Consolidating Financial Statements Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flow (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$ 445,914	$ 432,270	$ 495,390
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(157,562)	(144,522)	(138,449)
Purchase of timberlands	(106,536)	(320,899)	(5,360)
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion	(201,359)	(42,894)	0
Change in restricted cash	(10,559)	8,323	(8,231)
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0	0
Other	3,115	11,378	9,384
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(472,901)	(488,614)	(142,656)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	1,230,000	460,000	157,000
Repayment of debt	(813,610)	(499,057)	(96,650)
Dividends paid	(206,583)	(185,272)	(163,673)
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	25,495	13,451	26,314
Excess tax benefits on stock-based compensation	7,635	5,681	5,411
Debt issuance costs	(6,135)	(2,027)	(561)
Repurchase of common shares	(7,783)	(7,909)	(6,028)
Issuance of Intercompany Notes	0	0
Intercompany distributions	0	0	0
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	229,019	(215,133)	(78,187)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	(39)	617	(48)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	201,993	(270,860)	274,499
Balance, beginning of year	78,603	349,463	74,964
Balance, end of year	280,596	78,603	349,463
Parent Company [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	90,456	283,409	143,387
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	0	0	0
Purchase of timberlands	0	0	0
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion	0	0
Change in restricted cash	0	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	0	(19,259)	0
Other	0	0	0
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	0	(19,259)	0
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	475,000	120,000	0
Repayment of debt	(120,000)	0	0
Dividends paid	(206,583)	(185,272)	(163,673)
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	25,495	13,451	26,314
Excess tax benefits on stock-based compensation	0	0	0
Debt issuance costs	(3,697)	0	0
Repurchase of common shares	(7,783)	(7,909)	(6,028)
Issuance of Intercompany Notes	0	(204,420)
Intercompany distributions	0	0	0
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	162,432	(264,150)	(143,387)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	0	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	252,888	0	0
Balance, beginning of year	0	0	0
Balance, end of year	252,888	0	0
Senior Exchangeable Notes due 2012 & 2015 [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	138,149	332,577	177,502
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(285)	(270)	(2,251)
Purchase of timberlands	0	0	0
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion	0	0
Change in restricted cash	0	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	0	(99,988)	0
Other	(69)	69	0
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(354)	(100,189)	(2,251)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	0	105,000	0
Repayment of debt	(30,000)	(75,000)	(5,000)
Dividends paid	0	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	0	0	0
Excess tax benefits on stock-based compensation	0	0	0
Debt issuance costs	(1,219)	(675)	0
Repurchase of common shares	0	0	0
Issuance of Intercompany Notes	(14,000)	0
Intercompany distributions	(97,587)	(282,495)	(143,387)
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(142,806)	(253,170)	(148,387)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	0	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(5,011)	(20,782)	26,864
Balance, beginning of year	8,977	29,759	2,895
Balance, end of year	3,966	8,977	29,759
Senior Exchangeable Notes due 2012 & 2015 [Member] | Issuer Subsidiary [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	41,000	15,000	30,000
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	0	0	0
Purchase of timberlands	0	0	0
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion	0	0
Change in restricted cash	0	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	(142,508)	(35,828)	145,975
Other	0	0	0
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(142,508)	(35,828)	145,975
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	740,000	0	75,000
Repayment of debt	(638,110)	(168,057)	(4,650)
Dividends paid	0	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	0	0	0
Excess tax benefits on stock-based compensation	0	0	0
Debt issuance costs	0	(676)	(561)
Repurchase of common shares	0	0	0
Issuance of Intercompany Notes	0	(18,961)
Intercompany distributions	(41,000)	(14,760)	(30,000)
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	60,890	(202,454)	39,789
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	0	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(40,618)	(223,282)	215,764
Balance, beginning of year	59,976	283,258	67,494
Balance, end of year	19,358	59,976	283,258
Senior Exchangeable Notes due 2012 & 2015 [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	423,784	402,994	400,764
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(157,277)	(144,252)	(136,198)
Purchase of timberlands	(106,536)	(320,899)	(5,360)
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion	(201,359)	(42,894)
Change in restricted cash	(10,559)	8,323	(8,231)
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0	0
Other	3,184	(11,309)	9,384
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(472,547)	(488,413)	(140,405)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	15,000	235,000	82,000
