CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014
Net sales	$ 4,610,526	$ 5,988,605	$ 6,790,438
Costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold	3,974,513	5,311,756	6,096,196
Selling, general and administrative expenses	437,084	443,275	448,943
Impairment of assets	40,028	9,839	3,305
Interest expense	62,231	77,760	77,037
Loss on debt extinguishment	11,480	0	0
Total costs and expenses	4,525,336	5,842,630	6,625,481
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	85,190	145,975	164,957
Income taxes	12,647	46,844	47,351
Earnings from continuing operations	72,543	99,131	117,606
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes	(17,949)	(20,124)	(2,650)
Income taxes (benefit)	(168)	(436)	1,712
Loss from discontinued operations	(17,781)	(19,688)	(4,362)
Net earnings	54,762	79,443	113,244
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	1
Net earnings attributable to CMC	$ 54,762	$ 79,443	$ 113,243
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to CMC:
Earnings from continuing operations	$ 0.63	$ 0.85	$ 1.00
Loss from discontinued operations	(0.15)	(0.17)	(0.04)
Net earnings	0.48	0.68	0.96
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to CMC:
Earnings from continuing operations	0.62	0.84	0.99
Loss from discontinued operations	(0.15)	(0.17)	(0.04)
Net earnings	$ 0.47	$ 0.67	$ 0.95