The amount of outstanding funds that the entity is obligated to repay.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 55
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_55&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_Borrowings
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes of the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DisclosureOfNonadjustingEventsAfterReportingPeriodLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of shares that are to be divested.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vale_PercentageOfDivestmentOfShares
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of total outstanding common shares disposed.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vale_PercentageOfTotalOutstandingCommonSharesDisposed
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The period of ramping down of operations, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vale_PeriodOfRampingDownOfOperations
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_SignificantInvestmentsInSubsidiariesAxis=vale_PTValeIndonesiaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_AssetsAndLiabilitiesClassifiedAsHeldForSaleAxis=vale_HenanLongyuEnergyResourcesCo.Ltd.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_NonadjustingEventsAfterReportingPeriodAxis=vale_PandemicOutbreakMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_BorrowingsByNameAxis=vale_IfrsRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAxis=vale_VoiseySBayMinePropertyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Subsequent events (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 16, 2020	Dec. 27, 2019	Oct. 17, 2014	Mar. 24, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Subsequent events
Borrowings					$ 13,056	$ 15,466
PT Vale Indonesia
Subsequent events
Divestment of shares to Indonesian participants ( as a percentage )			20.00%
Henan Longyu Energy Resources Co., Ltd.
Subsequent events
Percentage of total outstanding common shares disposed		25.00%
Coronavirus outbreak \| Revolving credit facilities
Subsequent events
Borrowings				$ 5,000
Coronavirus outbreak \| Voisey's Bay mine
Subsequent events
Period of ramping down of operations	28 days