Short-Term Borrowings and Credit Lines - Notes Payable to Banks and Interest Bearing Accounts Payable to Sojitz Corporation of America (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	May 31, 2013		May 31, 2012
Notes payable:
TOTAL NOTES PAYABLE	$ 121		$ 108
Interest-Bearing Accounts Payable:
Sojitz America	55		75
Sojitz America - interest rate	0.99%		1.10%
U.S. operations
Notes payable:
TOTAL NOTES PAYABLE	20		30
U.S. operations | Notes Payable
Notes payable:
Notes payable - interest rate	0.00%	[1]	5.50%	[1]
Non-U.S. operations
Notes payable:
TOTAL NOTES PAYABLE	$ 101		$ 78
Non-U.S. operations | Notes Payable
Notes payable:
Notes payable - interest rate	4.77%	[1]	9.46%	[1]

[1] Weighted average interest rate includes non-interest bearing overdrafts.