Fair Value

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2013

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair value

NOTE 10. FAIR VALUE

The Company has established a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs to the valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three levels. These levels are determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Levels within the hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities;

Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets (other than those included in Level 1) which are observable, either directly or indirectly; and

Level 3 - Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.

The following tables summarize information regarding the Company's financial assets and financial liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

			Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
(in thousands)	May 31, 2013		Quoted Prices in Active Markets  for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant  Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable  Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Money market investments (1)	$	282,787	$	282,787	$	—	$	—
Commodity derivative assets (2)	823		823		—		—
Foreign exchange derivative assets (2)	4,091		—		4,091
Liabilities:
Commodity derivative liabilities (2)	1,548		1,418		130		—
Foreign exchange derivative liabilities (2)	2,544		—		2,544		—

			Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
(in thousands)	August 31, 2012		Quoted Prices in Active Markets  for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant  Other Observable  Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable  Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Money market investments (1)	$	172,462	$	172,462	$	—	$	—
Commodity derivative assets (2)	407		407		—		—
Foreign exchange derivative assets (2)	1,468		—		1,468		—
Liabilities:
Commodity derivative liabilities (2)	995		993		2		—
Foreign exchange derivative liabilities (2)	2,520		—		2,520		—
Other derivative liabilities (2)	32		—		32		—

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(1) Money market investments are short-term in nature, and the value is determined by broker quoted prices in active markets. The investment portfolio mix can change each period based on the Company's assessment of investment options.

(2) Derivative assets and liabilities classified as Level 1 are commodity futures contracts valued based on quoted market prices in the London Metal Exchange or the New York Mercantile Exchange. Amounts in Level 2 are based on broker quotes in the over-the-counter market. Further discussion regarding the Company's use of derivatives and the classification of the assets and liabilities is included in Note 9. Derivatives and Risk Management.

Fair value of property, plant and equipment held for sale (Level 3) was $3.8 million based on appraised values less costs to sell at May 31, 2013. CMC does not have other assets or intangible assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at May 31, 2013. Impairment charges for property, plant and equipment were $3.4 million for the nine months ended May 31, 2013.

The carrying values of the Company's short-term items, including the deferred purchase prices of accounts receivable, documentary letters of credit and notes payable approximate fair value due to their short term nature.

The carrying values and estimated fair values of the Company's financial assets and liabilities that are not required to be measured at fair value are as follows:

		May 31, 2013				August 31, 2012
(in thousands)	Fair Value Hierarchy	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
$200 million notes at 5.625% due November 2013 (1)	Level 2	$	141,886	$	145,148	$	204,873	$	212,413
$400 million notes at 6.50% due July 2017 (1)	Level 2	412,261		447,453		414,491		434,991
$500 million notes at 7.35% due August 2018 (1)	Level 2	524,086		579,755		527,554		559,894
$330 million notes at 4.875% due May 2023 (1)	Level 2	330,000		316,800		—		—

(1) The fair value of the notes is calculated based on indicated market values.