Pension and other postretirement plans - Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2023	Apr. 30, 2022	Apr. 30, 2023	Apr. 30, 2022
Pension Plans | International
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	$ 283	$ 431	$ 558	$ 920
Interest cost	642	290	1,245	588
Expected return on plan assets	(383)	(367)	(760)	(761)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	(13)	(13)	(26)	(30)
Amortization of net actuarial (gain) loss	21	593	41	1,200
Total benefit cost	550	934	1,058	1,917
Settlement loss	0	0	0	0
Pension Plans | United States
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	2,744	4,728	5,488	9,915
Interest cost	4,176	4,241	8,351	7,824
Expected return on plan assets	(6,529)	(8,511)	(13,058)	(16,389)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	0	12	0	24
Amortization of net actuarial (gain) loss	0	2,318	0	5,084
Total benefit cost	391	44,009	781	47,679
Settlement loss	0	(41,221)	0
Postretirement Benefit Costs | International
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	1	3	2	6
Interest cost	3	3	6	6
Amortization of net actuarial (gain) loss	(15)	(12)	(31)	(24)
Total benefit cost	(11)	(6)	(23)	(12)
Postretirement Benefit Costs | United States
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	100	148	200	343
Interest cost	766	474	1,531	962
Amortization of net actuarial (gain) loss	0	226	0	489
Total benefit cost	$ 866	$ 848	$ 1,731	$ 1,794