Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	May 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 453,269	$ 262,422
Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $10,857 and $9,480)	960,471	958,364
Inventories, net	829,341	807,923
Other	183,789	211,122
Total current assets	2,426,870	2,239,831
Property, plant and equipment:
Land	81,943	79,123
Buildings and improvements	493,352	483,708
Equipment	1,695,377	1,656,328
Construction in process	23,982	41,036
Property, plant and equipment, Gross	2,294,654	2,260,195
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,340,933)	(1,265,891)
Property, plant and equipment, Net	953,721	994,304
Goodwill	76,353	76,897
Other assets	130,722	130,214
Total assets	3,587,666	3,441,246
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable-trade	311,099	433,132
Accounts payable-documentary letters of credit	93,580	95,870
Accrued expenses and other payables	314,868	343,337
Notes payable	0	24,543
Current maturities of long-term debt	144,162	4,252
Total current liabilities	863,709	901,134
Deferred income taxes	50,321	20,271
Other long-term liabilities	114,338	116,261
Long-term debt	1,277,581	1,157,073
Total liabilities	2,305,949	2,194,739
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; authorized 200,000,000 shares; issued 129,060,664 shares; outstanding 116,899,574 and 116,351,424 shares	1,290	1,290
Additional paid-in capital	365,949	365,778
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(25,479)	(18,136)
Retained earnings	1,176,713	1,145,445
Less treasury stock, 12,161,090 and 12,709,240 shares at cost	(236,909)	(248,009)
Stockholders' equity attributable to CMC	1,281,564	1,246,368
Stockholders' equity attributable to noncontrolling interests	153	139
Total equity	1,281,717	1,246,507
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 3,587,666	$ 3,441,246