2.0.0.10 false Basis of a presentation 0203 - Disclosure - Basis of a presentation 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 Basis of a presentation [Abstract] 0 vale_BasisOfPresentationAbstract vale false na duration string Basis of presentation. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false Basis of presentation. false 3 Basis of a presentation 1 vale_BasisOfPresentationTextBlock vale false na duration string Basis of Presentation Text Block. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0   <div style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> <div style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>3</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td><b>Basis of presentation</b></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>Our condensed consolidated interim financial information for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2010, December 31, 2009 and March 31, 2009, prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”), are unaudited. However, in our opinion, such condensed consolidated financial information includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for interim periods. The results of operations for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2010, are not necessarily indicative of the actual results expected for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2010.</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>This condensed consolidated interim financial information should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2009, prepared in accordance with US GAAP.</td> </tr> </table> </div>   </div> </div>  <div style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> <div style="margin-top: 0pt"> </div> <div align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt"> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>In preparing the condensed consolidated financial information, we are required to use estimates to account for certain assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Our condensed consolidated financial statements therefore include various estimates concerning the selection of useful lives of property, plant and equipment, impairment, provisions necessary for contingent liabilities, fair values assigned to assets and liabilities acquired and assumed in business combinations, income tax uncertainties, employee post-retirement benefits and other similar evaluations. Actual results may vary from our estimates.</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>Since December 2007, significant modifications have been made to Brazilian GAAP as part of a convergence project with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and as from 2010 annual financial statements the convergence will be completed and therefore the IFRS will be the accounting practice adopted in Brazil. The Company does not expect to discontinue the US GAAP reporting during 2010.</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>The Brazilian real is the parent Company’s functional currency. We have selected the US dollar as our reporting currency.</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>All assets and liabilities have been translated to US dollars at the closing rate of exchange at each balance sheet date (or, if unavailable, the first available exchange rate). All statement of income accounts have been translated to US dollars at the average exchange rates prevailing during the respective periods. Capital accounts are recorded at historical exchange rates. Translation gains and losses are recorded in the Cumulative Translation Adjustments account (“CTA”) in stockholders’ equity.</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>The results of operations and financial position of our entities that have a functional currency other than the US dollar, have been translated into US dollars and adjustments to translate those statements into US dollars are recorded in the CTA in stockholders’ equity.</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>The exchange rates used to translate the assets and liabilities of the Brazilian operations at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, were R$1.7810 and R$1.7412, respectively.</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>The Company has assessed subsequent events through May 05, 2010 which is the date the financial statements were issued.</td> </tr> </table> </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged Note false false false Basis of Presentation Text Block. 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