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financing.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse1212falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse25falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse26falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse27falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse28falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse29falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse30falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:integerItemTypeintegerNumber of ore carriers build through financing.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseNumber of ore carriers build through financing11false0vale_CapacityOfOreCarriervalefalsenadurationCapacity of ore carrier.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse400000400000falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse25falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse26falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse27falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse28falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse29falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse30falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:integerItemTypeintegerCapacity of ore carrier.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseCapacity of ore carrier12false0vale_LineOfCreditRepaymentTermvalefalsenadurationLine of credit repayment term.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse1313falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20truefalsefalse1010falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse25falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse26falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse27falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse28falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse29falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse30falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:integerItemTypeintegerLine of credit repayment term.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseLine of credit repayment term13false0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentIncreaseAdditionalBorrowingsus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12truefalsefalse10000000001000falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14truefalsefalse750000000750falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse25falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse26falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse27falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse28falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse29falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse30falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryIncrease for additional borrowings on the debt instrument during the period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph f -Article 4 falsefalseDebt Instrument, Increase, Additional Borrowings14false0vale_MaturityPriceInPercentagevalefalsenadurationmaturity price in Percentage.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13truetruefalse1.108721.10872falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15truetruefalse0.99030.9903falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse25falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse26falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse27falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse28falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse29falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse30falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepurematurity price in Percentage.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseMaturity price in percentage15false0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityIncreaseAdditionalBorrowingsus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24truefalsefalse300000000300falsefalsefalsetruefalse25truefalsefalse40000000004000falsefalsefalsetruefalse26truefalsefalse20000000002000falsefalsefalsetruefalse27truefalsefalse30000000003000falsefalsefalsetruefalse28falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse29falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse30falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryIncrease for additional borrowings on the credit facility during the period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph f -Article 4 falsefalseExport facility agreement through PT International16false0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacityus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8truefalsefalse500000000500falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24truefalsefalse150000000150falsefalsefalsetruefalse25truefalsefalse73000000007300falsefalsefalsetruefalse26falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse27falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse28falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse29falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse30falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 falsefalseAmount available for purchases of goods and services from facility17false0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacityus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8truefalsefalse500000000500falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse25falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse26falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse27falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse28truefalsefalse16000000001600falsefalsefalsetruefalse29truefalsefalse850000000850falsefalsefalsetruefalse30truefalsefalse750000000750falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 falsefalseAmount available for investments from the facility18false0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstandingus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse114000000114falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse291000000291falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7truefalsefalse250000000250falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9truefalsefalse123000000123falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse25truefalsefalse11530000001153falsefalsefalsetruefalse26falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse27falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse28falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse29falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse30falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance-sheet date.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 falsefalseLetter of credit issued and outstanding19false0us-gaap_SecuredDebtus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse20000002falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse753000000753falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse25falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse26falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse27falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse28falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse29falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse30falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying value as of the balance sheet date , including the current and noncurrent portions, of collateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer). Such obligations include mortgage loans, chattel loans, and any other borrowings secured by assets of the borrower.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 20, 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 falsefalseSecured Debt20false0us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse2441200000024412falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse2207800000022078falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse25falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse26falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse27falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse28falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse29falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse30falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryIncluding the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of uncollateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Article 5 -Subsection 19, 20, 22 falsefalseUnsecured Debt22false0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentPrincipalOutstandingus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16truefalsefalse2800000028falsefalsefalsetruefalse17truefalsefalse122000000122falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse25falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse26falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse27falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse28falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse29falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse30falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of outstanding principal due under the debt instrument at the end of the reporting period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number APB14-1 -Paragraph 31 -Subparagraph b falsefalseOutstanding principal amount23false0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13truetruefalse0.068750.06875falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15truetruefalse0.046250.04625falsefalsefalsetruefalse16truetruefalse0.089260.08926falsefalsefalsetruefalse17truetruefalse0.04430.0443falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23truetruefalse0.043750.04375falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse25falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse26falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse27falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse28falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse29falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse30falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureInterest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 falsefalseInterest rate of euronotes24false0vale_DebtInstrumentIssuePricePercentagevalefalsenadurationDebt instrument issue price percentage.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21truetruefalse0.995640.99564falsefalsefalsetruefalse22truetruefalse0.995640.99564falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse25falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse26falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse27falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse28falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse29falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse30falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureDebt instrument issue price percentage.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseInterest rate of principal amount of euronotes25false0us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmountus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse150000000150falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse25falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse26falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse27falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse28falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse29falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse30falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryGross amount of debt extinguished.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseRedeemed debt amounts total26false0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmountus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21truefalsefalse750000000750falsefalsefalsetruefalse22truefalsefalse10000000001000falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse25falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse26falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse27falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse28falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse29falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse30falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 21 -Paragraph 16, 20 falsefalseIssuance of euronotes27false0vale_LineOfCreditDisbursmentPeriodvalefalsenadurationLine of credit disbursment period.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse33falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse25falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse26falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse27falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse28falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse29falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse30falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:integerItemTypeintegerLine of credit disbursment period.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseLine of credit disbursment period28false0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacityus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse12290000001229falsetruefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6truefalsefalse300000000300falsetruefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8truefalsefalse10000000001000falsetruefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10truefalsefalse430000000430falsetruefalsetruefalse11truefalsefalse774000000774falsetruefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20truefalsefalse500000000500falsetruefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse25falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse26falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse27falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse28falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse29falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse30falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryMaximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 2, 4 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 falsefalseAmount financed for the acquisition of certain equipment3023Long-term debt (Details Textuals)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue