XML 109 R51.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

Sale of Non-United States Accounts Receivable - Company's Accounts Receivable Programs (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Oct. 31, 2012 | Oct. 31, 2011 | Oct. 31, 2010
European RPA [Member] |  |  |
Finance Receivable Transferred To Held For Sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross accounts receivable sold to third party financial institution | $ 702.7 |  |
Cash received for accounts receivable sold under the program | 619.1 |  |
Deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold | 83.6 |  |
Loss associated with the program | 1.9 |  |
Expenses associated with the program | 1.9 |  |
Accounts receivable sold to and held by third party financial institution | 185.6 |  |
Uncollected deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold | 21.5 |  |
RPA and Italian RPA [Member] |  |  |
Finance Receivable Transferred To Held For Sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross accounts receivable sold to third party financial institution | 189.4 | 958.6 | 739.8
Cash received for accounts receivable sold under the program | 167.7 | 848.4 | 656.5
Deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold | 21.7 | 110.2 | 83.3
Loss associated with the program | 1.6 | 4.4 | 3.7
Expenses associated with the program |  |  |
Accounts receivable sold to and held by third party financial institution |  | 149.2 |
Uncollected deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold |  | 24.4 |
Singapore RPA [Member] |  |  |
Finance Receivable Transferred To Held For Sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross accounts receivable sold to third party financial institution | 73.8 | 70.5 | 69.6
Cash received for accounts receivable sold under the program | 73.8 | 70.5 | 69.6
Deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold |  |  |
Loss associated with the program |  |  |
Expenses associated with the program | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2
Accounts receivable sold to and held by third party financial institution | 3.9 | 4.9 |
Uncollected deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold |  |  |
Malaysian Agreements [Member] |  |  |
Finance Receivable Transferred To Held For Sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross accounts receivable sold to third party financial institution | 24.2 | 19.0 | 12.5
Cash received for accounts receivable sold under the program | 24.2 | 19.0 | 12.5
Deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold |  |  |
Loss associated with the program | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1
Expenses associated with the program | 0.1 |  |
Accounts receivable sold to and held by third party financial institution | 2.9 | 3.7 |
Uncollected deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold |  |  |
Total RPAs and Agreements [Member] |  |  |
Finance Receivable Transferred To Held For Sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross accounts receivable sold to third party financial institution | 990.1 | 1,048.1 | 821.9
Cash received for accounts receivable sold under the program | 884.8 | 937.9 | 738.6
Deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold | 105.3 | 110.2 | 83.3
Loss associated with the program | 3.6 | 4.6 | 3.8
Expenses associated with the program | 2.2 | 0.2 | 0.2
Accounts receivable sold to and held by third party financial institution | 192.4 | 157.8 |
Uncollected deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold | $ 21.5 | $ 24.4 |

X
- Definition Accounts receivable sold to third party financial institution. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_AccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_DeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Expenses associated with accounts receivable. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_ExpensesAssociatedWithAccountsReceivable
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | gef_FinanceReceivableTransferredToHeldForSaleLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Gross accounts receivable sold to third party financial institution. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Proceeds from sale and collection of receivables from third party. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Uncollected deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_UncollectedDeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Reflects the net positive or negative amount derived from subtracting from net proceeds of sale, the carrying amounts, net of allocated reserves, of accounts receivable transferred to a third party in a transaction that qualifies for sales treatment. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 860 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=13989330&loc=d3e107425-111719 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 01-6 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph d -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfAccountsReceivable
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration