The entity's contracted commodity sales volumes hedged during the historical hedging period, in gallons.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

The contracted sales volume hedged by the company over the future hedging period, in gallons.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage of anticipated production hedged during the historical hedging period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage of anticipated production hedged over the forward hedging period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- 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

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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

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

- Definition

Amount of the hedged item as of the balance sheet date related to the derivative. For example, the hedged balance on a debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeAmountOfHedgedItem
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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

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

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

- Definition

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

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Maximum period the entity is hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions, excluding those forecasted transactions related to the payment of variable interest on existing financial instruments, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ 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 (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35736893&loc=d3e80748-113994

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MaximumLengthOfTimeHedgedInPriceRiskCashFlowHedge1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- 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

Name:	us-gaap_PriceRiskCashFlowHedgeUnrealizedGainLossToBeReclassifiedDuringNext12Months
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

Name:	us-gaap_TranslationAdjustmentForNetInvestmentHedgeNetOfTax
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:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=adm_FloatingRateNotesEurosMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=adm_A1.75NotesEurosMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=adm_CornMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=adm_EthanolMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Period Type:

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Narrative) (Details) € in Millions, gal in Millions, bu in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) bu gal	Mar. 31, 2016 EUR (€) gal	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 24, 2015 EUR (€)
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest Rate Derivative Assets, at Fair Value	$ 33
Interest Rate Derivative Liabilities, at Fair Value	$ 0
Corn processed per month (in bushels) \| bu	76
Debt amount designated as a net investment hedge \| €		€ 1,100
Derivatives used in Net Investment Hedge, Net of Tax	$ (28)
Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest Rate Derivative Assets, at Fair Value	33		$ 19
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Price Risk Cash Flow Hedges, after Tax, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	28
Interest Rate Derivative Liabilities, at Fair Value			$ 0
After-tax losses in AOCI from commodity cash flow hedge transactions	$ (26)
Floating Rate Notes Euros [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount \| €				€ 500
1.75% Notes Euros [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount \| €				€ 600
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage				1.75%
Corn [Member] \| Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Hedged Item Time Period	12 months
Corn [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged during historical hedging period (as a percent)	16.00%
Percentage of anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged over future hedging period (as a percent)	1.00%	1.00%
Corn [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged during historical hedging period (as a percent)	69.00%
Percentage of anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged over future hedging period (as a percent)	46.00%	46.00%
Ethanol [Member] \| Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Hedged Item Time Period	3 months
Ethanol [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Commodity hedged during historical hedging period, (in gallons) \| gal	0
Commodity hedged over future hedging period, (in gallons) \| gal	0	0
Ethanol [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Commodity hedged during historical hedging period, (in gallons) \| gal	105
Commodity hedged over future hedging period, (in gallons) \| gal	48	48