2.2.0.25falsefalse0613 - Disclosure - Assets and liabilities held for sale (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015 USD ($) $TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2015http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000917851duration2015-01-01T00:00:002015-12-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013 USD ($) $TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2013http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000917851duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-12-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $Jan-01-2010_Dec-31-2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000917851duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2009 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000917851instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$4true0us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleCurrentAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalseAssets held for sale5false0vale_InventoriesAssetsHeldForSaleCurrentvalefalsedebitinstantInventories Assets Held For Sale Current.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse366000000366falsetruefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryInventories Assets Held For Sale Current.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseInventories6false0vale_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAssetsHeldForSaleCurrentvalefalsedebitinstantProperty, plant and equipment Assets Held For Sale Current.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse48440000004844falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryProperty, plant and equipment Assets Held For Sale Current.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseProperty Plant and equipment7false0vale_AdvancesToSuppliersEnergyAssetsHeldForSaleCurrentvalefalsedebitinstantAdvances to Suppliers Energy Assets Held For Sale Current.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse496000000496falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAdvances to Suppliers Energy Assets Held For Sale Current.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseAdvances to suppliers - energy8false0vale_RecoverableTaxesAssetsHeldForSaleCurrentvalefalsedebitinstantRecoverable Taxes Assets Held For Sale Current.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse627000000627falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRecoverable Taxes Assets Held For Sale Current.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseRecoverable taxes9false0us-gaap_OtherAssetsHeldForSaleCurrentus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse654000000654falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe lower of the carrying value or fair value less cost to sell of current assets held for sale that are not elsewhere specified in the taxonomy. The carrying value of major classes of assets and liabilities of the disposal group are separately disclosed in the balance sheet in the specific concepts provided.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 144 -Paragraph 34, 46 truefalseOther assets10false0us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleCurrentus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse69870000006987falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCurrent assets (normally turning over within one year or one business cycle if longer) that are held for sale apart from normal operations and anticipated to be sold within one year.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 144 -Paragraph 46 truefalseTotal11true0vale_LiabilitiesAssociatedWithAssetsHeldForSaleAbstractvalefalsenadurationLiabilities associated with assets held for sale.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLiabilities associated with assets held for sale.falsefalseLiabilities associated with assets held for sale12false0vale_LiabilitiesOfAssetsHeldForSaleSuppliersvalefalsecreditinstantLiabilities of assets held for sale suppliers.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse290000000290falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryLiabilities of assets held for sale suppliers.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseSuppliers13false0vale_LiabilitiesOfAssetsHeldForSaleLongTermDebtvalefalsecreditinstantLiabilities of assets held for sale long term debt.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse705000000705falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryLiabilities of assets held for sale long term debt.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseLong term debt14false0vale_LiabilitiesOfAssetsHeldForSaleNoncontrollingInterestsvalefalsecreditinstantLiabilities of assets held for sale noncontrolling interests.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse18850000001885falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryLiabilities of assets held for sale noncontrolling interests.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseNoncontrolling interests15false0vale_OtherLiabilitiesOfAssetsHeldForSalevalefalsecreditinstantOther liabilities of assets held for sale.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse272000000272falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryOther liabilities of assets held for sale.No authoritative reference available.truefalseOther16false0us-gaap_LiabilitiesOfAssetsHeldForSaleus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse31520000003152falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryLiability (such as a mortgage) related to a disposal group that is held for sale and anticipated to be sold in less than one year. The liability is expected to be discharged as part of the plan of sale for the asset.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 144 -Paragraph 46 truefalseTotal17true0vale_AssetsAndLiabilitiesHeldForSaleTextualsAbstractvalefalsenadurationAssets and liabilities held for sale.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringAssets and liabilities held for sale.falsefalseAssets and liabilities held for sale (Textuals)18false0vale_PercentageOfParagominasAndMineralRightSaleAgreementvalefalsenadurationPercentage of Paragominas And Mineral Right Sale Agreement.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truetruefalse0.600.60falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepurePercentage of Paragominas And Mineral Right Sale Agreement.No authoritative reference available.falsefalsePercentage of stake in Paragominas and mineral rights19false0vale_AssetsHeldForSaleCashReceivedOnSalevalefalsedebitdurationAssets held For Sale Cash Received On Sale.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse405000000405falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAssets held For Sale Cash Received On Sale.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseCash received for the participations of Albras, Alunorte, and CAP20false0vale_AssetsHeldForSaleDebtAssumedOnSalevalefalsedebitdurationAssets held For Sale Debt Assumed On Sale.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse700000000700falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAssets held For Sale Debt Assumed On Sale.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseNet Debt By Hydro21false0vale_AssetsHeldForSaleEquityOwnershipPercentOnSalevalefalsenadurationAssets held For Sale Equity Ownership Percent On Sale.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truetruefalse0.220.22falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureAssets held For Sale Equity Ownership Percent On Sale.No authoritative reference available.falsefalsePercentage of stake in Hydro22false0vale_ParagominasAndMineralRightSaleAgreementAmountvalefalsedebitdurationParagominas And Mineral Right Sale Agreement Amount.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse600000000600falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryParagominas And Mineral Right Sale Agreement Amount.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseCash received for Paragominas and mineral rights23false0vale_RemaingPercentageOfStakeInParagominasAndMineralRightsvalefalsenadurationRemaing percentage of stake in Paragominas and mineral rights.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truetruefalse0.400.40falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureRemaing percentage of stake in Paragominas and mineral rights.No authoritative reference available.falsefalsePercentage of Paragominas to be sold24false0vale_ParagominasAndMineralRightExpectedSaleAmountvalefalsedebitdurationParagominas And Mineral Right Expected Sale Amount.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse200000000200falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse200000000200falsetruefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryParagominas And Mineral Right Expected Sale Amount.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseCash received by selling the Paragominas in each tranches421Assets and liabilities held for sale (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue