Assets and liabilities held for sale (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Assets held for sale
Accounts receivable	$ 14
Recoverable taxes	28
Inventories	20
Property, plant and equipment	404
Other	13
Total	479
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale
Suppliers	12
Deferred income tax	109
Other	60
Total	181
Sale of Araucaria operation
Sell manganese ferroalloys operations
Cash receivable under sale of business	$ 234
Percentage of CDI used to adjust accrued quarterly installments to be received	100.00%

The aggregate value (measured at the lower of net carrying value or fair value less cost of disposal) for assets of a disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), to be sold or that has been disposed of through sale, as of the financial statement date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 10

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e1107-107759

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 144

-Paragraph 46

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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For the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), the aggregate of amounts due from customers or clients for goods or services that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business and an amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date, reduced to their estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection and net of any write-downs taken for collection uncertainty on the part of the holder, respectively.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 144

-Paragraph 47

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

For the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), carrying value of obligations incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business.

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For a disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), represents deferred tax liabilities, which result from applying the applicable tax rate to net taxable temporary differences pertaining to each jurisdiction to which the entity is obligated to pay income tax. A taxable temporary difference is a difference between the tax basis and the carrying amount of a asset or liability in the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

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For the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), carrying amount of inventories (net of all valuation allowances and write-downs).

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For the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of assets not otherwise specified.

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For the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), obligations not otherwise itemized.

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For the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), carrying value (net of accumulated depreciation and any write-downs) of tangible assets that are held by an entity for use in the production or supply of goods and services, for rental to others, or for administrative purposes and that are expected to provide economic benefit for more than one year. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

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The obligations arising from the sale, disposal, or planned sale in the near future (generally within one year) of a disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation).

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- Definition

Represents the amount of cash receivable from the sale of business.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

For the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), the aggregate of amounts of recoverable taxes from taxing authorities or customers, reduced to their estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of recoverability and net of any write-downs taken for collection uncertainty on the part of the holder, respectively.

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- Definition

Represents the percentage of Brazilian Interbank Interest rate used to adjust accrued quarterly installments to be received in the transaction of sale of a business.

+ References

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