Information by business segment and geographic area (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
IfrsStatementLineItems [Line Items]
Investments in associates and joint ventures	$ 5,029	$ 4,547
Intangible	8,953	10,514	$ 11,631
Property, plant and equipment	43,625	39,984	$ 48,396
Total	57,607	55,045
Country Of Brazil [Member]
IfrsStatementLineItems [Line Items]
Investments in associates and joint ventures	2,593	2,046
Intangible	8,944	8,847
Property, plant and equipment	33,755	28,706
Total	45,292	39,599
Country Of Canada [Member]
IfrsStatementLineItems [Line Items]
Intangible	8	1,666
Property, plant and equipment	8,054	9,452
Total	8,062	11,118
Americas Except Brazil And Canada [Member]
IfrsStatementLineItems [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	4	3
Total	4	3
Country Of Indonesia [Member]
IfrsStatementLineItems [Line Items]
Investments in associates and joint ventures	1,842	1,885
Property, plant and equipment	63	61
Total	1,905	1,946
Country Of China [Member]
IfrsStatementLineItems [Line Items]
Intangible	1	1
Property, plant and equipment	3	4
Total	4	5
Asia Except China And Indonesia [Member]
IfrsStatementLineItems [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	623	654
Total	623	654
Country Of Europe [Member]
IfrsStatementLineItems [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	617	589
Total	617	589
Country Of Oman [Member]
IfrsStatementLineItems [Line Items]
Investments in associates and joint ventures	594	616
Property, plant and equipment	506	515
Total	$ 1,100	$ 1,131

The amount of intangible assets and goodwill held by the entity. [Refer: Goodwill; Intangible assets other than goodwill]

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2024-01-01
-Paragraph 55
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2024-en-r&anchor=para_55&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2024-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_IntangibleAssetsAndGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates in an entity's separate financial statements. [Refer: Total for all associates [member]; Total for all joint ventures [member]; Total for all subsidiaries [member]; Investments in subsidiaries reported in separate financial statements]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 27
-IssueDate 2024-01-01
-Paragraph 10
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=27&code=ifrs-tx-2024-en-r&anchor=para_10&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2024-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_InvestmentsInSubsidiariesJointVenturesAndAssociates
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of tangible assets that: (a) are held for use in the production or supply of goods or services, for rental to others, or for administrative purposes; and (b) are expected to be used during more than one period. Note that right-of-use assets are not included. [Contrast: Property, plant and equipment including right-of-use assets]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 16
-IssueDate 2024-01-01
-Paragraph 73
-Subparagraph e
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=16&code=ifrs-tx-2024-en-r&anchor=para_73_e&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2024-03-27

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2024-01-01
-Paragraph 54
-Subparagraph a
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2024-en-r&anchor=para_54_a&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2024-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_PropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vale_IfrsStatementLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vale_InvestmentsInSubsidiariesJointVenturesAndAssociatesIntangibleAssetsAndGoodwillAndPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_GeographicalAreasAxis=vale_CountryOfBrazilMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_GeographicalAreasAxis=vale_CountryOfCanadaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_GeographicalAreasAxis=vale_AmericasExceptBrazilAndCanadaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_GeographicalAreasAxis=vale_CountryOfIndonesiaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_GeographicalAreasAxis=vale_CountryOfChinaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_GeographicalAreasAxis=vale_AsiaExceptChinaAndIndonesiaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_GeographicalAreasAxis=vale_CountryOfEuropeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_GeographicalAreasAxis=vale_CountryOfOmanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: