Notes Payable to Banks and Interest-Bearing Accounts Payable to Sojitz Corporation of America (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	May 31, 2011		May 31, 2010
Notes payable:
Notes payable (Note 7)	$ 187		$ 139
Sojitz America	111		88
Sojitz America - interest rate	0.99%		1.07%
U.S. operations
Notes payable:
Notes payable	35		18
Non-U.S. operations
Notes payable:
Notes payable	$ 152		$ 121
Non-U.S. operations | Notes Payable
Notes payable:
Notes payable - interest rate	7.05%	[1]	6.35%	[1]

[1] Weighted average interest rate includes non-interest bearing overdrafts.