2.0.0.10 false The Company and its operations 0201 - Disclosure - The Company and its operations true false false false 1 usd $ false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 2 The Company and its operations [Abstract] 0 us-gaap_GeneralPoliciesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false No definition available. false 3 The Company and its operations 1 us-gaap_NatureOfOperations us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0   <div style="margin-left: 0%">  <div align="right" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> </div>  <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> <b><font style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica"> </font></b> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> <b> </b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> <b><font style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica">1 The Company and its operations</font></b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 3%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> Vale S.A., formerly Companhia Vale do Rio Doce, (“Vale”, the “Company” or “we”) is a limited liability company incorporated in Brazil. Operations are carried out through Vale and our subsidiary companies, joint ventures and affiliates, and mainly consist of mining, non-ferrous metal production, logistics and steel activities. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 3%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> At December 31, 2009, our principal consolidated operating subsidiaries are the following: </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <table border="0" width="100%" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff; text-align: left">  <tr style="font-size: 1pt" valign="bottom"> <td width="43%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="11%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="7%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="13%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="22%"> </td> </tr>   <tr style="font-size: 9pt" valign="bottom" align="center"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> <b>% voting<br /> </b> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> <b>head office<br /> </b> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom" align="center"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"> <b><font style="font-size: 9pt">Subsidiary</font></b> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"> <b><font style="font-size: 9pt">% ownership</font></b> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"> <b><font style="font-size: 9pt">capital</font></b> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"> <b><font style="font-size: 9pt">location</font></b> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"> <b><font style="font-size: 9pt">Principal activity</font></b> </td> </tr> <tr style="line-height: 3pt; font-size: 1pt"> <td>  </td> </tr>  <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> Alumina do Norte do Brasil S.A. - Alunorte </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 57.03 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 59.02 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Brazil </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Alumina </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> Alumínio Brasileiro S.A. - Albras </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 51.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 51.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Brazil </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Aluminum </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> CADAM S.A </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 61.48 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Brazil </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Kaolin </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> CVRD Overseas Ltd </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Cayman Islands </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Trading </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> Vale Colombia Ltd </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Colombia </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Coal </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> Ferrovia Centro-Atlântica S. A </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 99.99 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 99.99 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Brazil </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Logistic </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> Ferrovia Norte Sul S.A </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Brazil </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Logistic </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> Mineração Corumbá Reunidas S.A.  </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Brazil </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Iron ore </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> Pará Pigmentos S.A.  </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 86.17 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 85.57 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Brazil </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Kaolin </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> PT International Nickel Indonesia Tbk </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 59.09 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 59.09 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Indonesia </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Nickel </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> Vale Manganése Norway </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Norway </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Ferroalloys </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> Vale Manganês S.A.  </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Brazil </td> <td>   </td> <td align="center" valign="bottom"> Manganese and Ferroalloys </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> Vale Manganèse France </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> France </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Ferroalloys </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> Vale Australia Pty Ltd.  </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Australia </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Coal </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> Vale Inco Limited </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Canada </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Nickel </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> Vale International S.A </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 100.00 </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Switzerland </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> Trading </td> </tr> </table> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged Note false false false Describes the nature of an entity's business, the major products or services it sells or provides and its principal markets, including the locations of those markets. If the entity operates in more than one business, the disclosure also indicates the relative importance of its operations in each business and the basis for the determination (for example, assets, revenues, or earnings). Disclosures about the nature of operations need not be quantified; relative importance could be conveyed by use of terms such as "predominately", "about equally", or "major and other". This element is also referred to as "Business Description". Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 94-6 -Paragraph 10 false false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true