INVENTORIES, NET

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2017

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Inventories, net

NOTE 5. INVENTORIES, NET

As of May 31, 2017 and August 31, 2016, inventories were stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The Company determines inventory cost for its Americas Recycling, Americas Mills, Americas Fabrication and International Mill segments using the weighted average cost method. The Company determines inventory cost for its International Marketing and Distribution segment using the specific identification method. At May 31, 2017, 64% of the Company's total net inventories were valued using the weighted average cost method and 36% of the Company's total net inventories were valued using the specification identification method.

The majority of the Company's inventories are in the form of semi-finished and finished goods. The Company’s business model, with the exception of the International Marketing and Distribution segment, is such that products are sold to external customers in various stages, from semi-finished billets through fabricated steel, leading these categories to be combined. Inventories in the International Marketing and Distribution segment are sold as finished goods. As such, work in process inventories were not material at May 31, 2017 and August 31, 2016. At May 31, 2017 and August 31, 2016, $141.2 million and $77.9 million, respectively, of the Company's inventories were in the form of raw materials.