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Variable Interest Entities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |  |  | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |  |  | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |  |
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Apr. 30, 2013 | Apr. 30, 2012 | Apr. 30, 2013 | Apr. 30, 2012 | Oct. 31, 2012 | Mar. 31, 2005 acre | Oct. 31, 2012 Trading Company [Member] | Oct. 31, 2012 Asset Company [Member] | Oct. 31, 2012 Global Textile [Member] | Apr. 30, 2013 STA Timber [Member] | Apr. 30, 2012 STA Timber [Member] | Apr. 30, 2013 STA Timber [Member] | Apr. 30, 2012 STA Timber [Member] | Oct. 31, 2012 STA Timber [Member] | May 31, 2005 STA Timber [Member] Monetization Notes [Member] | Apr. 30, 2013 Flexible Packaging JV [Member] | Apr. 30, 2012 Flexible Packaging JV [Member] | Apr. 30, 2013 Flexible Packaging JV [Member] | Apr. 30, 2012 Flexible Packaging JV [Member] | Apr. 30, 2006 Timberland holdings [Member] acre | Jan. 31, 2006 Timberland holdings [Member] acre
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Approximate acres of timberland to be sold under agreement with Plum Creek Timberland |  |  |  |  |  | 56,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Approximate value of sale agreement with Plum Creek Timberland |  |  |  |  |  | $ 90 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acres of timberland sold under the agreement |  |  |  |  |  | 35,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5,700 | 15,300
Value of timberland sold under the agreement |  |  |  |  |  | 51.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9.7 | 29.3
Purchase notes payable |  |  |  |  |  | 50.9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum amount of guarantee on purchase notes |  |  |  |  |  | 52.3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax gain resulting from sale under agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9.0 | 27.4
Senior Secured Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.20% |  |  |  |  |  |
Maturity date |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Aug. 05, 2020 |  |  |  |  |  |
Extended date | Nov. 05, 2020 |  | Nov. 05, 2020 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, principal outstanding |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 43.3 |  | 43.3 |  | 43.3 | 43.3 |  |  |  |  |  |
Restricted bank financial instruments under Buyer SPE | 50.9 |  | 50.9 |  | 50.9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest income of Buyer SPE | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1.2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest expense | 21.4 | 23.3 | 43.0 | 46.2 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1.2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage in Variable Interest Entity |  |  |  |  |  |  | 51.00% | 49.00% | 49.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Committed capital contribution |  |  | 150 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitment to obtain third party financing |  |  | Up to $150 million |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable interest entities outstanding advances | 0.6 |  | 0.6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Short term loans payable to NSC | 12.0 |  | 12.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest in the Flexible Packaging JV | $ 2.1 | $ (0.2) | $ 3.4 | $ 0.9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0.4 | $ 2.4 | $ 1.1 | $ 3.8 |  |

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- Definition Describes the terms of arrangements (for example, liquidity arrangements, guarantees, or other commitments) by third parties that may affect the fair value or risk of the reporting entity's variable interest in the Variable Interest Entity (VIE). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7880789&loc=d3e5728-111685 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number FAS140-4 and FIN46(R)-8 -Paragraph C6 -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
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- Definition The difference between the value of the consideration received by the Entity on the sale or disposal and net book value of assets sold or disposed, before any tax related impact. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391110&loc=d3e2941-110230 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760 + Details
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