Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Property, plant and equipment
Cost	$ 115,127	$ 111,174
Accumulated Depreciation	(23,361)	(21,144)
Net	91,766	90,030
Intangible assets, Cost	1,126	1,202
Intangible assets, accumulated Depreciation	(104)	(67)
Intangible assets, net	1,022	1,135
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment	216	223	623
Assets given in guarantee of judicial processes	96	97
Minimum
Property, plant and equipment
Defined useful lives	6 years
Maximum
Property, plant and equipment
Defined useful lives	30 years
Rights granted by the government-Ferrovia Norte Sul
Property, plant and equipment
Intangible assets, net	788
Off take-agreements
Property, plant and equipment
Intangible assets, net	234
Land
Property, plant and equipment
Cost	676	695
Net	676	695
Buildings
Property, plant and equipment
Cost	8,075	7,912
Accumulated Depreciation	(2,104)	(1,890)
Net	5,971	6,022
Installations
Property, plant and equipment
Cost	15,748	14,886
Accumulated Depreciation	(4,096)	(3,708)
Net	11,652	11,178
Equipment
Property, plant and equipment
Cost	11,640	12,549
Accumulated Depreciation	(4,373)	(4,243)
Net	7,267	8,306
Railroads
Property, plant and equipment
Cost	6,504	6,574
Accumulated Depreciation	(2,047)	(1,930)
Net	4,457	4,644
Mine development costs
Property, plant and equipment
Cost	27,778	26,955
Accumulated Depreciation	(6,102)	(5,180)
Net	21,676	21,775
Others
Property, plant and equipment
Cost	14,530	14,556
Accumulated Depreciation	(4,535)	(4,126)
Net	9,995	10,430
Property, plant and equipment excluding intangible assets and construction in progress
Property, plant and equipment
Cost	84,951	84,127
Accumulated Depreciation	(23,257)	(21,077)
Net	61,694	63,050
Construction in progress
Property, plant and equipment
Cost	29,050	25,845
Net	29,050	25,845
Jointly-owned hydroelectric plants
Property, plant and equipment
Cost	2,165	2,261
Depreciation in the year	480	428
Hydroelectric plant under construction
Property, plant and equipment
Cost	$ 10	$ 59

The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 28

-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.

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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

-Paragraph 5

-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.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

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Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7658586&loc=d3e16323-109275

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph a(1)

-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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Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

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Amount after amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

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Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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- Definition

The difference between the sale price or salvage price and the book value of a property, plant, and equipment asset that was sold or retired during the reporting period. This element refers to the gain (loss).

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The cumulative amount of depreciation, depletion and amortization (related to property, plant and equipment, intangible, but not including land) that has been recognized in the income statement.

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- Definition

Represents the amount of assets which are given in guarantee with the courts for loss contingencies. These assets are guaranteed by the entity following court requirements in order to be entitled to either initiate or continue a legal action. These assets are released to the entity upon receipt of a final favorable outcome from the legal action, and in the case of an unfavorable outcome, the assets are not released until payment is made to the prevailing party.

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- Definition

Gross amount, at the balance sheet date, of long-lived physical and intangible assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale.

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Tangible and intangible 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; net of accumulated depreciation.

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