CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 434,925	$ 378,770
Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $5,908 and $10,042)	1,028,425	989,694
Inventories, net	935,411	757,417
Current deferred tax assets	49,455	76,994
Other	105,575	163,320
Total current assets	2,553,791	2,366,195
Property, plant and equipment:
Land	79,295	80,764
Buildings and improvements	494,842	486,494
Equipment	1,728,425	1,666,250
Construction in process	30,591	18,476
Property, plant and equipment, Gross	2,333,153	2,251,984
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,408,055)	(1,311,747)
Property, plant and equipment, Net	925,098	940,237
Goodwill	74,319	69,579
Other assets	135,312	118,790
Total assets	3,688,520	3,494,801
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable-trade	423,807	342,678
Accounts payable-documentary letters of credit	125,053	112,281
Accrued expenses and other payables	322,000	314,949
Notes payable	12,288	5,973
Current maturities of long-term debt	8,005	5,228
Total current liabilities	891,153	781,109
Deferred income taxes	55,600	46,558
Other long-term liabilities	112,134	118,165
Long-term debt	1,281,042	1,278,814
Total liabilities	2,339,929	2,224,646
Commitments and contingencies (Note 18)
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock	0	0
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; authorized 200,000,000 shares; issued 129,060,664 shares; outstanding 117,829,262 and 117,010,990 shares	1,290	1,290
Additional paid-in capital	359,338	363,772
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(19,509)	(27,176)
Retained earnings	1,225,855	1,166,732
Less treasury stock, 11,231,402 and 12,049,674 shares at cost	(218,494)	(234,619)
Stockholders' equity attributable to CMC	1,348,480	1,269,999
Stockholders' equity attributable to noncontrolling interests	111	156
Total equity	1,348,591	1,270,155
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 3,688,520	$ 3,494,801