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BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Oct. 31, 2012
Depreciation on Properties, Plants and Equipment | Properties, plants and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation on properties, plants and equipment is provided on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
|  | Years |
Buildings |  |  | 30-45 |
Machinery and equipment |  |  | 3-19 |

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- Definition Estimated Useful Lives Of Property Plant And Equipment Table [Text Block] + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | gef_
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Period Type: | duration