Consolidated Statement Of Operations - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
NET SALES [1] $ 22,376 $ 23,306 $ 21,743
COSTS AND EXPENSES      
Cost of products sold 15,268 15,555 14,802
Selling and administrative expenses 1,647 1,723 1,621
Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested 1,306 1,328 1,343
Distribution expenses 1,560 1,567 1,434
Taxes other than payroll and income taxes 170 171 169
Restructuring and other charges, net 57 29 67
Net (gains) losses on sales and impairments of businesses 205 122 9
Antitrust fines and settlements 32 0 354
Net bargain purchase gain on acquisition of business 0 0 (6)
Interest expense, net 491 536 572
Non-operating pension expense 36 494 530
EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND EQUITY EARNINGS (LOSSES) 1,604 [2] 1,781 [3] 848
Income tax provision (benefit) 634 445 (1,085)
Equity earnings (loss), net of taxes 250 336 177
EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS 1,220 1,672 2,110
Discontinued operations, net of taxes 0 345 [4] 34
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) 1,220 2,017 2,144
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests (5) 5 0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to International Paper Company $ 1,225 [2],[5],[6] $ 2,012 [3],[4],[7] $ 2,144
BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY COMMON SHAREHOLDERS      
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations $ 3.10 [2] $ 4.07 [3] $ 5.11
Discontinued operations, net of taxes 0 [6] 0.84 [4] 0.08
Net earnings (loss) 3.10 [2],[5],[6] 4.91 [3],[4],[7] 5.19
DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY COMMON SHAREHOLDERS      
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations 3.07 [2] 4.02 [3] 5.05
Discontinued operations, net of taxes 0 [6] 0.83 [4] 0.08
Net earnings (loss) $ 3.07 [2],[5],[6] $ 4.85 [3],[4],[7] $ 5.13
[1]
Net sales are attributed to countries based on the location of the seller.
[2]
Includes the following pre-tax charges (gains):
 
 
2019
In millions
 
Q1

 
Q2
 
Q3
 
Q4
India impairment
 
$
—

 
$
152

 
$
8

 
$
(1
)
India divestiture transaction costs
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
3

Global Cellulose Fibers goodwill impairment
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
52

Litigation reserves
 
—

 
—

 
22

 
19

Italian antitrust fine
 
—

 
—

 
32

 
—

Environmental remediation reserve adjustment
 
—

 
—

 
15

 
10

(Gain) loss on sale of EMEA Packaging box plant
 
(7
)
 
—

 
—

 
1

EMEA Packaging business optimization
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
17

Multi-employer pension plan exit liability
 
16

 
—

 
(7
)
 
—

Abandoned property removal
 
11

 
11

 
13

 
15

Riverdale mill conversion costs
 
1

 
1

 
1

 
2

Foreign VAT refund accrual including interest
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(6
)
Debt extinguishment costs
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
21

Gain on sale of previously closed Oregon mill site
 
—

 
—

 
(9
)
 
—

Overhead cost reduction initiative
 
—

 
—

 
21

 
—

Other items
 
—

 
1

 
—

 
3

Non-operating pension expense
 
10

 
8

 
9

 
9

Total
 
$
31

 
$
173

 
$
105

 
$
145
[3]
Includes the following pre-tax charges (gains):
 
 
2018
In millions
 
Q1

 
Q2
 
Q3
 
Q4
Smurfit-Kappa acquisition proposal costs
 
$
—

 
$
12

 
$
—

 
$
—

Legal settlement
 
9

 
—

 
—

 
—

Litigation settlement recovery
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(5
)
Environmental remediation reserve adjustment
 
—

 
—

 
9

 
—

EMEA Packaging business optimization
 
22

 
26

 
—

 
(1
)
Abandoned property removal
 
9

 
9

 
6

 
8

Riverdale mill conversion costs
 
—

 
—

 
5

 
4

Brazil Packaging impairment
 
—

 
—

 
122

 
—

Debt extinguishment costs
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
10

Gain on sale of investment in Liaison Technologies
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(31
)
Non-operating pension expense
 
4

 
36

 
25

 
429

Total
 
$
44

 
$
83

 
$
167

 
$
414
[4]
Includes the following pre-tax charges (gains):
 
 
2018
In millions
 
Q1

 
Q2
 
Q3
 
Q4
North American Consumer Packaging transaction costs
 
$
23

 
$
2

 
$
—

 
$
—

North American Consumer Packaging gain on transfer
 
(516
)
 
28

 
—

 
—

Total
 
$
(493
)
 
$
30

 
$
—

 
$
—
[5]
Includes allocation of loss to noncontrolling interest of $7 million and $2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and September 30, 2019, respectively, associated with the impairment of the net assets of our India Papers business.
[6]
Includes the following tax expenses (benefits):
 
 
2019
In millions
 
Q1
 
Q2
 
Q3
 
Q4
Luxembourg statutory tax rate change
 
$
—

 
$
9

 
$
—

 
$
—

State income tax legislative changes
 
—

 
(3
)
 
—

 
—

Foreign tax audits
 
—

 
3

 
—

 
—

Internal investment restructuring
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(53
)
Foreign deferred tax valuation allowance
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
203

Tax impact of other special items
 
(6
)
 
(5
)
 
(14
)
 
(28
)
Tax impact of non-operating pension expense
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
Total
 
$
(8
)
 
$
2

 
$
(16
)
 
$
120
[7]
 
 
2018
In millions
 
Q1
 
Q2
 
Q3
 
Q4
State income tax legislative changes
 
$
—

 
$
9

 
$
—

 
$
—

Tax benefit of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
 
—

 
—

 
(36
)
 
—

Internal investment restructuring
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
19

Foreign tax audits
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
25

Tax impact of other special items
 
(9
)
 
(13
)
 
(46
)
 
3

Tax impact of non-operating pension expense
 
(1
)
 
(9
)
 
(6
)
 
(107
)
Total
 
$
(10
)
 
$
(13
)
 
$
(88
)
 
$
(60
)