Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands	May 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 243,562	$ 399,313
Accounts receivable (less allowance for collection losses of $25,964 and $29,721)	936,223	824,339
Inventories	889,464	674,680
Other	230,479	276,874
Total current assets	2,299,728	2,175,206
Property, plant and equipment:
Land	94,035	94,426
Buildings and improvements	563,099	540,285
Equipment	1,708,294	1,649,723
Construction in process	44,510	56,124
Property, plant and equipment, gross	2,409,938	2,340,558
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,204,802)	(1,108,290)
Property, plant and equipment, Net	1,205,136	1,232,268
Goodwill	72,603	71,580
Other assets	177,591	227,099
Total assets	3,755,058	3,706,153
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable-trade	519,643	504,388
Accounts payable-documentary letters of credit	171,892	226,633
Accrued expenses and other payables	376,812	324,897
Notes payable	8,372	6,453
Commercial paper	0	10,000
Current maturities of long-term debt	38,246	30,588
Total current liabilities	1,114,965	1,102,959
Deferred income taxes	43,688	43,668
Other long-term liabilities	118,378	108,870
Long-term debt	1,165,482	1,197,282
Total liabilities	2,442,513	2,452,779
Commitments and contingencies
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 115,435,601 and 114,325,349 shares	1,290	1,290
Additional paid-in capital	370,786	373,308
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	80,174	(12,526)
Retained earnings	1,127,713	1,178,372
Treasury stock 13,625,063 and 14,735,315 shares at cost	(267,638)	(289,708)
Stockholders' equity attributable to CMC	1,312,325	1,250,736
Stockholders' equity attributable to noncontrolling interests	220	2,638
Total equity	1,312,545	1,253,374
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 3,755,058	$ 3,706,153