Name:	ifrs-full_DisclosureOfSignificantInvestmentsInAssociatesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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The proportion of ownership interest in an associate attributable to the entity. [Refer: Associates [member]]

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 27
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 17
-Subparagraph b
-Clause iii
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=27&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_17_b_iii&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 27
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 16
-Subparagraph b
-Clause iii
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=27&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_16_b_iii&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 12
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 21
-Subparagraph a
-Clause iv
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=12&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_21_a_iv&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

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The proportion of ownership interest in a joint venture attributable to the entity. [Refer: Joint ventures [member]]

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Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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The proportion of the voting rights in an associate held by the entity. [Refer: Associates [member]]

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Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The proportion of the voting rights in a joint venture held by the entity. [Refer: Joint ventures [member]]

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Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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The proportion of ownership interest in an associate attributable to the investors other than the entity.

No definition available.

Name:	vale_ProportionOfOwnershipInterestInAssociateHeldByOtherInvestors
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Period Type:	duration

The proportion of ownership interest in a joint venture attributable to the investors other than the entity.

No definition available.