Repayment of debt	(25,500)	(256,000)	(87,000)
Dividends paid	0	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	0	0	0
Excess tax benefits on stock-based compensation	7,635	5,681	5,411
Debt issuance costs	(1,219)	(676)	0
Repurchase of common shares	0	0	0
Issuance of Intercompany Notes	14,000	223,381
Intercompany distributions	33,620	(149,380)	(228,851)
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	43,536	58,006	(228,440)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	(39)	617	(48)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(5,266)	(26,796)	31,871
Balance, beginning of year	9,650	36,446	4,575
Balance, end of year	4,384	9,650	36,446
Senior Exchangeable Notes due 2012 & 2015 [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(247,475)	(601,710)	(256,263)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	0	0	0
Purchase of timberlands	0	0	0
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion	0	0
Change in restricted cash	0	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	142,508	155,075	(145,975)
Other	0	0	0
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	142,508	155,075	(145,975)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	0	0	0
Repayment of debt	0	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	0	0	0
Excess tax benefits on stock-based compensation	0	0	0
Debt issuance costs	0	0	0
Repurchase of common shares	0	0	0
Issuance of Intercompany Notes	0	0
Intercompany distributions	104,967	446,635	402,238
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	104,967	446,635	402,238
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	0	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Balance, beginning of year	0	0	0
Balance, end of year	0	0	0
Senior Notes due 2022 at a fixed interest rate of 3.75% [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	138,149	332,817	177,502
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(285)	(270)	(2,251)
Purchase of timberlands	0	0	0
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion	0	0
Change in restricted cash	0	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	(142,508)	(135,816)	145,975
Other	(69)	69	0
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(142,862)	(136,017)	143,724
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	740,000	105,000	75,000
Repayment of debt	(668,110)	(243,057)	(9,650)
Dividends paid	0	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	0	0	0
Excess tax benefits on stock-based compensation	0	0	0
Debt issuance costs	(1,219)	(1,351)	(561)
Repurchase of common shares	0	0	0
Issuance of Intercompany Notes	(14,000)	(18,961)
Intercompany distributions	(97,587)	(282,495)	(143,387)
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(40,916)	(440,864)	(78,598)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	0	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(45,629)	(244,064)	242,628
Balance, beginning of year	68,953	313,017	70,389
Balance, end of year	23,324	68,953	313,017
Senior Notes due 2022 at a fixed interest rate of 3.75% [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	423,784	402,994	400,764
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(157,277)	(144,252)	(136,198)
Purchase of timberlands	(106,536)	(320,899)	(5,360)
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion	(201,359)	(42,894)
Change in restricted cash	(10,559)	8,323	(8,231)
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0	0
Other	3,184	11,309	9,384
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(472,547)	(488,413)	(140,405)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	15,000	235,000	82,000
Repayment of debt	(25,500)	(256,000)	(87,000)
Dividends paid	0	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	0	0	0
Excess tax benefits on stock-based compensation	7,635	5,681	5,411
Debt issuance costs	(1,219)	(676)	0
Repurchase of common shares	0	0	0
Issuance of Intercompany Notes	14,000	223,381
Intercompany distributions	33,620	(149,380)	(228,851)
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	43,536	58,006	(228,440)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	(39)	617	(48)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(5,266)	(26,796)	31,871
Balance, beginning of year	9,650	36,446	4,575
Balance, end of year	4,384	9,650	36,446
Senior Notes due 2022 at a fixed interest rate of 3.75% [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(206,475)	(586,950)	(226,263)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	0	0	0
Purchase of timberlands	0	0	0
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion	0	0
Change in restricted cash	0	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	142,508	155,075	(145,975)
Other	0	0	0
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	142,508	155,075	(145,975)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	0	0	0
Repayment of debt	0	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	0	0	0
Excess tax benefits on stock-based compensation	0	0	0
Debt issuance costs	0	0	0
Repurchase of common shares	0	0	0
Issuance of Intercompany Notes	0	0
Intercompany distributions	63,967	431,875	372,238
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	63,967	431,875	372,238
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	0	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Balance, beginning of year	0	0	0
Balance, end of year	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0