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

No definition available.

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Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
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- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
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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

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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

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of anticipated production hedged over the forward hedging period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	adm_
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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=64930739&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=64930785&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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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

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

- Definition

Nominal or face amount used to calculate payments on the derivative liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84234895&loc=SL5580258-113959

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-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84234895&loc=SL5579245-113959

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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 liabilities, which includes all such derivative instruments in hedging and nonhedging relationships that are recognized as liabilities.

+ 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=77997519&loc=d3e13433-108611

+ 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

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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

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after tax, of cumulative translation adjustment attributable to gain (loss) on foreign currency derivatives that are designated as, and are effective as, economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity.

+ 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 (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64808268&loc=d3e32211-110900

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

- Details

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- Details

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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Period Type:

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Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Narrative) (Details) € in Millions, gal in Millions, bu in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) gal	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) bu gal	Sep. 30, 2018 EUR (€) gal	Sep. 12, 2018 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 24, 2015 EUR (€)
Derivative [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 754	$ 754		€ 650
Corn processed per month (in bushels) \| bu		72
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage				1.00%
Debt amount designated as a net investment hedge \| €			€ 1,100
Derivatives used in Net Investment Hedge, Net of Tax	40	$ 40			$ 59
Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Price Risk Cash Flow Hedges, after Tax, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	26	26
Interest Rate Derivative Liabilities, at Fair Value	13	13			$ 1
After-tax gains (losses) in AOCI from commodity cash flow hedge transactions	26	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%
Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Notional Amount	$ 496	$ 496
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)	23.00%	23.00%	23.00%
Percentage of anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged over future hedging period (as a percent)	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%
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)	95.00%	95.00%	95.00%
Percentage of anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged over future hedging period (as a percent)	95.00%	95.00%	95.00%
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	1	1	1
Commodity hedged over future hedging period, (in gallons) \| gal	15	15	15
Ethanol [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Commodity hedged during historical hedging period, (in gallons) \| gal	135	135	135
Commodity hedged over future hedging period, (in gallons) \| gal	121	121	121
Soybean [Member] \| Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Hedged Item Time Period	12 months
Soybean [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)	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Percentage of anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged over future hedging period (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Soybean [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)	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Percentage of anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged over future hedging period (as a percent)	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Net Investment Hedging [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Notional Amount	$ 500	$ 500
Fair Value Hedging [Member] \| Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest Rate Derivative Liabilities, at Fair Value	$ 8	$ 8