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Variable Interest Entities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  |  | 9 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  | 3 Months Ended |  | 0 Months Ended |  | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
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Mar. 28, 2005 Agreement | Jul. 31, 2014 | Jul. 31, 2013 | Jul. 31, 2014 | Jul. 31, 2013 | Oct. 31, 2013 | May 23, 2005 acre | Jul. 31, 2014 Maximum [Member] | Mar. 28, 2005 FLORIDA acre | Apr. 30, 2006 Timberland Holdings [Member] | Jan. 31, 2006 Timberland Holdings [Member] | Apr. 30, 2006 Timberland Holdings [Member] FLORIDA acre | Jan. 31, 2006 Timberland Holdings [Member] FLORIDA acre | Jul. 31, 2014 Subsidiaries [Member] | Jul. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries [Member] | Oct. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries [Member] | May 31, 2005 Subsidiaries [Member] Monetization Notes [Member] | May 31, 2005 Subsidiaries [Member] Monetization Notes [Member] | Jul. 31, 2014 Global Textile [Member] | Jul. 31, 2014 Flexible Packaging JV [Member] | Jul. 31, 2013 Flexible Packaging JV [Member] | Jul. 31, 2014 Flexible Packaging JV [Member] | Jul. 31, 2013 Flexible Packaging JV [Member] | Jul. 31, 2014 Buyer SPE [Member] | Jul. 31, 2014 Trading Co. [Member] | Jul. 31, 2014 Asset Co. [Member] | Jul. 31, 2014 Third Party [Member] Maximum [Member] | Jul. 31, 2014 Cooperage Receivables Finance BV [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of purchase and sale agreements | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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 of timberland holdings under agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  | 42.1 |  |  | 9.0 | 27.4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Secured Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.20% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maturity date |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Aug. 05, 2020 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extended date |  |  |  | Nov. 05, 2020 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, principal outstanding |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 43.3 |  | 43.3 |  | 43.3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage in Variable Interest Entity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 49.00% |  |  |  |  | 0.00% | 51.00% | 49.00% |  | 0.00%
Restricted bank financial instruments under Buyer SPE |  | 50.9 |  | 50.9 |  | 50.9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest income of Buyer SPE |  | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 1.8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest expense |  |  |  | 1.7 | 1.7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.6 | 0.6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Committed capital contribution |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 150 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 150 |
Variable interest entities outstanding advances |  |  |  |  |  | 0.6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Short term loans payable to NSC |  |  |  |  |  | 12.7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |  | $ (2.2) | $ 2.1 | $ (2.4) | $ 5.5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 3.7 | $ 1.0 | $ 9.2 | $ 2.1 |  |  |  |  |

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