsidiary. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_NetBeneficialInterestHeldPercentageAsOwnedSubsidiary
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Net assets excluding post-retirement assets and liabilities net of tax before deducting net debt and after deduction of non controlling interest. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_OperatingAssets
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Percentage of capital expenditure in subsidiaries. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_PercentageOfCapitalExpenditureInSubsidiaries
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage of share class held in subsidiaries. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_PercentageOfShareClassHeldInSubsidiaries
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of profit (loss) from operating activities before finance items and tax expense/income of the entity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_ProfitBeforeFinanceItemsAndTaxation
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Proportion of net beneficial interest. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_ProportionOfNetBeneficialInterest
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RestatementAxis=rio_RestatementAdjustmentForLegacyAluminaContractsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_SegmentConsolidationItemsAxis=ifrs-full_ReportableSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_SegmentsAxis=rio_AluminiumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=rio_BauxiteMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RestatementAxis=rio_RestatementAdjustmentForInternalShippingMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=rio_AluminaMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | rio_EliminationAxis=rio_IntrasegmentAndOtherMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=rio_BauxiteAndAluminaMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_JointVenturesAxis=rio_HopeDownsJointVentureMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_JointVenturesAxis=rio_RobeRiverIronAssociatesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_BusinessCombinationsAxis=rio_ThirtyPercentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_BusinessCombinationsAxis=rio_ThirtyFivePercentageMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_JointVenturesAxis=rio_DiavikJointVentureMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_SignificantInvestmentsInSubsidiariesAxis=rio_HamersleyIronPtyLimitedMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_SignificantInvestmentsInSubsidiariesAxis=rio_OyuTolgoiLlcMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=rio_TurquoiseHillResourcesLtdMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ProductsAndServicesAxis=rio_OyoTolgoiCopperGoldMineMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_SignificantInvestmentsInSubsidiariesAxis=rio_ArgyleDiamondsLimitedMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_SignificantInvestmentsInSubsidiariesAxis=rio_RioTintoFerEtTitaneIncMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_SignificantInvestmentsInSubsidiariesAxis=rio_QitMadagascarMineralsSaMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_SignificantInvestmentsInSubsidiariesAxis=rio_RichardsBayMineralsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_SignificantInvestmentsInSubsidiariesAxis=rio_RossingUraniumLimitedMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_SignificantInvestmentsInSubsidiariesAxis=rio_EnergyResourcesOfAustraliaMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_SignificantInvestmentsInSubsidiariesAxis=rio_SimferJerseyLimitedMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_SignificantInvestmentsInSubsidiariesAxis=rio_SimferSaMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_SignificantInvestmentsInSubsidiariesAxis=rio_GoveAluminaRefineryAndRioTintoMarineMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |