Segment Information (Schedule of Segment Reporting Information) (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Dec. 31, 2010
Segment sales	$ 10,368	[1]	$ 8,696	[1]	$ 20,505	[1]	$ 17,256	[1]
Less transfers	(104)	[1]	(80)	[1]	(207)	[1]	(156)	[1]
Net sales	10,264	[1]	8,616	[1]	20,298	[1]	17,100	[1]
PTOI	1,943	[1]	1,655	[1]	4,068	[1]	3,458	[1]
Agriculture [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Net Assets	8,298				8,298				4,927
Segment sales	2,997	[2]	2,733	[2]	6,501	[2]	5,674	[2]
Less transfers	0	[2]	(1)	[2]	0	[2]	(1)	[2]
Net sales	2,997	[2]	2,732	[2]	6,501	[2]	5,673	[2]
PTOI	826	[2]	746	[2]	1,937	[2]	1,669	[2]
Increase in net assets					3,371
Electronics and Communications [Member]
Segment sales	891		657		1,702		1,288
Less transfers	(5)		(4)		(10)		(8)
Net sales	886		653		1,692		1,280
PTOI	103		108		214		213
Industrial Biosciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Net Assets	2,676				2,676				0
Segment sales	123	[3]	0	[3]	123	[3]	0	[3]
Less transfers	(1)	[3]	0	[3]	(1)	[3]	0	[3]
Net sales	122	[3]	0	[3]	122	[3]	0	[3]
PTOI	(7)	[3],[4]	0	[3]	(7)	[3],[4]	0	[3]
Transaction Related Costs	(17)				(17)
Nutrition and Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Net Assets	6,742				6,742				950
Segment sales	486	[5]	297	[5]	810	[5]	598	[5]
Less transfers	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]
Net sales	486	[5]	297	[5]	810	[5]	598	[5]
PTOI	5	[4],[5]	16	[5]	30	[4],[5]	34	[5]
Increase in net assets					5,792
Transaction Related Costs	(33)				(33)
Performance Chemicals [Member]
Segment sales	1,995		1,569		3,792		2,983
Less transfers	(69)		(54)		(136)		(104)
Net sales	1,926		1,515		3,656		2,879
PTOI	503		274		897		464
Performance Coatings [Member]
Segment sales	1,105		962		2,098		1,864
Less transfers	0		0		0		(1)
Net sales	1,105		962		2,098		1,863
PTOI	73		75		138		120
Performance Materials [Member]
Segment sales	1,745		1,576		3,452		3,110
Less transfers	(26)		(18)		(54)		(37)
Net sales	1,719		1,558		3,398		3,073
PTOI	254		261		542		491
Safety and Protection [Member]
Segment sales	1,025		845		1,990		1,634
Less transfers	(3)		(3)		(6)		(5)
Net sales	1,022		842		1,984		1,629
PTOI	143		121		288		223
Pharmaceuticals [Member]
Segment sales	0		0		0		0
Less transfers	0		0		0		0
Net sales	0		0		0		0
PTOI	80		70		130		291
Other [Member]
Segment sales	1		57		37		105
Less transfers	0		0		0		0
Net sales	1		57		37		105
PTOI	(37)		(16)		(101)		(47)
Danisco [Member]
Transaction Related Costs	$ (50)				$ (50)

[1] A reconciliation of total segment PTOI to income before income taxes is as follows:  Three Months EndedJune 30, Six Months EndedJune 30, 2011 2010 2011 2010Total segment PTOI$1,943 $1,655 $4,068 $3,458Net exchange gains (losses), including affiliates4 105 (139) 135Corporate expenses and net interest(358) (192) (638) (438)Income before income taxes$1,589 $1,568 $3,291 $3,155

[2] As of June 30, 2011, Agriculture net assets were $8,298, an increase of $3,371 from $4,927 at December 31, 2010. The increase was primarily due to higher trade receivables due to normal seasonality in the sales and cash collections cycle.

[3] As of June 30, 2011, Industrial Biosciences net assets were $2,676 compared to $0 at December 31, 2010, due to the Danisco acquisition.

[4] Included a $(50) charge for transaction related costs and the fair value step-up of inventories that were acquired as part of the Danisco transaction, which impacted the segments as follows: Industrial Biosciences - $(17) and Nutrition & Health - $(33).

[5] As of June 30, 2011, Nutrition & Health net assets were $6,742, an increase of $5,792 from $950 at December 31, 2010. The increase was primarily due to the Danisco acquisition.