Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 28, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 170,097	$ 262,422
Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $10,650 and $9,480)	988,482	958,364
Inventories, net	892,688	807,923
Other	172,229	211,122
Total current assets	2,223,496	2,239,831
Property, plant and equipment:
Land	78,210	79,123
Buildings and improvements	490,260	483,708
Equipment	1,687,390	1,656,328
Construction in process	54,310	41,036
Property, plant and equipment, Gross	2,310,170	2,260,195
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,329,704)	(1,265,891)
Property, plant and equipment, Net	980,466	994,304
Goodwill	76,959	76,897
Other assets	128,544	130,214
Total assets	3,409,465	3,441,246
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable-trade	412,592	433,132
Accounts payable-documentary letters of credit	90,038	95,870
Accrued expenses and other payables	269,619	343,337
Notes payable	47,403	24,543
Current maturities of long-term debt	204,072	4,252
Total current liabilities	1,023,724	901,134
Deferred income taxes	27,363	20,271
Other long-term liabilities	111,089	116,261
Long-term debt	950,407	1,157,073
Total liabilities	2,112,583	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 116,878,209 and 116,351,424 shares	1,290	1,290
Additional paid-in capital	362,273	365,778
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,247)	(18,136)
Retained earnings	1,171,776	1,145,445
Less treasury stock, 12,182,455 and 12,709,240 shares at cost	(237,365)	(248,009)
Stockholders' equity attributable to CMC	1,296,727	1,246,368
Stockholders' equity attributable to noncontrolling interests	155	139
Total equity	1,296,882	1,246,507
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 3,409,465	$ 3,441,246