XML 657 R177.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.20.4
Other reserves and retained earnings - Summary of other reserves and retained earnings (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Dec. 31, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Beginning balance $ 9,177    
Own shares purchased from Rio Tinto Limited shareholders to satisfy share options     $ 0
Employee share options: value of services [1] (107) $ (106) (254)
Ending balance 11,960 9,177  
Parent and subsidiaries' currency translation and exchange adjustments (74) 65  
Beginning balance 23,387    
Equity accounted units' profit after tax for the year 652 301 513
Tax relating to components of other comprehensive income 115 77 (325)
Dividends paid (6,821) (10,710) (5,771)
Employee share options and other IFRS 2 charges to the income statement 143 126 111
Ending balance 26,792 23,387  
Capital redemption reserve      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Beginning balance 51 47 38
Own shares purchased and cancelled 0 4 9
Ending balance 51 51 47
Cash flow hedge reserve      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Beginning balance 160 195 32
Adjustment for transition to new accounting pronouncements 0 0 (4)
Cash flow hedge gains 24 12 156
Cash flow hedge (gains)/losses transferred to the income statement (63) (41) 40
Tax on the above 3 (6) (54)
Transfers and other movements 0 0 25
Ending balance 124 160 195
Available for sale revaluation reserves      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Beginning balance 0 0 20
Adjustment for transition to new accounting pronouncements 0 0 (20)
Gains on available for sale securities 0 0 0
Losses on available for sale securities transferred to the income statement 0 0 0
Tax on the above 0 0 0
Transfers and other movements 0 0 0
Ending balance 0 0 0
Fair value through other comprehensive income reserve      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Beginning balance (11) (6) 0
Adjustment for transition to new accounting pronouncements 0 0 8
Losses on equity investments 9 (5) (11)
Transfers to retained earnings 0 0 (3)
Ending balance (2) (11) (6)
Cost of hedging reserve      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Beginning balance (10) (13) 0
Adjustment for transition to new accounting pronouncements 0 0 26
Cost of hedging deferred to reserves during the year 7 3 (36)
Transfer of cost of hedging to the income statement 0 0 (3)
Ending balance (3) (10) (13)
Other reserves      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Beginning balance 11,643 11,650 11,714
Own shares purchased from Rio Tinto Limited shareholders to satisfy share options (76) (63) (114)
Employee share options: value of services 60 52 52
Deferred tax on share options 1 4 (2)
Ending balance 11,628 11,643 11,650
Foreign currency translation reserve      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Beginning balance 9,177 8,661  
Ending balance 11,960 9,177 8,661
Beginning balance (2,656) (3,212) 480
Parent and subsidiaries' currency translation and exchange adjustments 2,814 331 (3,658)
Equity accounted units currency translation adjustments 4 10 (48)
Currency translation reclassified on disposal 0 215 14
Ending balance 162 (2,656) (3,212)
Retained earnings      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Own shares purchased from Rio Tinto Limited shareholders to satisfy share options     (22)
Employee share options: value of services [1] (31) (43) (140)
Beginning balance 23,387 27,025 23,761
Adjustment for transition to new accounting pronouncements 0 (113) (179)
Parent and subsidiaries' profit for the year 9,456 7,709 13,125
Equity accounted units' profit after tax for the year 313 301 513
Actuarial (losses)/gains (482) (259) 894
Tax relating to components of other comprehensive income 116 81 (269)
Total comprehensive income for the year 9,403 7,832 14,263
Share buy-back programme (1) (1,135) (5,423)
Dividends paid (6,132) (10,334) (5,356)
Own shares purchased/treasury shares reissued for share options and other movements (31) (43) (140)
Employee share options and other IFRS 2 charges to the income statement 82 70 61
Transfer from FVOCI reserve 0 0 3
Transfers and other movements 0 0 (25)
Ending balance $ 26,792 $ 23,387 $ 27,025
[1] Net of contributions received from employees for share awards and share options.