High end of the range of the entity's contracted commodity sales volumes hedged during the historical hedging period.

No definition available.

Name:	adm_CommodityHedgedDuringHistoricalHedgingPeriodHighEnd
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Low end of the range of the entity's contracted commodity sales volumes hedged during the historical hedging period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	adm_CommodityHedgedDuringHistoricalHedgingPeriodLowEnd
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

High end of the range of the contracted sales volume hedged by the company over the future hedging period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	adm_ContractedCommodityHedgedOverFutureHedgingPeriodHighEnd
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Low end of the range of the contracted sales volume hedged by the company over the future hedging period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	adm_ContractedCommodityHedgedOverFutureHedgingPeriodLowEnd
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of non-derivative debt designated as a net investment hedge in a foreign operation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	adm_Debtamountdesignatedasanetinvestmenthedge
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The period of time for which the entity discloses its historical hedging percentages.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	adm_DerivativeHedgedItemPastPeriodOfTimeHedged
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The forward time period for which hedges have been made as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	adm_DerivativeHedgedItemTimePeriod
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

High end of the range of the percentage of the entity's anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged during the historical hedging period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	adm_PercentageOfAnticipatedCommodityHedgedDuringHistoricalHedgingPeriodHighEnd
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Low end of the range of the percentage of entity's anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged during the historical hedging period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	adm_PercentageofAnticipatedCommodityHedgedDuringHistoricalHedgingPeriodLowEnd
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

High end of the range of the percentage of the entity's anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged over the forward hedging period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	adm_PercentageofAnticipatedCommodityHedgedoverFutureHedgingPeriodHighEnd
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Low end of the range of the percentage of the entity's anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged over the forward hedging period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	adm_PercentageofAnticipatedCommodityHedgedoverFutureHedgingPeriodLowEnd
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the quantity of corn processing per month under the designated cash flow hedge program.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	adm_ProcessingOfCornPerMonth
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of unrealized gain (loss) after tax related to the increase (decrease) in fair value of price risk derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments, which was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	adm_UnrealizedGainLossOnPriceRiskCashFlowHedgesAfterTaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The difference between the book value and the sale price of options, swaps, futures, forward contracts, and other derivative instruments. This element refers to the gain (loss) included in earnings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.13(h))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of interest rate derivative assets, which includes all such derivative instruments in hedging and nonhedging relationships that are recognized as assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13433-108611

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The estimated net amount of unrealized gains or losses on price risk cash flow hedges as of the balance sheet date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next twelve months.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35736893&loc=d3e80748-113994

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Cumulative adjustment resulting from gains and losses on foreign currency derivatives that are designated as, and are effective as, hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity, commencing as of the designation date. Adjustment reported in equity as part of accumulated other comprehensive income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 20
-Subparagraph (b),(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6915805&loc=d3e32211-110900

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	adm_DerivativeByCommodityAxis=adm_CornMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Period Type:

- Details

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Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Narrative) (Details) € in Millions, gal in Millions, bu in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) bu gal	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 EUR (€) gal	Jun. 24, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 24, 2015 EUR (€)
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Derivatives	$ (102)	$ 0	$ (102)	$ (40)
Debt amount designated as a net investment hedge \| €					€ 1,100
Derivatives used in Net Investment Hedge, Net of Tax		19
Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest Rate Derivative Assets, at Fair Value		19	$ 21
After-tax losses in AOCI from commodity cash flow hedge transactions		(21)
After-tax losses in AOCI from commodity cash flow hedge transactions expected to be recognized in earnings.		$ (20)
Corn [Member] \| Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Corn processed per month (in bushels) \| bu		76
Historical time period of hedge percentages		12 months
Percentage of Anticipated Commodity Hedged During Historical Hedging Period, Low End		16.00%
Percentage of anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged during historical hedging period, high end of range (as a percent)		69.00%
Percentage of Anticipated Commodity Hedged over Future Hedging Period, Low End		13.00%			13.00%
Percentage of Anticipated Commodity Hedged over Future Hedging Period, High End		25.00%			25.00%
Derivative Hedged Item Time Period		12 months
Ethanol [Member] \| Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Historical time period of hedge percentages		12 months
Derivative Hedged Item Time Period		12 months
Commodity sales volume hedged during historical hedging period, low end of range (in gallons) \| gal		6
Commodity sales volume hedged during historical hedging period, high end of range (in gallons) \| gal		105
Contracted commodity sales volume hedged over future hedging period, low end of range (in gallons) \| gal		0			0
Contracted commodity sales volume hedged over future hedging period, high end of range (in gallons) \| gal		13			13
1.75% Notes Euros [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount						$ 675	€ 600
Floating Rate Notes Euros [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount						$ 563	€ 500
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage						1.75%	1.75%